Growing up in a small town has always been a pride of mine. My dad is a small farmer and I had the privilege to be raised around animals and crops on a 100-acre farm. My school was tiny where everyone knew everyone (or were cousins somewhere down the line). I loved every bit of it.

Then I started growing up and made a couple of huge decisions. One of those being to attend Missouri State University, even though I knew ZERO people going there and it was a three and half-hour drive from the only place I had ever called home. I left my family, my home and my friends that had been constant and consistent for 18 years.

College was a huge transition, but one of the biggest mountains I never expected myself to be climbing was to deal with being small-town shamed, as I call it. I can't count the times I've been "assumed" small-minded, racist, or anything on the very far right of politics. It's frustrating and I'm tired of it!

I didn't grow up under a rock and definitely wasn't "raised in a barn" in the derogative way some people ask. What I did grow up with was a passion for being in that barn with animals; nursing bottle babies, cleaning out stalls, and loving each animal that I got to care for.

At college I have started to ask questions like "Wait, people are offended by the rebel flag, I know a dozen guys that have those in the back of their trucks." I've felt ashamed by asking questions about LBTQ+ legislation, feminism, and other very popular topics my peers are discussing.

Yes, I have questions about those topics because hot topics at home are GMO labeling, antibiotic legislation, and more agriculture based. But that doesn't make me ignorant to the rest of the world

College has opened my eyes to opinions and thoughts but since I'm from a small town other's tell me that MY opinion and thoughts are wrong.

People act like I've never met someone whose black, gay, lesbian or any other type of person that isn't a white regular Republican old farmer. WRONG.

I'm tired of my voice being seen as less legitimate and feeling belittled because of my small town background. I'm proud I grew up knowing where my food is from. I see posts about "milking almonds" and miss-naming of animals and don't call these people wrong about every other aspect of life.

Rather, I've been taught to stand up for the right answers about agriculture and to understand not everyone grew up with the same knowledge and experiences that I've been blessed with.

So next time you meet someone from a small town, even if they aren't from a farming community, please don't assume them to be small minded. Listen to them and their unique experience, just as how they will do the same to you because they were raised with manners.And to all my fellow Small-Towners, never feel ashamed. We bring a new and important perspective to the table that should never be overlooked.