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Nebraska

Nebraska is a geographically and demographically diverse state. There are few common interests that connect the small town rancher in Chadron with the urban office worker in Lincoln, the state capital. However, Nebraskans belong to a wide variety of social networks based on agriculture, the state's primary economic activity; education; and sports teams, particularly the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers. With the evolution of modern technology, citizens of the state also have the opportunity to easily join regional, national, and global social networks.

Agribusiness and Economics

Agriculture is a shared concern, from the ConAgra Foods executive in Omaha to the feedlot worker in Alliance, and is one that quite likely brings their sons and daughters together in one of the state's largest social networks, the FFA organization. Formerly the Future Farmers of America, the organization dropped the full description of its name in 1988 to reflect increased emphasis on agribusiness. Members of the organization take part in school activities, including intense practice in Roberts Rules of Order, as well as raise animals and create other agriculturally related projects. They also compete against other school FFA organizations in local, regional, state, and national competitions. Each spring, Lincoln and other state capitals are invaded by the blue-jacketed students who gather for their state meetings. The top award winners then travel to the national meeting in Washington, D.C. Networks such as FFA, whose members have included former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, provide opportunities for lifelong friendships and connections.

Other business-oriented organizations also bring Nebraskans together under the umbrella of agricultural concerns. Historically, farmers from the state have belonged to organizations such as the National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry, more commonly known simply as the Grange, which was initially formed in 1867 to promote agricultural interests. The Nebraska chapter of the Grange was also formed that year and was a radical organization for the time, dedicated not only to helping farmers but also seeking to regulate railroads, promote temperance, and further women's participation in society. The Grange, in conjunction with other social movements, had some political success, but its primary influence on agricultural affairs was through its promotion of cooperative extension services and free delivery of rural mail. Networks such as the Grange promoted the idea that farmers were not isolated small businessmen but part of a national economy and, as such, had to do more than grow crops in order to survive. The idea of banding together to promote the economic interests of small agricultural businesses also led to the formation of the Nebraska Farmers Union (1913) as well as Farmers and Ranchers Cooperatives (1931) in places like Ainsworth in the Sandhills region of Nebraska. In addition to promoting economic interests, these organizations also allowed people involved in agriculture to gather together for fellowship and mutual support.

Politics, Education, Sports, and Technology

Another national organization with Nebraska roots is the People's Party, which is more commonly known as the Populist Movement. Formed in Mississippi in 1888, the network reached its height in the 1890s after the Populists held their convention in Omaha in 1892. The party had an ambitious economic and social program, known as the Omaha Platform. This document called for the abolition of the gold standard, direct election of U.S. senators, and a progressive income tax. William Jennings Bryan, who was born in Illinois but relocated to Nebraska in the 1880s, was the most prominent presidential candidate put forward by the Populists, narrowly losing to William McKinley in 1896. After the electoral loss, the party declined in influence as the two major parties co-opted planks from the Omaha Platform. Again, this organization was primarily focused on the big political, economic, and social issues of the day, but the social networks created by membership in the formal party organization also led to the creation of social ties outside the public arena.

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