Exurbanization and Rural Churches in Wright County, Minnesota

The population of many rural communities in counties adjacent to metropolitan areas is increasing through the process of exurbanization. This study used structured interviews, documentary and secondary data, and direct observation to examine the impact of exurbanization in one nonmetropolitan county —Wright County, Minnesota —on the county\u27s churches. The characteristics of natives and exurbanites were compared, their relationships examined, the impact of exurbanites on the county\u27s congregations explored, and implications for church, denominational, and community leaders offered

The Community Development Society Students and Young Professionals Initiative

There is a growing recognition of the role of youth in community development. Their roles range from serving on youth committees in local development organization to training for careers in the community development profession (e.g., Brennan, Barnett, & Lesmeister, 2007; Christens & Dolan, 2011). Thus, encouraging young professionals and graduate students to become members in professional associations or organizations is crucial for networking, professional development, and collaborative efforts towards community development. In an attempt to bridge potential pitfalls associated with student involvement in a professional association, an ad hoc meeting of graduate students and young professionals was convened at the annual conference of the Community Development Society (CDS) in July 2017. The discussion eventually blossomed into an initiative which created an opportunity to explore best practices for CDS to make students and young professionals feel included and welcomed. The participants discussed best practices for enhancing the culture of the association based on their lived experiences. Furthermore, these discussions revealed four major barriers in participating in a professional association which include lack of monetary funds, self-examination of “doing” community development, practitioners vs. academics, and the overall benefits of belonging to the association and attending the conference

An Analysis of the Exchange Relationships in a Voluntary Organization Network Undergoing Structural Change

Using Richard Emerson\u27s exchange network analysis, exchange relations in the South Dakota 4-H program were examined. South Dakota 4-H is comprised of both paid staff and volunteer leaders. It is currently undergoing structural change through the implementation of the Key Leader System. The Key Leader System involves appointing county level Key Leaders and club level Project Leaders to disseminate information to 4-H members and to assist them with their projects. Survey data, interviews, and State Fair results were collected to test hypotheses generated by exchange network analysis. Both clubs and counties varied in the degree to which they had implemented the Key Leader System. A relationship was found between the number of 4-H members in a club and the number of Project Leaders appointed in those clubs. The number of State Fair exhibitors per county in a Key Leader System Project remained unchanged over time whereas the number of exhibitors per county in a non-Key Leader System project dropped. Rewards of exchange relations were directly related to attitudes toward the Key Leader System by County Extension Staff and volunteer leaders. Rewards of exchange relations included decreased time commitments, favorable role changes, belief in Key Leader System\u27s ability to retain 4-H members and volunteer leaders and to improve 4-H members\u27 projects. Rewards of exchange relations and implementation of the Key Leader System were not related. No relationships were found between rewards of exchange relations and volunteer leaders\u27 retention plans. Neither Project Leaders\u27 power, the number of 4-H members in a club, nor residence was related to Organizational Leaders\u27 retention plans. Refinements of exchange network analysis are implied by the study\u27s findings. Extended networks affect immediate networks. Different network planes influence actors\u27 behavior in other network planes. Multiple roles played by a person in a network will affect the dynamics of that network

Income Distribution in Midwestern Agriculture-Dependent Counties: Policy Implications

Community/Rural/Urban Development, Financial Economics,

The Role of Voluntary Association Membership on Rural Community Residents\u27 Awareness of Community Issues

Over the past several decades, communities in rural America have undergone dramatic changes, such as declining-populations, aging populations, loss of businesses, churches, and schools, and sagging economies. In agriculturally dependent rural counties, many of these changes have been related to shifts in the structure of agriculture, and more currently, to the economic crisis facing the agricultural industry. Awareness of and support for those farmers experiencing financial strain has been noted by both researchers and the public media. However, the degree to which residents of rural communities are aware of how farm financial strain affects their rural communities has not been adequately explored (however, see Leistritz and Ekstrom, 1986). Without awareness of how nationwide economic and social forces affect rural communities, residents may find it difficult to respond to such changes. How have rural community residents become aware of the farm crisis\u27 impact on their rural communities? More broadly, how does awareness of social issues develop at all

A COMPARISON OF SUSTAINABLE AND CONVENTIONAL FARMERS IN NORTH DAKOTA

Interviews and mail-out/mail-back surveys were conducted in 1992 with 38 conventional and 41 sustainable North Dakota farmers. The results emphasize the differences and similarities of these two types of farmers. Sustainable farms had more diverse cropping practices and were more likely to raise alternative crops like alfalfa, buckwheat, hay, millet, oats, and rye than conventional farmers. Conventional farmers were more likely to raise traditional crops like barley, sugar beets, sunflowers, and spring wheat. Conventional farmers averaged substantially higher crop yields than sustainable farmers. Three-fourths of the sustainable farmers raised livestock compared with one-half of the conventional farmers. Conventional farmers had greater equity, assets, gross farm income, and net farm income than sustainable farmers. Conventional and sustainable farmers reported nearly the same amount of satisfaction with farming as an occupation, the same stress levels, and the same perceived skill requirements.sustainable farms, conventional farms, organic, North Dakota, Environmental Economics and Policy, Farm Management,

Midwest Consumers’ Beliefs and Attitudes Regarding Agricultural Biotechnology: An Executive Summary

As part of a project investigating the social, economic, and ethical issues related to the application of biotechnology to food production and to the adoption or rejection of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), we conducted a survey using a questionnaire mailed to a randomly selected sample of consumers in five Midwestern states—Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. This report highlights the responses of the 458 respondents to that completed and returned questionnaire

USDA Farm Programs: North Dakota Farmer Participation and Opinions

Agricultural and Food Policy,

Sustainable Agriculture and the Structure of North Dakota Agriculture

Environmental Economics and Policy, Industrial Organization, Production Economics,

Selected Characteristics of North Dakota Farm Families Engaged in Sustainable Agricultural Practices

Environmental Economics and Policy, Farm Management, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,