Involvement with the 4-H program during youth has been empirically shown to have positive effects on participants and to influence their life perspectives and career development. The activities offered within 4-H allow individuals to build relationships with peers and mentors, develop life and leadership skills, and create a positive self-concept.…

Today's agricultural leaders face complex challenges. On a global scale, pressing issues around land use, food production and security, natural resource management, energy consumption, and climate change drive the need for systemic, innovative, collaborative solutions. For over four decades, adult agricultural leadership programs have represented…

A census of 23 adult leadership development programs including 2,200 individuals from 262 classes investigated the influence of the group level (class) elements on individual intentions to participate in alumni programming. Individual and group level effects were evaluated, specifically, level of individual and group satisfaction as well as level…

Rural stress is the physiological reaction brought upon by internal and socioeconomic stressors characteristic of rural residents. This type of stress is exacerbated by the complex issues facing rural populations and serves to inhibit the growth of vibrant, resilient communities. The current study sought to construct and validate an instrument…

In the information rich society of the 21st century consumers have had access to many different communication channels where they can find information about agricultural topics. Individuals seek information that fulfills their needs and opinion leaders have been identified as a solution to communicating with audiences about complex topics.…