How do institutions serving rural America deal with change? In the face of changing demands and demographics, how do those institutions respond? Some will choose to do nothing, to hunker down and try to ride out the status quo. Others faced with declining resources will decide they must close offices and mandate consolidation. But perhaps there is a third way: To encourage voluntary collaboration while improving program quality. Today in Kansas Profile, we’ll learn about a rural Kansas leader who has firsthand experience in facing those alternatives.
Jerry Hall is an agribusinessman and extension volunteer in southeast Kansas. He was raised near the rural community of Elk City, population 311 people. Now, that’s rural.
Jerry was active in 4-H and FFA. After receiving an ag scholarship, he went to Coffeyville Community College and on to K-State where he met his wife Stephanie. He got a hog feeding job in southeast Kansas and now manages a feed mill for Springer Family Foods in Montgomery County.
Stephanie and Jerry have a daughter named Jerica. Jerica was also active in 4-H, serving as club president, county council president, and on a national livestock skill-a-thon team among many other activities. “The best part (for her) was mentoring other kids,” Jerry said. “In her last year at the state fair, a lamb which she had sold to another family ranked higher than she did in the class, but she was happy for the other kid.”
Continue reading “Kansas Profile – Now That’s Rural: Jerry Hall – Extension Districts”
