Here & Now

What's the Incentive to Move to Rural Communities?

Frederica Freyberg:
Now beyond the ballot. Reporting in collaboration with Wisconsin Public Radio where we ask voters what election issues are most important. Tonight we hear from a 20-something woman from Mauston who’s worried there’s not enough incentive for young people to move to rural communities.

Alana Voss:
Hi Ari.

Marisa Wojcik:
Alana Voss knows the name of every person.

Alana Voss:
I’m so excited you’re bringing Sophia.

Marisa Wojcik:
And animal she encounters while working at the county fair.

Alana Voss:
If kids need help with their calves…

Marisa Wojcik:
Having started a tradition with her father years ago. She helps kids bring their animals across the county road so that residents at the local nursing home can greet them. Voss always knew she wanted to move back to her hometown of Mauston.

Alana Voss:
I definitely knew pretty early on that I wanted to come home. I just didn’t know what the job situation would allow. But having that opportunity really made me excited that when I found the opportunity to come home and work at home and work in the community, it really made an impact on my life.
[goat bleating]

Marisa Wojcik:
She got a job as an agriculture educator with the UW Extension in Juneau County. Mauston is the county seat between Tomah and Wisconsin Dells along the I-94 corridor. And this rural town of roughly 4400 is like many in Wisconsin experiencing a so-called brain drain.

Alana Voss:
Yeah, I think there is that trend. Our county’s small in some senses. It doesn’t have the big businesses that can bring in the money that some of these other ones can.

Marisa Wojcik:
Young talent moves away for school and they might not return to their hometowns if they can’t find a job or the salary required to pay off student loans, find housing, and start a family. The numbers for Mauston aren’t great. According to 2016 census, the median age in Mauston is 43. Almost 40% of the population collects social security and the median household income is less than $43,000. But Voss and others believe if the occupation is there, the desire to live in your hometown community is there as well.

Alana Voss:
I think it depends what people went to school for. That makes a difference. If you can find something in your field that you want to go for if you can find an opening, kids will move home if they can.

Marisa Wojcik:
This is something the Mauston School District is hoping to foster by bringing up the next generation of educators. Citing research that 61% of first-time teachers find jobs in schools within 15 miles of their hometown. Leah Luke runs a multi-faceted program aimed at cultivating interest in teaching and getting more students passionate about the profession at the high school age.

Leah Luke:
We’re trying to do a better job of staying connected with them and to include them as much as possible. And also to give them opportunities to build credentials here at home so that they continue to feel connected here. And then that maybe this is their first choice when they apply and bring them back home.

Marisa Wojcik:
The district offers students opportunities for dual credit in educator prep courses as well as internships and other areas of experience creating a pipeline of young people becoming licensed educators.

Leah Luke:
Hopefully they’ll consider applying to Mauston if there’s an opening in the position that they’re licensed in when they’re done.

Alana Voss:
What’s your pony’s name?

Marisa Wojcik:
For Voss it was just important for her to bring her talents back home and educate the kids coming up after her.

Alana Voss:
My community’s always been very important to me. I wanted to be back in the area. Not just for the family farm but for the community. I mean this is where I grew up. I want to see the best for the younger generations to come.