Center for Rural Affairs
We are unapologetically rural. We stand up for the small family farmer and rancher, new business owner, and rural communities. For more than 40 years, we`ve been a leading force engaging people to build a better rural future. We live this work. Welcome to our rural revolution. The Center for Rural Affairs works to strengthen small towns and rural communities, small businesses, and family farming and ranching. We are an equal opportunity provider and employer. This page is run by the Center for Rural Affairs, a nonprofit that advocates for family farmers, new and existing business owners, and rural communities. We are unapologetically rural.
Company details
Find locations served, office locations
- Business Type:
- Professional association
- Industry Type:
- Agriculture
- Market Focus:
- Nationally (across the country)
This company also provides solutions for other industrial applications.
Please, visit the following links for more info:
About Us
We breathed fire and ran on unrefined youthful energy. It was 1973. Our founders, Don Ralston and Marty Strange, captured our early history here (recommended reading!).
We knew that if we wanted federal policy to work for rural Americans, we had to raise our voice. So we opened shop in an old storefront in rural Nebraska and put nose-to-grindstone. We grew a rural grassroots community. We spoke up about corporate wrongs against family farmers. We took rural voices to Washington.
We believed we would succeed. It was hard work, but our passion kept us standing strong for rural Americans. And now, we’re over 30,000 and growing across the nation. We’re proud of our track record of successes. See a timeline with some of our major accomplishments here.
As long as rural advocates are needed for health care, clean energy, sustainable agriculture, and community development, you can bet we’ll be in the front lines, building a bright rural future.
Make yourself at home and take look around! We look forward to working with you for rural Americans.
Values & Mission
Our Mission
Establish strong rural communities, social and economic justice, environmental stewardship, and genuine opportunity for all while engaging people in decisions that affect the quality of their lives and the future of their communities.
Our Values
Since its inception, the Center has resisted the role of advocating for the interests of any particular group. Instead, we have chosen to advance a set of values - values that reflect the best of Rural America. Ultimately, we believe it is in the interest of all to create a future reflecting those values.
We value:
RESPONSIBILITY placed upon each of us to contribute to our community and society.
CONSCIENCE that balances self-interest with an obligation to the common good and future generations.
PROGRESS that strengthens rural communities, small businesses, and family farms and ranches.
Genuine OPPORTUNITY for all to earn a living, raise a family, and prosper in a rural place.
Citizen INVOLVEMENT and ACTION to shape the future.
Widespread OWNERSHIP and CONTROL of small businesses, farms, and ranches by those who work them.
FAIRNESS that allows all who contribute to the nation's prosperity to share in it.
STEWARDSHIP of the natural environment upon which all of us - current and future generations - rely.
We live in an era of profound change - when institutions, policy, and life are being fundamentally reshaped. It is a critical time for people of conscience to work together in guiding change to reflect our highest values. To that we commit the Center for Rural Affairs.