THE RURBAN FRINGE

Beyond the Buggy

Posted on | January 12, 2009 | No Comments

Last week, the NY Times ran an article hightlighting how the Amish are abandoning their plows for off-farm employment.

“The Amish move into the world of commerce has been more out of necessity than desire.  Over the last 16 years, the Amish population in the United States … has nearly doubled … and the decreasing availability and increasing cost of farmland has forced many of these agrarian families, especially the younger generation, to gravitate to small business as their main source of income.”

To be competitive in the 21st century, small business owners – including the Amish – have to build alliances, utilize technology and exercise their voice.

There is often more to rural economies than the traditional notion of agriculture and the Amish dedication to hard work, opportunity recognition and implementation clearly demonstrates this as their members move from farms … into entrepreneurship.

Thanks to Colin at Canuckflack for the lead.

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Category: Entrepreneurship
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