Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs
Making a Difference in Rural Illinois
A Foundation for Sustainable Rural Community Development
Underlying Problem of Country Life
From The Report of the Country Life Commission (text) (p. 17-18):
The underlying problem is to develop and maintain on our farms a civilization in full harmony with the best American ideals. To build up and retain this civilization means, first of all, that the business of agriculture must be made to yield a reasonable return to those who follow it intelligently; and life on the farm must be made permanently satisfying to intelligent, progressive people. The work before us therefore, is nothing more or less than the gradual rebuilding of a new agriculture and new rural life (p. 17).
The commission began focusing on how to rebuild the new agricultural and new rural life: knowledge, education, organization, and spiritual forces (p. 17-18).
