We Who Plowed the Prairies: Pastoral visions of farmwork don't square with the reality of what it means to live in rural areas today.

The article examines the disparity between the idealized image of rural life and the contemporary challenges that rural communities face, highlighting the recent protests by European farmers, the complexities of rural American identity and voting patterns, and the impact of economic forces and political myths on rural areas. It discusses how the portrayal of rural life often overlooks the nuanced economic and social realities, including the impact of modern industrial practices on agriculture.