When a Dream Lives: the 1980s Farm Crisis in Iowa

In the final days of May, AMOS gathered 100 Iowans from 24 communities across the state for a seminar at Iowa State University focusing on the 1980s Farm Crisis.  The seminar was organized by AMOS leaders from 17 member institutions and 3 rural communities currently exploring AMOS membership.  

Dr. Pamela Riney-Kerhberg, author of 'When a Dream Dies: Agriculture, Iowa and the Farm Crisis of the 1980s," shared poignant stories that reflected the magnitude of loss imposed by the farm crisis in the Midwest.  She described it as a "rolling crisis," first impacting young entrepreneurial farmers and then their parents and grandparents, many of whom were encouraged to enter into unbearable debt to finance their family's legacy.  The loss of land had long-standing impact on generations of Iowans, with dreams distorted by the unfeasibility of family farming and mental anguish for those displaced.  

In small group conversations during the day-long event, urban and rural Iowans shared powerful stories from the Farm Crisis and re-imagined how local institutions organizing together could impact the pressures impacting families across the state today.  AMOS' next steps include 3 summer training opportunities in Northeast and Central Iowa towards the launch of local house meeting organizing campaigns this fall.