Rural Tour fostering a nationwide discussion on rural issues

Since the first event in June, we've been excited to see the Rural Tour generating really thoughtful conversation and debate on the issues facing rural America. At town hall forums across the nation, Secretary Vilsack and his counterparts across the government have met with large, sometimes overflow, crowds. They've been able to answer questions and engage in productive debate on the best ways to help rural America.

And, people are starting to notice:

Charlotte Observer: Civility and respect rule at bipartisan town hall meeting
Breaking a pattern of raucous encounters across the country, more than 600 people Monday attended a town hall meeting marked by civility, substance and even bipartisanship.

Republican U.S. Sen. Richard Burr and Democratic U.S. Rep. Larry Kissell joined two Cabinet secretaries in fielding questions from an overflow audience at Richmond Community College.

PoliticsDaily: Tom Vilsack's Farm-Country Tour: A Different Kind of Town Hall
Health care town-hall meetings are certainly stealing the spotlight these days -- but they're not the only game in town. Mostly unnoticed, a quieter series of town halls is taking place on a different crisis: Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack has embarked on a listening tour through rural America to hear about the problems facing farmers. And it's a good thing too, because back on the farm, all is not well.

On Wednesday at the Iowa State Fair, a group of farmers gathered from all over the state. Walking straight past the 1,000-pound squash, a 600-pound butter sculpture of a cow and the stand selling fried Milky Way bars, the farmers sat down to detail some of the problems they were facing to their former governor.

Quad City Times: Vilsack Returns To Iowa Fair, Talks About Rural Issues
Wednesday's rural issues forum at the Iowa State Fair featuring U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack lacked some of the fireworks that have accompanied health-care forums around the nation. This forum was more polite, with the former Iowa governor telling about the Obama administration's policies and farmers asking questions about specific programs, such as a recent announcement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that it would give borrowers more leeway to restructure loans.

This forum was more polite, with the former Iowa governor telling about the Obama administration's policies and farmers asking questions about specific programs, such as a recent announcement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that it would give borrowers more leeway to restructure loans.

Richmond County Daily Journal: Elected leaders touch on issues
The emerging green economy, school nutrition and healthcare were just some of the subjects discussed at a meeting that followed the White House’s Rural Tour event at Cole Auditorium Monday.

The four-person panel consisted of U.S. Sen. Richard Burr and U.S. Rep. Larry Kissell and two Obama cabinet members: Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

The purpose of the Rural Tour is to listen to the concerns of individuals in rural areas, and share what the administration is putting in place to answer those concerns. The meeting at Cole was scheduled to focus on education and workforce development.

Permalink  |  Posted: 03:58PM Aug 20, 2009 by USDAblogger in USDA Web Site  |  Add Your Comment Here [1]

Renewing America’s Promise: USDA Makes Connections In Person, and Online

As the Rural Tour continues its trek across the nation, we continue to hear amazing stories and the positive feedback. Today, we’re excited to launch a new Rural Tour web site and a number of new tools for you to follow what’s going on across USDA.

On the Rural Tour site you will notice a few new features. First, and most important, you are invited to Join the Conversation. We know that communities across the nation are struggling, and we have seen at every stop thus far the spirit and drive individuals have to address these challenges. Whether or not we make it to your town, visit the site and tell your story.

You can easily find upcoming tour dates, and follow the blog for reports from the road. We also included a section to share What’s Working through Recovery Act projects and stories from people across the nation who are making a difference.

Of course, we’re still tweeting from the road and have a new USDA Twitter account that shares the latest news, stories from the blog, events around the Department and we’ll let you know when new photos and videos are available.

On our Facebook page, you can check out news and information regarding our ongoing mission around the U.S. and across the globe, and share your thoughts along the way. Events, the latest blog posts and other information will be posted – stop by and become a fan!

We will be posting more videos from the tour, and invite your own stories as well, that are featured on our YouTube channel. Other sights from tour stops are captured and collected on Flickr.

On YouTube you will find weekly updates, educational videos and public service announcements. Other special features such as the Department’s work in Afghanistan are available on the site. Flickr will provide the best of the best images from all areas of activity within the Department. Print quality photos will be offered on a range of events and topics rom the Rural Tour and People’s Garden to collections representing the work of USDA’s agencies.

The USDA has more than 100,000 employees and 7,000 offices around the world. From forests to food, research to education and everything in between, the USDA touches the lives of every American – and millions of people around the world – every day, in every way. Spend some time checking out the new content and services, learn something new and share your own story.

Permalink  |  Posted: 10:52AM Aug 17, 2009 by USDAblogger in USDA Web Site  |  Add Your Comment Here [1]

St. John's Parish hosts four Obama Cabinet members on Rural Tour

As you may have seen, it's been a busy week on the Rural Tour. Secretary Vilsack visited Wisconsin last Thursday, Virginia on Saturday, and yesterday met with three other members of the Obama cabinet in St. John's Parish, Louisiana to discuss a broad range of issues facing rural America.

Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, and Veterans' Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki joined Vilsack at an Army National Guard drill hall so packed with interested Louisianans, staff had to find more and more chairs leading up to the moment the event began.

The large crowd led to big lines to ask questions of the officials about a range of issues. Questions were focused largely on the need for health care reform, but also addressing housing costs, homeownership, and a variety of other issues facing Louisiana families. Because time didn't allow for every question, Sen. Mary Landrieu (also in attendance at the event) promised a follow-up forum to keep the discussion going.



The Rural Tour will continue on August 12, when Vilsack joins four other Cabinet members in traveling to Bethel, Alaska, where they'll focus on green jobs, a new energy economy, and climate change. Until then, you can stay tuned for updates at the Rural Tour Twitter Feed.

Permalink  |  Posted: 08:57AM Jul 21, 2009 by USDAblogger in USDA Web Site  |  Add Your Comment Here [0]

Secretary Vilsack and Secretary Chu discuss green jobs and new energy in Virginia

Secretary Vilsack visited Virginia today with Energy Secretary Steven Chu to discuss the many ways in which saving energy, developing green jobs and pursuing new biofuel alternatives will help to revitalize rural America.

This morning, Chu and Vilsack toured the Piedmont BioProducts plant in Danville, and discussed the refinery's cooperation with universities around the country to develop the work Piedmont is doing.

After a cheeseburger, the Secretaries headed to Buddy Mayhew's farm near Chatham, where this afternoon's Rural Tour event drew about 300 people interested in the Obama Administration's plans to create green jobs for rural communities across our nation. Plenty of questions, which has been the case at every stop on the tour and gives the Secretary a great platform to discuss the many ways USDA is touching people in states like Virginia every day, every way.

Vilsack later met with local biofuel manufacturers and local USDA employees. (USDA, in case you're wondering, isn't just in Washington -- a huge part of the revitalization and recovery effort is being led by thousands of USDA employees at the county and state levels, as well as by Foreign Agriculture Service officers posted around the world).

Stay tuned for some photos of this long, but very productive and educational, day. Meanwhile, USDA staff on the road with the Secretary are still Tweeting away as the afternoon goes on.

Permalink  |  Posted: 04:15PM Jul 18, 2009 by USDAblogger in USDA Web Site  |  Add Your Comment Here [0]