Stacy Garrity: Rage is not part of life in rural Pa.

My roots are planted firmly in rural Pennsylvania. It’s where I grew up, went to school, got married, worked and served in the U.S. Army Reserves. I’m proud to say that I still call Bradford County home, and it is 100% rural Pennsylvania.

Recently, some in the media elite have used the term “rural rage” to insult people like me, my family, my friends, my neighbors — and the more than 3 million rural Pennsylvanians I serve every day as state treasurer. It’s a safe bet that those making these insults never spent a day in the beautiful forests of Pennsylvania’s norther tier, never attended a firehall wedding or spent time at the local American Legion.

Let me tell you about real life in rural Pennsylvania.

I grew up in Sayre, blessed with a great family. And, just like in small towns across America, my family was more than my parents and sisters — it was our neighbors, our teachers and our friends from church. This extended family, people who are always looking out for you, is a big benefit of rural life. There was a bit of drama, but rage was nowhere to be found.

I studied at Bloomsburg University, also in a rural community. Like any college, there were rivalries and competition. I recall intense discussions about critical issues of the day and the simple inconveniences of communal college living. We didn’t always agree, but there was no rage.

At Global Tungsten & Powders in Towanda, where I worked, every now and then, a temper flared. But if employees don’t occasionally get emotional about their work, they might be in the wrong career. And, guess what? No rage.

Rural Pennsylvanians share the same concerns as anyone else: They want a good job, a safe community and a bright future for their family. They want a government that works for them, in Harrisburg and in Washington D.C.

Legitimate concerns about taxes, good schools, and access to health care are just that — concerns. They shouldn’t be dismissed as rage. Let’s move past the condescension.

Rural Pennsylvania keeps our state and nation running, starting with the obvious: We feed people across the country. A 2022 report from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture shows that the annual economic impact of agriculture in our state is $81.5 billion, that agriculture supports one out of every 10 jobs, and that it represents approximately 5.8% of private sector employment in Pennsylvania. Agriculture is, and always has been, a vital part of our economy.

While some picture rolling hills and green pastures full of cows when they think “rural,” that’s not all we’re about. Rural Pennsylvania is fueling the nation — literally. Pennsylvania is second in natural gas production nationwide, with most of our wells in rural counties. The industry is growing, as is the need for workers to fill the hundreds of thousands of jobs that come with it. Since 2012, the state has seen more than $2 billion in revenue from natural gas impact fees alone.

The simple fact is that rural Pennsylvanians have more in common with those in the cities and suburbs than one may realize. We watch out for our neighbors. We work hard — on farms, at doctor’s offices and in factories. We want the next generation to thrive, to do even better than we have — and we want them to have great opportunities right here in the state we love.

I don’t know about you, but that sounds more like a community that needs replicated, not “restored,” as these elite pundits claim. Rural Pennsylvania is full of hardworking folks who will lend a smile and a helping hand, who just want decent lives for themselves and their families. Who in their right mind would call that “rage?”

Stacy Garrity is Pennsylvania treasurer.