Oct. 28—Devon Wood, who is running as a Republican for Iowa House Dist. 17, was exposed to a part of politics at a young age.

"I grew up with a dad who farmed and my mom was a teacher. At an early age I heard a lot of ag and education policy. I heard what is going on with both worlds at home," she said.

The 26-year-old New Market resident used that as a foundation for her interest in politics as she grew up. "Later in my high school years, I did some programs and was a legislation page at the capitol. When you see that day in and day out, the folks who make decisions, and the people at the coffee shops talking about that, I got more in depth about bills and laws and the conversations around that."

She also spent time with people who were already elected to go to Des Moines from former State Representatives Clel Baudler and Mary Ann Hanusa. "Bubba Sorensen, Tom Shipley and Tom Moore were also good to learn from."

Wood is up against Democrat Pat Shipley. The district includes all of Ringgold, Taylor and Adams counties plus portions of Union and Page.

"I get Creston," she said.

Knowing how the 2020 Census changed the boundaries of House and Senate districts, Wood said one of her interests is convincing people to stay, or moving to, southwest Iowa.

"How do we get families to stay here or how do we entice them to come back," she said. "There are businesses and industries families come back for. What kind of job, education or opportunity are there for people who want to build a life here?"

Wood said expansion of broadband internet may be a start.

"With technology, we can be more a global and interconnected state. New Market got rural broadband funding used to install fiber for our community. I'm looking to expand that," she said. "I hope to expand that and cover most of the state Lots of growth can happen and lots of opportunity."

Farmers Mutual Telephone Company Chief Experience Officer Doug Pals said Red Oak, rural Bedford and Gravity and the rural Clarinda totaled more than $10 million through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Reconnect program. Installation has started for the nearly 800 customers.

Wood's other priorities include providing adequate housing in rural areas, and working with Southwestern Community College and Iowa Western Community College to expand trade programs. Wood says she favors an "all of the above" approach to education, with numerous options for students and parents.

"What kind of job, education and opportunity are there for people who want to build a life here. I might be young but I did come back and invest in my community," she said. Wood has a degree from Simpson.

"With technology we can be a more global and interconnected state," she said. "New Market got rural broadband funding. I'm looking to expand that."

Wood said she is a strong supporter of the vocational career programs available through Southwestern Community College and Iowa Western Community College.

"I'd like to see work on done on expanding tech programs," she said. "I'm and advocate for rural education."