By TIM THORNBERRY
Kentucky Correspondent LEXINGTON, Ky. — Farming can be a tough occupation, but the workload is often shared by a husband-wife team, along with their families. For those who are single and in agriculture, the work can be even tougher – and lonely, at times.
There is an organization, though, devoted to bringing those people together in a family sort of way. Singles in Agriculture (SIA) has been around for 23 years to provide educational, recreational and social opportunities for singles involved in agriculture or with an agricultural background.
Through state and national events and conferences, members come together to socialize, share ideas about their trade and provide a network for those members to help each other. Ada Costello is a national board member for the group and has seen firsthand how helpful SIA can be through its activities.
“This is just a group of people needing people,” she said. “It is a terrific group for people who like to travel and we still like to have fun.”
The nonprofit organization has about 1,000 members in 41 states and several state chapters including Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Iowa, to name a few. Costello said the meetings are always educational and ag-related because many of those involved are still farming.
“Different members put on events and we go to all the different areas and do all kinds of things, whatever the area offers, and that is what is unique about this organization,” she said. “It is like extended family. It’s not a dating organization, although some do – but there’s no pressure as to that. We’re all just good friends.”
The group got its start quite simply, after a single farmer sent a letter to a farm publication explaining the difficulties of meeting single women interested in the “rural lifestyle.” The letter prompted a reporter to write several articles about the social lives of single farm people, eventually asking interested readers to send in their names and contact information.
The reaction was overwhelming, with more than 2,700 responses. Those submissions were then compiled, printed and mailed to all those who had replied and the organization was born through an Iowa woman, Marcella Spindler, who volunteered to handle the information from those interested in forming a singles group.
The most recent conference was held in Kentucky July 9-12 as a way to get people there interested in the organization. The state does not yet have a chapter but event host and SIA National Board Member Linda Hall hopes to get area singles interested.
“I had about 140 people from 16 states from as far away as Colorado and Texas,” she said of the four-day conference. “We try to always do some educational tours and we kept them busy.”
Hall also said while some are shy about becoming involved at first, they soon find they have much in common with other members.
“You just kind of get involved in this organization and you give it your all. This is a family organization and we really do become a family. We are all connected some way through agriculture and it just opens the door, and it’s so easy to talk about it,” she said.
Members have varied backgrounds and are of varying ages, but most are above the 40-year-old mark. Hall said she would like to see more “young” people become involved.
“We need a new generation of SIA, more in their thirties and even twenties. They all need a social outlet. This isn’t just a dating thing. It’s people getting out and enjoying their single life,” she said.
During the Lexington conference, the attendees were treated to tours of local distilleries and horse farms, as well as the Keeneland Race Track, the Kentucky Horse Park, a local winery and the Toyota manufacturing facility.
SIA is devoted to singles, but many members have married through the years. Instead of having to drop out of the group, an association within the organization known as Singles No More was established, which allows those who have married to remain active in SIA.
Hall added in order to get a feel of what the organization is all about, one really has to attend one of the events. The gatherings are special, especially when it comes to parting ways.
“SIA is famous for its Circle of Hugs, and it’s quite a way to say goodbye,” she said. “We make lifelong friends.”
For more information about SIA, visit www.singlesinag.org |
