Last Saturday a couple of us Arizona Young Democrats went up to Payson to meet with someone interested in forming a Young Democrats chapter in rural Mogollon Rim country. During our conversations she told us something about the communication habits of young people in rural areas: text messaging is king.

While most young people in rural areas ways to access the internet, the relative difficulty of getting online and the number of youth holding outdoors jobs makes text messaging the most effective way to communicate.

Facebook may be the best communication tool available for college students and young people living in urban and suburban areas, but it is important to also utilize SMS communication to reach rural areas.

What have your experiences been in organizing rural youth? What have you learned about how to communicate effectively outside major cities? Leave a comment and share.