Why is supporting rural communities important to you personally? 

JW Robinson: I love supporting rural communities because they have supported me. Having grown up in small-town America, I have found these communities to be both challenging and rewarding.  

Kelsea Vaughan: I've seen firsthand the challenges rural areas face – whether it's access to resources, economic shifts, or simply being heard. By supporting these communities, I'm helping preserve a way of life that has shaped me, that I'm passing on to my children, and that continues to be the backbone of our country. It's giving back, lifting others up, and ensuring these small but mighty towns continue to thrive for generations to come.  

Growing up or working in rural areas, what values have these communities instilled in you?  

Cheryl Summer: A sense of community and an understanding of its importance, appreciation, and value of hard work – and shared hard work. Respect for life, how fragile it is, and just how hard a life fights for its next breath. Resilience, dependence, and dependability. This makes me sound so old-fashioned, but the more the world strays from and trivializes these simple values, the greater their worth becomes apparent. There's a sense of safety and belonging in rural communities, and the often shared ideal of looking out for one another. I see my rural community as an unsung matter of routine, giving special support and encouragement to both the youngest and the oldest members and those who are facing trials. A rural life, and more specifically, a life with some tie to farming and ranching and tending to living things, fosters resilience and teaches us both dependence and dependability. How better to learn to respect life than to be responsible for it?  

What do you think is the most pressing issue rural communities face that doesn't get enough attention?  

Neil Bangs: One of the toughest issues facing rural communities is keeping the younger generations in the community. Employment opportunities, higher education, and a fast pace of life all seem to draw the younger generation away from their home. This tends to leave a lot of rural communities with an aging population. For those who would like to stay, one of the issues is the price of land in rural America. With the mass migration from large, overcrowded cities to rural America, land prices have shot up in recent years, making it difficult for the younger generation to afford to live where they were raised.  

JW Robinson: I think mental health is probably number 1. Western and rural communities are often a "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" style community. While this is an important lesson because we do have personal responsibility, it often leaves younger people fearful of sharing their personal difficulties. These situations often drive them out of rural communities in search of a place they "fit in." The reality is we all face mental challenges, and finding the right help should never be something to be ashamed of.  

What role do you believe organizations like the Fay Rural Community Foundation play in strengthening these communities?  

Neil Bangs: I believe organizations such as FRCF are a Christmas present, so to speak, for projects in rural communities. It seems it is always a surprise and unexpected, and always shows up just in time. The donation from FRCF couldn't have come at a better time. 

JW Robinson: I think FRCF leads the charge along with other local organizations. They provide creative projects, resources, and structure to organize these rural projects. One individual may find a project overwhelming, but with the assistance of a foundation like FRCF, they can quickly change their creative idea into a beneficial project.  

What is one project you've been involved with through FRCF, and how have you seen it impact the community?  

Neil Bangs: A project I got involved with was ensuring all the Juniors in Cokeville High School went on the school trip to Washington, DC. While I can't say that I have seen an impact yet, other than appreciation for our help, I can't help but wonder what that trip may spark in one of those high school juniors who went on that trip.  

If you could inspire one thing in the next generation of rural residents or land stewards, what would it be? 

Kelsea Vaughan: To care for the land and the animals with a mindset that balances productivity and sustainability. Understanding that healthy soil, clean water, and thriving ecosystems are vital not just for today but for future generations.  

Neil Bangs: Get involved. They will find that a few people do the majority of the volunteering and the work. The loudest group will often be the ones who complain and do nothing. If you want to make a difference, get involved.  

At the Fay Rural Community Foundation, we believe that rural communities don't just deserve to survive. They deserve to thrive. The voices of our Wyoming team remind us that behind every barn door and down every gravel road lives a powerful story of resilience, grit, and quiet generosity. These are the places where neighbors are lifelines, where land and legacy are sacred, and where the future depends on those willing to show up and invest in it. 

But these communities cannot do it alone. The challenges they face—mental health, outmigration, land affordability—are complex and growing. And yet, hope endures. Through every project we support and every story we tell, FRCF is committed to lighting a path forward, hand in hand with the people who call rural America home. 

We invite you to stand with us. Whether you live in a rural town, cherish its values from afar, or want to make a difference where it's most needed, your involvement matters. Donate, partner, volunteer, or share our mission. When you support the Fay Rural Community Foundation, you're not just giving back but helping move rural communities forward. 

Because rural isn't behind—it's the backbone. And it's worth every effort to protect. 

Join us. Together, we'll make sure rural America has the future it deserves.