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Southern Rural Development Center Releases 2024 Annual Report
The year 2024 marks a significant milestone for the Southern Rural Development Center (SRDC), as it celebrates 50 years of service. Throughout these five decades, the SRDC has worked across state, territorial, and institutional lines to strengthen the Land-Grant System’s capacity to meet the evolving needs of rural communities.
The report, titled "Connecting Communities since 1974," highlights how the SRDC unites individuals from varied backgrounds, regions, organizations, and institutions to promote research, outreach, and educational initiatives that tackle critical issues, fostering rural prosperity and vitality.
To view the 2024 annual report, please visit: https://srdc.msstate.edu/annual-reports.
Recently Released: Heirs' Property Research Report 2024-4: "Indicators of Heirs' Property Across the South: A Statistical Analysis"
In the report, funded by the Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Polity Center at Alcorn State University, co-authors Ryan Thomson (Auburn University), Conner Bailey (Auburn University), and Andrew Gunnoe (Maryville College) explain how heirs' property is land passed down without a probated will which leads to unclear ownership and legal challenges. Additionally, this limits wealth building and contributes to rural poverty, and despite previous research, the scope of heirs' property remained unclear due to limited data. However, recent data from over 3,000 U.S. counties allows for more in-depth analysis. With this data, the study maps heirs' property in 14 states, estimating its economic value and identifying key areas ("hot spots"). It also explores social factors linked to heirs' property, highlighting regional and socio-economic patterns.
Link to this report: https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/srdctopics-breakingbarriers/6/
Date Changes: Webinar to be held Winter/Spring 2025: Who Will Fill My Shoes: Succession Planning for Land Owners and Family Businesses
Dates of webinar, left in the 5-Part Series (Time of Webinars for All: 2:00 PM ET/1:00 PM CT/12:00 PM MT/11:00 AM PT):
- Module 2: February 5*
- Module 4: February 12
- Module 5: February 19
*Please note modules 2 & 3 presentation dates have been interchanged and will be presented on the dates indicated above.
To register for the webinars, please visit: https://msudafvm.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2aRrKSK3aF7ady6
Not knowing where to start in succession planning is often paralyzing. In Who Will Fill My Shoes: Succession Planning for Land Owners, Farmers, Forest Owners, and Family Businesses, participants will learn about the following components of succession planning:
- M1: Communication and Conflict in Succession
- M2: Key Players in Succession: Who Should Be Involved?
- M3: Legal and Business Structures
- M4: Roadmapping and Goals in Succession: Who, When, and How to Transfer?
- M5: Meeting Planning and Coordination for Succession
For disability accommodation, please contact Roseanne Scammahorn at r.scammahorn@msstate.edu or (662) 325-5885.
Adapting to the Digital Age: Insights from a National Participatory Research Project
In a new publication, Regional Rural Development Center (RRDC) researchers, which include the SRDC’s director, John J. Green, share their key takeaways from adapting traditional community-engaged research approaches for an entirely virtual setting.
The year-long initiative was a collaboration among all four RRDCs and engaged the efforts of the entire RRDC staff. The project described here was funded by the New Technologies for Agricultural Extension grant program funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and administered by the Extension Foundation.
The RRDCs are regionally focused centers funded by USDA NIFA through the U.S. Congress annual appropriations process. The RRDCs conduct research and outreach programming that builds the capacity of the Land-Grant University System to address crucial needs in our nation’s rural communities.
To read the full press release, please visit: https://bit.ly/3CpaSDR
You are invited: Southern Region Outdoor Recreation Listening Session
You are invited to join the National Extension Tourism Network and the Southern Rural Development Center for an interactive listening session that will help us understand how to support capacity building around outdoor recreation and the roles of Extension.
Date: Monday, February 17, 2025; Time: 11:00 AM ET/10:00 AM CT (1 hour)
To register, please visit: https://go.ncsu.edu/kksnnjk
During this listening session, participants will:
- Learn why outdoor recreation and Extension align and potential opportunities
- Share your current work or interest in outdoor recreation at your institution
- Discuss challenges in implementing outdoor recreation in your Extension work
For disability accommodations, please contact Ann Savage at (919) 515-0920 and/or asavage@ncsu.edu
Southern Rural Development Center Repository: Readership Snapshot Update
In December 2024, the Southern Rural Development Center’s repository collection had a total of 152 full-text downloads, the topic three areas with the most downloads were:
- 33 downloads - Southern Rural Development Center Annual Reports
- 30 downloads - Breaking Barriers: Examining Heirs’ Property Legislation and Access to USDA Programs with the Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Policy Research Center at Alcorn State University
- 26 downloads – Heirs’ Property
These publications and others are hosted by the Southern Rural Development Center on Mississippi State University’s platform, Scholars Junction, which allows users to explore published content from the Center and its partners. To access these topic areas and others, visit the SRDC archival system at https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/srdc/
Webinar-Future Directions for Rural Population Research to Inform Extension: Findings from Listening Sessions
The Rural Population Research Network (RPRN) conducted virtual national listening sessions in an effort to identify the issues diverse rural stakeholders see as their top priorities for understanding rural population change.
More than 80 Extension colleagues working with rural people participated in thematic discussions. In this webinar, RPRN researchers involved with this project will share findings from the listening sessions and how these insights are being used to inform future research and Extension endeavors. (RPRN is the USDA-supported multi-state project W5001.)
Date & Time:
Monday, February 25, 2025; 2:00 PM CT/3:00 PM ET
Registration Link: https://bit.ly/3PzmJSB
Presenters:
John J. Green, Director, Southern Rural Development Center; Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, Mississippi State University
Katherine Curtis, Director, Center for Demography and Ecology; Professor and Demographic Specialist, Community & Environmental Sociology, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Kristina Brant, Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology, & Education, Pennsylvania State University
Sreedhar Upendram, Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics, University of Tennessee
Paige Kelly, Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology, & Education, Pennsylvania State University
The February webinar is presented by the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development (NCRCRD) and the Southern Rural Development Center (SRDC).
If you need reasonable accommodation to participate, please contact Mary Breidenbach at mabreide@purdue.edu no later than 5 days before the event.
Regional Spotlight
Empowering Mississippi’s Youth: Alcorn State University’s Workforce Development Program Delivers Transformative Impact
In the heart of Mississippi, the Alcorn State University Extension Program’s Community Resource Development (CRD) unit, led by Dr. Heather Brice, is leading a transformative initiative that is changing lives and shaping futures through workforce development. By providing individualized service delivery, tailored dosage, and frequency of engagement, the program effectively meets the unique needs of Mississippi’s most vulnerable children and communities. This strategic approach has yielded remarkable success, equipping adolescents with essential skills and meaningful employment opportunities that lay the foundation for long-term economic mobility.
Building a Foundation for Success
The workforce development program is rooted in a holistic approach that goes beyond traditional job training. Participants receive specialized support tailored to their strengths and aspirations, ensuring they acquire both technical and vocational skills, as well as critical soft skills like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. Each adolescent undergoes a comprehensive assessment to develop an individualized workforce development plan, ensuring that training aligns with their personal interests and career goals.
A key component of the program’s success is its commitment to a nonjudgmental learning environment, where participants feel supported and empowered to fully engage in their training. By fostering a space where young individuals can develop confidence and self-sufficiency, the program positions them for long-term success in the workforce.
A Ripple Effect of Success
The impact of this workforce development initiative extends far beyond individual participants. As these young people gain stable employment, they contribute to the local economy, uplift their families, and inspire their peers to pursue career opportunities. Their success stories underscore the importance of targeted workforce development strategies in creating lasting, community-wide change. The importance of grounding this initiative in social work practices and community development principles has tailored an approach to meet each participant’s needs so that vulnerable youth in Mississippi receive the right level of support at the right time. This individualized service model not only increases their employability but also strengthens the social fabric of the community.
A Future Built on Opportunity
The Alcorn State University workforce development program stands as a model of success in bridging the gap between education, workforce readiness, and economic mobility. By leveraging individualized service delivery, strategic partnerships, and community-centered support, the program is breaking down employment barriers and creating pathways to self-sufficiency for Mississippi’s youth.
As the program continues to expand, its impact will be felt for generations to come. By empowering young people with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to succeed, Alcorn State University is not only transforming individual lives but also strengthening Mississippi’s communities, workforce, and economy—one success story at a time.
Job Opportunities
Current Job Opportunities at the Community and Economic Development Unit of Prairie View A&M University Extension
The Community and Economic Development Department (CED) at Prairie View A&M University in Texas is dedicated to supporting limited resource families and individuals in achieving a higher standard of living through various means, such as small business development, youth entrepreneurship, community program involvement, home ownership, government assistance programs, non-profit assistance, and workforce development. Our team of professionals is ready to offer consultation and technical assistance to entrepreneurs and community organizations who wish to start or expand their operations. To learn more about the CED at PVAMU please visit https://www.pvamu.edu/cafnr/extension/community-and-economic-development/.
CED Extension Agent positions are still currently available. To learn more about these positions, visit the Prairie View A&M University job postings web page: https://tamus.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/PVAMU_External?q=CED
Conferences, Workshops, Trainings
2025 Southern Rural Sociological Association (SRSA) Conference
In-Person: February 2-3, 2025, The Westin Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas, Irving, Texas
LEARN MORE AND REGISTER
2025 Extension Leadership Conference (ELC)
In-Person: February 19-20, 2025, Savannah, Georgia
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2025 Public Issues Leadership Development Conference (PILD)
In-Person: April 7-8, 2025, Arlington, Virginia
Save the date and the location of the 2025 PILD Conference.
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2025 National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (NACDEP) Conference
In-Person: June 9-12, 2025, The Embassy Suites, Charleston, West Virginia
Join the West Virginia State University Extension Service and West Virginia Extension Service in Charleston for the 2025 NACDEP Conference: Country Roads, Connecting the Farm to the Country. Call for proposals: https://www.nacdep.net/2025-call-for-proposals Registration will open on March 1, 2025.
LEARN MORE & REGISTER
2025 Community Development Society (CDS) Conference
In-Person: July 6-9, 2025, Geneva, New York
The conference theme is Innovative Pathways to Thriving Communities: People, Technology, and Place-Based Collaboration.
LEARN MORE AND SUBMIT AN ABSTRACT
2025 NETtra Conference
In-person: October 7-10, 2025, Mill Falls at the Lake Resort, Meredith, New Hampshire
Tourism is all about making connections—between people, places, cultures, and time. The 2025 NETtra Conference will connect two organizations comprised of tourism researchers, educators, and practitioners in a first-time collaboration between the Northeast Chapter of the Travel and Tourism Research Association (NETTRA) and the National Extension Tourism (NET) Network, hosted by the University of New Hampshire.