Confidence and Courage in the Next 50 Years.

This article presents information on the establishment of the Rural Sociological Society which was founded in response to the conditions which resulted from the economic crisis known as the Great Depression. Rural sociologists have been involved in responding to social conditions created by the rural crisis of the 1980s which shares similarities with the social and economic conditions in rural areas a half-century ago. Rural sociologists have played key roles in the development of rural policy. In addition, rural sociologists have also come to occupy an increasing number of academic and research-administrator positions which have allowed them to affect research, teaching, and extension agendas relative to rural issues.