Teeing Up Support: Rural Gone Urban Swings Big for Rural Women
On Saturday, April 26th, the clouds rolled in, the rain came down, but the mission carried on. The Rural Gone Urban Foundation hosted its spring golf tournament fundraiser in true rural fashion: with grit, laughter, and a full lineup of soggy but spirited golfers who showed up for something bigger than the weather.
Empire Ag was proud to sponsor the tournament, a tournament designed to raise funds that directly support Rural Gone Urban’s mission: providing scholarships, love bombs, and small business grants to rural women who are ready to rebuild, rise, and take the next bold step.
Jonathon and Holly Haralson were on-site to represent our team, rain or shine. And while the weather made the course a little more challenging, it didn’t dampen the energy. When you're surrounded by folks who believe in showing up for rural communities, even in the rain, you know you're part of something special.
More Than a Game: A Mission That Matters
The golf tournament wasn’t just a day on the green. It was a powerful reminder of what the Rural Gone Urban Foundation is all about: amplifying the voices of rural women who are often overlooked, underfunded, and underestimated.
Founded by Brooke Clay Taylor, our very own powerhouse, this Foundation was born from her personal story of grit and resilience. A stage 4 cancer survivor and rural businesswoman, Brooke knows firsthand what it means to fight like hell and keep building anyway. Today, the Foundation offers scholarships, love bombs, and small business grants to rural women who need a boost to keep going or start again. The spirit she brings to everything is bold, unapologetic, and deeply impactful. It lives at the heart of Rural Gone Urban.
Behind the Scenes: Empire Financial Services Keeps the Books Straight
Our involvement goes deeper than a sponsorship. Through Empire Financial Services, we keep the Foundation’s books in order so they can focus on the real work, serving women who need more than just encouragement; they need accurate, reliable, and timely resources.
Every donation counts, and we mean that literally.
Even when supporters send money through Venmo and the platform takes a cut in fees, we track and credit the full intended donation. That means when someone gives $100, the Foundation sees the full $100 reflected on their donor records, even if the deposit is $96.41.
It’s small details like this that make a big difference when you’re stewarding funds for long-term impact.
Community, Grit, and the Occasional Mulligan
Sure, there were wet scorecards, mistimed swings, and a few laughs over soggy snacks. But the real win was seeing a community show up to back a vision: that rural women deserve resources, recognition, and a runway to build whatever comes next.
To all the golfers, sponsors, volunteers, and donors, thank you for being part of the day. Your support fuels more than a round of golf; it fuels legacies in the making.
And to Brooke and the team at Rural Gone Urban: we’re proud to stand beside you, no matter the weather or the soggy socks.
Want to support the work Rural Gone Urban is doing for women in rural communities? Learn more and get involved here.
