A record number of rural Americans now own their own homes — a federalreport says three out of every four are realizing the so-called Americandream. The chief of a program that aims to get rural Iowans under their ownrooves says it’s a great achievement.Ellen Huntoon is state director of the U-S-D-A Rural DevelopmentOffice. She says one unique project is underway in the north-central regionof the Hawkeye State.Huntoon says it’s important because homeowners build equity for their futureand the future of their children, and become more involved in communityaffairs. The federal report says 75-point-1 percent of all rural householdsand 66-percent-7 percent of all U-S households own their homes. Both figuresare records. She says the numbers are significant.U-S-D-A Rural Development has 21 offices in Iowa. For more information, call (515) 284-4663, or visit the website at www.rurdev.usda.gov