For 15 years, Donald Trump has defined rural politics—now we're asking "What's Next?"
Check out these highlights from 2050 Fest This Weekend
This past Saturday in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, rural people from across the region came together for something special—2050 Fest.
It was a full day of music, workshops, food, and strategy to imagine a bold future for rural America. And it was a big success:
Artists like Raury, Apes of the State, and Nathan Evans Fox lit up the stage.
Rural leaders shared strategies and stories in packed workshops.
Food trucks, games, and conversations celebrated all the things we love most about rural America
The energy in the room proved what we already knew—rural America is ready to dream bigger and fight for the future we deserve.
Highlights from 2050 Fest
Music From 2050 Fest
But 2050 Fest wasn’t the end—it was the launch of a nationwide campaign to mobilize the next generation of rural leaders and build a bold, 25-year vision for rural America.
We know that all politics is local, but in small towns and rural communities, it’s personal. If you live in a rural community, you know that the future of our towns will have a direct, personal impact on your life. That’s because our politics, our economy, and even our health are connected.
Right now, many rural communities—including rural Pennsylvania—are facing a rise in “diseases of despair”: addiction, suicide, alcohol-related illness, and other health crises fueled by decades of lost industry, stagnant wages, weakened social safety nets, and reduced access to higher education and healthcare.
For so many of us in Rural America, these aren’t abstract political issues—they are the harsh reality that affects our friends, families, and neighbors.
For 15 years, Donald Trump has defined rural politics—even as his policies have left many of our communities behind. But he will never lawfully be on the ballot again. That era is ending, and the question now is what comes next.
We believe small-town and rural folks like you—not billionaires, not pundits—should answer that question.
Over the next year, we’ll be working with our national network to shape a long-term plan that reflects real rural life—real frustration, real neglect, and a real desire for something better. By the end of next year, we’ll have a concrete strategy to win in a post-Trump rural America.
And it starts with you.
Please fill out this form and join the conversation. Our team will be in touch soon.
Seeing 2050 Fest bring together rural creatives, organizers, and visionaries isn't just refreshing—it’s essential. Events like this remind us that the future of rural America isn’t defined by outside expectations, but by the dreams and grit of the people who call these places home.
Especially powerful is how RuralProgress is not just celebrating the present, but inviting communities into a year-long vision building project—a rare chance to outlast election cycles and build something generational. I’m already signing up to be part of that conversation. Here’s to imagining, together, what rural America looks like when we build it from within.