In the huge, open spaces of rural Australia, meeting a potential partner has turned into a difficult pursuit for countless unattached romantics. Grace Smith is a young farmer living on an acreage west of Barraba. She’s intentionally going to more social events to increase her odds of bumping into someone she’d like to date. Tom Mitchell, who four years ago relocated from the NSW Hunter Valley to Porters Retreat, is keenly looking for socializing environments such as rodeos and camp drafts that will increase his dating chances. Both men are examples of a growing movement among rural Americans. They are using community events to overcome the fears of geographic isolation.
Loneliness has become a key concern, and now impacts nearly 35% of rural Australians. This all-encompassing sense of despair can take a heavy toll on physical, mental and social wellbeing. In response, most singles are changing their dating tactics to fight these emotions. According to new data, 21% of rural never marrieds have expanded their dating radius in the last three months. This trend underscores their willingness to seek out the best matches for their needs far outside their borders.
Brady Robards, a sociologist who studies social relationships, calls urban dating markets “thick. They are bursting at the seams with excitement and possibilities. By comparison, he describes rural dating markets as “thin,” with few viable matches to be found. This difference underscores the challenges that Grace and Tom face. Yet, the more they do so, the more challenged they are to find like-minded folks who value the same things and prioritize the same lifestyle trades.
Mia Ryan, the founder of a new dating app for rural folks called Howdy, is tackling many of these challenges directly. The free app — which has already been downloaded over 20,000 times — has seen three-quarters of those downloads come from users living in rural communities. In August, Howdy held its first singles event in Orange, selling 250 tickets to singles from almost every state in Australia. This new matchmaking event perfectly captures the increasing demand for fun, creative, and effective ways to connect rural singles.
Grace Smith made the personal choice to withdraw from dating apps after facing a number of negative interactions on the platform. Instead, she’s focusing her efforts on building connections in real life by attending a range of singles mixers. This is an approach that really nails the sentiment of most rural Australians. They frequently confront issues in locating compatible mates, especially within their usually small communities. These small communities can make it difficult for individuals to freely express themselves or form new relationships, particularly for members of the LGBTIQ+ community.
Tom Mitchell’s story is indicative of a much larger fight for many in rural America. It’s hard for many to make new friends when farming takes as much out of them as it does. The time constraints inherent to the farming lifestyle often leave little time for social life, making finding a potential partner even more difficult. Through this difficult new reality, he understandably harbors a great deal of hope. By attending local events in the meantime, he hopes to be introduced to a partner who matches his ideals and mission.
We know innovators like Mia Ryan know these struggles just as well. She grew up on a sheep farm in the rural Hunter Valley. Due in part to her own experience, she knows firsthand the difficulties of making connections across the country. Through Howdy and its accompanying events, she aims to create a supportive environment where rural singles can connect and foster meaningful relationships. Howdy’s first event went even better than expected! It indicates that rural Australians want more opportunities to engage with people outside their immediate networks.
Dating in rural Australia is about more than the logistics. It exposes profound questions in our society around disconnection and belonging. Individuals like Grace and Tom are actively seeking ways to bridge these gaps through participation in community activities and innovative technological solutions like dating apps. As more people recognize the importance of social interaction for their well-being, it becomes increasingly vital to address the barriers that inhibit meaningful connections.
