Those who do, however, perform as well as those from urban communities. When the best and brightest go off to college, they often don't come back because there's no employment at home for them. Agricultural education is thriving at many rural high schools and community colleges, as students consider a future in rural communities. At Chico, we interest students in the floral business, greenhouse business, landscaping, agriculture finances and welding for agriculture machinery. Urban areas don't want prisons in their back yards but impoverished rural areas welcome them, even the facilities that house the state's toughest criminals.
Prisons offer residents employment opportunities with excellent salaries and benefits.
Urban districts have done a very good job of bringing their issues forward and offering a united voice. Rural communities haven't brought their issues forward and don't always speak with a united voice. Sometimes they are very close-mouthed about what goes on. There has been a lot of substantive discussion on how the association can better meet the needs of its rural chapters. CTA has become more involved with the farm community via the California Farm Bureau.