Effective leadership is critical for communities as they work to maintain their vitality and sustainability for years to come. The purpose of the study reported here was to assess confidence levels and community engagement of community leadership program participants in North Dakota State University Extension programs. Through a survey…

Focus groups of 147 farmers in Geauga County, Ohio, determined that the number of farms declined overall, although townships closer to Cleveland gained farms, including those with the most residential development and highest market value of farmland. Farmers in more rural areas identified urbanization problems; farmers in more urban areas…

Author presents a case-study showing how Delaware Extension Service launched an effort to reach the goal of better planned communities through making land-use controls become guidelines for zoning ordinances. He discusses how segments of the community were approached and the positive results of fifteen years of work. (Editor/LF)

A project integrated community service learning with community development by involving high school students in conducting a community survey with extension staff. Students learned about needs assessment and their community and were motivated to seek future involvement. The community used information gathered to develop a youth recreation program…

High school students surveyed 200 businesses in Immokalee, Florida, using the findings to create a business directory. Students learned about elementary statistics, interviewing, public relations, and data reporting. The project benefitted school-community relations and made students more aware of their community. (SK)

The Illinois Rural Recreation Development Project seeks to develop diversified funding and community partnerships for long-term recreation services in rural areas. The project relies on professionally trained recreation directors and citizen support and participation in planning. (SK)

Special Urban Issue. Former Deputy Undersecretary of Agriculture defines rural development and urges leadership in the area to assure balanced growth in the nation. (DS)