Marty Strange

Born MA (USA)

Economist and rural sociologist, Marty Strange was the co-founder and co-director of the Center for Rural Affairs originally in Walthill, NE, now Lyons, NE. Strange's 1988 book, Family Farming: A New Economic Vision, is a widely influential critique of corporate farming.

His influence has been widely recognized. Strange received Common Cause’s Public Service Achievement Award and the Rural Sociological Society’s Distinguished Service to Rural Life Award, and was named one of the 100 people who most influenced the course of the state of Nebraska in the 20th century by a panel of scholars and journalists commissioned by the Lincoln Journal Star. In 2012 he received the Stanley A. Brzezinski Memorial Rural Education Research Award from the National Rural Education Association.

Other writers critical of aspects of corporate farming: Ted Genoways, Carolyn Johnsen.

Places Lived

Defiance, OH
MO
Walthill, NE (1973-1996)
Chicago, IL
Randolph, VT

Author Of

Nonfiction

Keywords

Farm Economy

Education

Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology and Political Science, Defiance College, Defiance, OH
Master of Science Degree in Agricultural Economics, University of Missouri

Occupation

Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Center for Rural Affairs, Walthill, NE
Consultant
Policy Director
Scholar in Residence, Green Mountain College, Poultney, VT
Senior Associate with the Joyce Foundation
Senior Advisor to the Northwest Area Foundation

Places Worked

Center for Rural Affairs, Walthill, NE
Rural School and Community Trust
Joyce Foundation, Chicago, IL
Northwest Area Foundation Sustainable Agriculture Initiative, St. Paul, MN
Green Mountain College, Poultney, VT

Honors

Common Cause’s Public Service Achievement Award
Rural Sociological Society’s Distinguished Service to Rural Life Award
He was named one of the 100 people who most influenced the course of the state of Nebraska in the 20th century by a panel of scholars and journalists commissioned by the Lincoln Journal Star
In 2012 he received the Stanley A. Brzezinski Memorial Rural Education Research Award from the National Rural Education Association

Associations

President, Randolph (VT) Area Community Development Corporation
The Randolph Area Chamber of Commerce, Randolph, VT

Bibliography

Take Hogs, for Example: The Transformation of Hog Farming in America. 1981.
Path Not Taken. 1982.
It's Not All Sunshine and Fresh Air. 1984.
Family Farming: A New Economic Vision. 1988.
Unsettled Ground. 1985.
Great Trade Debate. 1989.
Half a Glass of Water. 1990.
Butterfly Against the Gale: Excerpts From Editorials and 'Polking Around'
Columns. 1991.
Neither Here nor There: Quasi-Public Corporations and Economic Development.
In the Middle Border. 1991.
Whittler's Songs. 1996.

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