The Flint Hills Nature Trail took Charles past these cows Sept. 4, but throughout his Peace Walk, Charles has also seen reminders of rural America’s poverty.—Photo by Ann Suellentrop

Wichita-to-KC Bob Lavelle Memorial Peace Walk, pondering poverty, 9/6

Hank Williams Jr.’s signature country classic, “A Country Boy (sic) Can Survive,” extols rural independence. While I certainly revere pastoral ingenuity, it is a fact that a greater percentage of rural people suffer poverty, and for longer periods.