When Kansas dairy farmers expanded their herds and couldn’t recruit enough local labor, they began recruiting immigrants from Central America as long-term employees with effects that are altering rural society and economics, according to Kansas State University researchers. Associate sociology professor Alisa Garni says immigrant labor and economic development have gone hand in hand.
“Immigrant labor strengthens local housing markets and businesses that relate to farming — everything from consumer retail, food and clothing, and home supplies to farm implement manufacturing — because it supports the dairies and agriculture, which then support other industries,” Garni said in a K-State release. “It has a chain reaction.”
Societal change was another result. A community with an aging population gained new residents. One of the most surprising findings of the long-term research was the extensive quality of intergenerational, intercultural relationships formed between immigrants and residents. “The residents who are retiring welcome newcomers who aren’t as familiar with the area, and some of the newcomers assist some of the retirement-age population if they need help with something, or just to learn and share life stories,” said Garni.
The researchers call the communities in their study “Dairy City” in order to protect the privacy of participants. While there has been a significant increase in the Hispanic population of Kansas, they are still a small minority in the state’s predominantly white rural communities.