** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** WHO WILL FOLLOW US? IS A QUESTION INCREASINGLY AT THE CENTER OF CONVERSATIONS AMONG RURAL LEADERS. A COMMUNITY'S LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE DETERMINES HOW WELL THE LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE FUNCTIONS, WHETHER THE COMMUNITY DECLINES OR FINDS WAYS TO RETAIN YOUNG PEOPLE AND ATTRACT NEW PEOPLE, AND WHAT ENTREPRENEURIAL OPPORTUNITIES EXIST. OUR UNIQUE CONTRIBUTION TO SUSTAINABLE RURAL DEVELOPMENT LIES IN MOVING PAST THE BAND-AID APPROACH - SWOOPING IN TO CONDUCT LEADER TRAINING - TO BUILDING A LEADERSHIP ECOSYSTEM THAT LINKS EXISTING LEADERSHIP ACTIVITIES WITH NEW LEADERSHIP PATHWAYS. WE WILL APPLY RIGOROUS THEORETICAL AND EMPIRICAL APPROACHES TO CREATE AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO ADVANCING LOCAL AND REGIONAL LEADERSHIP STRUCTURES THAT PLAY A KEY ROLE IN PROMOTING RURAL PROSPERITY BY:1. IMPLEMENTING A MIXED-METHODS RESEARCH DESIGN TO IDENTIFY COMMUNITIES WITH STRONG LEADERSHIP PROFILES AND CONTROL COMMUNITIES WITH MATCHED DEMOGRAPHIC AND ECONOMIC PROFILES TO ANALYZE THE EVOLUTION OF LEADER NETWORKS AND PRACTICES THAT RECRUIT, MENTOR, AND RETAIN LEADERS.2. BASED ON THE RESEARCH AND CASE STUDIES, DEVELOPING, PILOTING, AND EVALUATING AN INTERVENTION STRATEGY IN TWO DIVERSE COMMUNITIES USING THE LIVING LAB APPROACH TO CREATE A LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM.WE FORESEE OPPORTUNITIES TO REVOLUTIONIZE EXTENSION'S APPROACH TO LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, INCORPORATING EXISTING LEADER DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES INTO A LARGER SYSTEMIC APPROACH CAPABLE OF ADDRESSING CLIMATE, DEMOGRAPHIC, SOCIOECONOMIC AND OTHER GLOBAL CHALLENGES IMPACTING RURAL WELLBEING AND PROSPERITY.