But we still have way too many children living in poverty. I don’t think the federal or state governments can do much solve this problem. Any solutions will have to originate locally and have grass-roots support.

Manufacturing and fabrication of equipment for livestock and poultry facilities, crop production (especially irrigation equipment) and food and dairy processing continues, but is affected by the movement of the dairy industry out of the Ozarks and changes away from crop farming in favor of grazing beef cattle.

But overall, manufacturing has left the Ozarks for the same reason that it came: cheaper labor costs.

With moderate four season weather, scenic topography and lower cost of living, I think the Branson area is a good a place to invest in real estate, hence our recent purchase of approx 90 acres of land.

While we also have invested in land in other more expensive parts of the country (Asheville, NC for example) and while it seems to be a very desireable area to live, we quite often ask ourselves “who can afford these prices ($10,000 to $25,000/acre) for bare land?”.

I think there will be a growing demand by retirees to move to a more moderate cost of living place (like the ozarks) as the more expensive retirement areas run out of water, room or both!

In other words, perhaps what you preceive to be the area’s weakness may eventually turn out to be it’s strength. You guys down there just need to figure out how to keep capitalizing on your strengths!

Sincerely,

George from Wisconsin