Rural
Singles Group May Be What You Are Looking For We
recently received this correspondence and run it in its entirety since
want to help out any way we can. Members are invited to send us pictures
taken at activities that we can run so our readers who have not yet made
it to one, can get a preview and see a little glimpse what they are like.
The Reality of the Situation
Today when we turn on the television we see such reality shows as
Survivor, American Idol, Bachelor and the list goes on. Well, what about
reality of a single person, who has an agriculture background and is
lonely, needing a companion or special friendships. Where do they look for
their needs, not on TV, maybe such internet sites as FarmersOnly.com,
but that is just a temporary fix? Sitting long hours at a computer may
temporarily take away some of the loneliness, but by no means does it
solve the problem in the long run. The reality we must face is we have to
leave our farms, homes and get out of our safe zone and go out and find
that special someone. So where should they go you ask?
Singles In Agriculture, nickname of SIA, was formed in the mid-1980s after
a single farmer sent a letter to Farm Journal magazine expressing the
difficulties of meeting single women interested in a rural lifestyle. His
letter prompted Farm Journal staff writer Meg Gaige to pen several
articles on the social lives of single farm people. In one of her columns,
Gaige asked single readers to send in their name, address and a 50-word
biography. The national magazine received more than 2,700 responses.
We are a national agriculture singles group that is made up of farmers,
ranchers and agriculture related occupations and backgrounds. So the
reality is we are the oldest agriculture singles group in America. We have
12 chapters in 16 states and just celebrated our 21st convention in
Indianapolis, Indiana, where we had singles from 17 states present. We
have 3 large national events a year and than each chapter has events
regularly in their states. We do a wide range of activities, barn dances,
canoeing, barbecues, water tank rides , scav enger hunts, dancing, bowling
and various agriculture and regular tours, just to name a few. With this
group, if you are one who can travel you can go to activities in such
states as Wyoming, Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri,
Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Tennessee, Indiana and Ohio as I have done
while as a member of SIA. June 8-10th there is an large event in Yukon,
Oklahoma. The next national event will be July 12-15th in Morton,
Minnesota.
We have had a lot of success in our 21 years as a singles club. We have
married off many singles. They become what we call “Singles No More”
and move into our extended arm of our organization. As a “Singles No
More” they can attend any event, or host an event and they even can
participate in local chapter governing. We develop such friendships over
the years; getting married does not mean you are excommunicated.
Back to the reality, when these farmers attend an activity they
automatically become a family member. The ice breaker for us all is how
was your corn yield this year? Or maybe it is the price of beef or what
kind of tractor do you have? Instantly, one is comfortable and there is a
bond that develops. Rural life is reality, but loneliness does not have to
be as long as there is an organization called Singles In Agriculture.
Here is our website, which has the details of what is going on in each of
our state chapters and on the national level. www.singlesinag.org
I just had to write to you to tell you what I see is the “Reality of the
Situation” and ask you if your media source could help in anyway to get
the word out to those lonely singles that need “Singles In
Agriculture” in their lives. I believe today with the difficult times
facing farmers that your publication and Singles In Agriculture should
bond together to help the farmers anyway we can. I think the future
depends on pulling together and achieving harmony and productivity for the
future of agriculture and everyday farming life.
Thank you and hope we can work together in the future of farming.
Sincerely,
Lindy Hall
National Board of Directors
Singles In Agriculture
305 Lindenhurst Dr. #1007
Lexington, KY 40509
859-421-6273
Email: lindyloulousia@mchsi.com
