We need Your Help.
After you sign the Rural Water Strong Pledge, take your support a step further by creating a short video (20 seconds or less) about why Americans across the United States should support USDA Rural Development water funding and encourage them to sign the pledge. Share who you are, where you’re located, and how USDA RD supports your local community. Help us flood social media with the importance of Rural Development!
Once you complete your video:
Post it on social media for your friends and family to share and use the hashtags: #KeepRuralWaterStrong #RuralWaterStrong
Send it to your State Association
Upload your video using the form below.
If you have issues uploading them in the form below, please email your video to contact@ruralwaterstrong.org.
Not sure where to start? No worries, we’ve included messaging and filming tips below to help you get started on your video!
Video Testimonial Submission Form
Helpful Tips and Tricks for Your Video
Messaging for the video
Introduce Yourself: Tell us who you are, where you are from, and what you do in the water/wastewater industry.
Share Your Story: Whether you’ve received loans or grants through USDA or relied on technical assistance and training provided through your State Association, share how these programs benefited your system and community during times of need.
Call to action: End your video with this call to action (or something similar):
Please join me in supporting USDA Rural Development by signing the pledge at RuralWaterStrong.org. Keep Rural Water Strong!
Be Authentic: Keep it simple and genuine. No need for fancy production—just be yourself and share your story but if you want to don’t hesitate to add your own flair!
Tips and Tricks for Filming:
Hold the Camera Steady: To avoid shaky footage, place your phone on a stable surface or use a tripod if you have one. If your app has alignment lines, use them to keep the picture steady and balanced. Most phones have built-in stabilization but try to avoid fast movements and keep steady shots.
Good Lighting: Make sure you have good lighting. Natural light works best, so try to film during the day.
Clear Audio: Ensure your voice is clear. Avoid noisy environments and speak directly to the camera.
Better Audio: There are ways to plug a mic into your phone for better audio, but if you don't have one, the built-in mic on your phone will work just fine. You can also use AirPods or a Bluetooth microphone if you have one!
Open your camera app and start creating!
Want to take your video to the next level? Follow these tips and tricks with these video apps. Editing your video is not required.
Use TikTok or Similar Apps: The TikTok Studio app and TikTok app are great free resources for producing videos. Simply hit the "+" at the bottom middle of the TikTok app and start creating. If you hold the red record button, you can record in segments to help with your audio recording flow. If you tap the red button, the video will continue recording without holding it; tap it again to stop. You can also add "captions" to make the video pop out more. You don't have to post the video on TikTok, but you can save the video on your camera and post it where you want!
Use Instagram Reels: Instagram also offers great tools for video production. When you go to make a "reel," you can use the dual camera feature to record with both the front and back cameras simultaneously, perfect for showing what you're working on in the field! Instagram also has a green screen option, similar to TikTok, if you want to record your video over pictures. You can access the reel producer through the Facebook app by clicking "video," then the "camera icon," and selecting "reels: create a reel." The producer of the Facebook app is a bit more simplified and streamlined, but both apps allow you to produce reels. You can always just keep it simple and let your story do the talking, but the apps have lots of options to help bring the video up a level.
If you have questions or need help with video production, email chase.mallow@nrwa.org.