THE INCREASING IMPORTANCE OF THE SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZE RANCHING OPERATIONS IS INEXTRICABLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE EXPANDING PERIPHERIES OF URBANIZATION CAUSING LOSS OF AGRICULTURE LAND AND DECLINING AGRARIAN POPULATION. ADDITIONALLY, INCREASING OPPORTUNITY FOR PURCHASE OF AVAILABLE TRACTS OF ACREAGE MATERIALIZE AS RURAL FAMILIES RETIRE OR REORIENT TOWARD OTHER MEANS OF LIVELIHOOD. SIMULTANEOUSLY, URBAN-DWELLERS DESIRING A PIECE OF GENERATIONAL HERITAGE, RETIREMENT INVESTMENT, OR RECREATIONAL GET-AWAY CHOOSE TO BECOME LAND OWNERS AND LIVESTOCK RANCHERS WITHOUT EVEN BASIC KNOWLEDGE OF ANIMAL WELFARE, FACILITIES MANAGEMENT, ANIMAL PRODUCT MERCHANDISING, OR UNDERSTANDING OF THE FINANCIAL ASPECTS OF THE AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM. THESE INDIVIDUALS DO NOT RECOGNIZE THE NEED FOR UNDERSTANDING AGRICULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY; WHILE RURAL-DWELLERS RECOGNIZE THEIR NEED OF ACCESS TO NECESSARY SKILL SETS SUCH AS FINANCIAL LITERACY, CURRENT ANIMAL WELFARE PRACTICES, OR LIVESTOCK MARKETING OPTIONS. ACCESSIBILITY TO EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, BOTH DIGITAL AND FACE-TO-FACE, WILL INCREASE THE EXPOSURE OF NEWCOMERS TO THE AGRICULTURAL LIFESTYLE TO EXPERTISE FROM EXTENSION SERVICES AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH VETERINARY PROFESSIONALS REGARDLESS OF PARTICIPANT BACKGROUND, FORMAL EDUCATION, OR SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS. OFTEN, RANCHERS COMINGLE BREEDING LIVESTOCK WITH RESULTING PROGENY MARKETED AT VARYING AGES AND SIZES THROUGH THE CONVENIENCE OF THE LOCAL AUCTION WITHOUT PROPER DISEASE PROTECTION, PARASITE CONTROL, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY PRINCIPLES LIKE CASTRATION OF MALES, OR PERMANENT ANIMAL IDENTIFICATION. RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE HEALTHY PROGRESSION OF THESE UNPREPARED ANIMALS TO THE NEXT LEVEL OF FOOD SUPPLY PRODUCTION BECOMES THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PURCHASER. CERTAINLY, LACK OF VALUE-ADDED PRODUCT RESULTS IN DIMINISHED ECONOMIC RETURN MUCH LIKE MERCHANDISING ITEMS NO LONGER WANTED THROUGH A LOCAL GARAGE SALE. PUBLIC DEMAND FOR BASELINE STANDARDS RELATED TO ANIMAL WELFARE BECOMES OBVIOUS WHEN COMPARED TO LIVESTOCK RAISED BY MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE OWNERS. ECONOMIC RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR THE RANCHER AND THE LOCAL ECONOMY WILL ALSO RISE.IMPROVEMENT EXISTS WHEREVER NEW KNOWLEDGE AND PARTICIPANTS INTERESTED IN LEARNING MEET. THE KNOWLEDGE PRESENTED MAY BE FUNDAMENTAL OR APPLIED, INVOLVE ACQUIRING IMPROVED SKILLSETS, OR THE UNDERSTANDING OF APPLICABLE POLICY OR NEW METHODS TO APPLY NECESSARY STANDARDS. THE KEY IS LEARNING. APPLICATION OF NEW KNOWLEDGE RESULTS IN AN OBSERVABLE CHANGE IN MANAGEMENT, PLANNING AND ACTIONS. OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE IN REAL TIME EXISTS WHEN LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN RANCHERS, VETERINARIANS, AND EXTENSION PERSONNEL SHARE INFORMATION NEEDED TO INCREASE BASELINE UNDERSTANDING OF AN EXISTING OR NEWLY DEVELOPING BUSINESS. INCREASING PROFITABILITY AND ENRICHING SOCIETAL CONDITIONS ARE RECOGNIZABLE IN SEVERAL COMPONENTS. EXAMPLES INCLUDE INCREASED MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND GREATER ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS THROUGH COOPERATIVE ACTIONS RESULTING IN A POOLING OF LIVESTOCK OF SIMILAR AGE AND PHENOTYPE FROM SEVERAL SMALL OR MEDIUM-SIZE RANCHERS. IMPROVING ANIMAL HEALTH AND WHOLESOMENESS OF PRODUCT THROUGH DISEASE PREVENTION, PARASITE CONTROL, AND NUTRITION DEMONSTRATES RESPONSIBLE ANIMAL HUSBANDRY PRINCIPLES AND OPPORTUNITY TO REALIZED INCREASED MARKET PRICES. LOCAL ECONOMIES RECEIVE BENEFITS RESULTING IN LONG-RANGE COMMUNITY SUSTAINABILITY. ULTIMATELY, ENSURING A SAFE FOOD SUPPLY, PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES AND PRODUCT QUALITY REMAIN THE CORNERSTONE OF ECONOMIC SUCCESS. EDUCATION, CONSULTATION, AND HANDS-ON GUIDANCE ARE THE KEYS TO ENSURING ECONOMIC SUCCESS AND FOSTERING CONSUMER TRUST.THE GOAL OF THIS INTEGRATED PROJECT IS TO ENHANCE ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY AND SUSTAINABILITY OF SMALL AND MEDIUM RANCHERS THROUGH PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL VETERINARIANS. THE PROJECT COMBINES APPLIED RESEARCH AND EDUCATION TO PROPOSE A NEW MODEL FOR VETERINARIANS AND SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED RANCHERS TO WORK COOPERATIVELY TO ENSURE THAT THE NEXT GENERATION OF SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED RANCHERS HAVE ACCESS TO THE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES THEY NEED TO OPERATE THEIR RANCHING OPERATIONS ON A SUSTAINABLE AND PROFITABLE BASIS. OUR OBJECTIVES ARE:OBJECTIVE 1: CONDUCT A PARTICIPATORY NEEDS &AMP; PROJECT DESIGN ASSESSMENT TO DETERMINE THE UNDERLYING REASONS WHY, IN SPITE OF VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS HAVING HOSTED SEVERAL TRAINING PROGRAMS IN THE REGION OVER SEVERAL YEARS, THERE HAS NOT BEEN MORE PROGRESS WITH REGARD TO MAINTAINING AND SUSTAINING SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZED RANCHES.OBJECTIVE 2: DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE SET OF THREE LESSONS FOCUSING ON SUSTAINING SMALL &AMP; MEDIUM-SIZED RANCHING OPERATIONS FOR USE IN VETERINARY PROGRAMS AND EXTENSION PROGRAMS WITH EACH LESSON TO INCLUDE (A) A LEARNING ACTIVITY PACK, (B) AN ASSESSMENT PACK, AND (C) RESOURCES TO SHARE WITH RANCHERS TO CREATE COLLABORATIVE, PRODUCTIVE PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN RANCHERS AND VETERINARIANS.OBJECTIVE 3: PROVIDE EXPERIENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR VETERINARIANS AND RANCHERS IN A1-DAY WORKSHOP TITLED PARTNERSHIP PATHWAYS.OBJECTIVE 4: ASSIST UNIVERSITIES IN THE CREATION OF A WORKFORCE PIPELINE WITH THE QUALIFICATIONS TO PURSUE CAREERS IN RURAL FOOD ANIMAL MEDICINE, AND IN THE CREATION OF PARTNERSHIPS WITH RANCHERS TO HELP MAINTAIN AND SUSTAIN SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED RANCHES BEYOND THE LIFE OF THE PROJECT.FINDINGS FROM THIS RESEARCH WILL BE DISSEMINATED THROUGH CONFERENCES AND RESEARCH ARTICLES.