THE WORLD IS FACING GLOBAL HUNGER DRIVEN BY THE INTERSECTING CHALLENGES OF COVID-19, POLITICAL CONFLICT, A CHANGING CLIMATE, AND ECONOMIC DECLINE (WORLD FOOD PROGRAM, 2022). ADDITIONALLY, MANY FARMERS ARE AGING OUT, AND MANY YOUNG PEOPLE AREN'T AWARE OF OR INTERESTED IN THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE SECTOR AS A CAREER. THESE CHALLENGES HIGHLIGHT AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE THE NEXT GENERATION OF AGRICULTURAL LEADERS THROUGH EXTENSION EFFORTS. TO ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES, THE NORTH AMERICAN AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY NETWORK (NAAAN) IS HOSTING THE 14TH ANNUAL GLOBAL FORUM FOR RURAL ADVISORY SERVICES (GFRAS) ANNUAL MEETING (GAM) IN OCTOBER 2023. THE THEMATIC FOCUS FOR THIS MEETING IS BUILDING THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS IN AGRICULTURE. THROUGH AN INTEGRATED PROJECT, THE NAAAN WILL HOST GLOBALMEETING PARTICIPANTSTO SHARETHEIR OWN RESEARCH AND FINDINGS VIA PRESENTATIONS, PANEL DISCUSSIONS, AND A PARTNERSHIP GALLERY. ADDITIONALLY, THROUGH A COMBINATION OF PRESENTATIONS, DISCUSSIONS, FIELD TRIPS TO NEARBY FARMS AND RANCHES, AND A CULTURAL EVENING, MEETING PARTICIPANTS WILL ENGAGE IN HANDS-ON EXTENSION EXPERIENCES. THROUGH THESE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION EFFORTS, THE CONFERENCE WILL ADDRESS TWO INNOVATION FOR RURAL ENTREPRENEURS AND COMMUNITIES PROGRAM AREA PRIORITIES:(1) EXPLOR[ING] PLACE-MAKING ASSETS, INCLUDING CULTURAL AMENITIES, PERFORMING ARTS AND THE AESTHETIC CHARACTER OF RURAL COMMUNITIES, AND THEIR IMPORTANCE AND IMPACTS ON RURAL LIVABILITY, NEW RESIDENT ATTRACTION AND RETENTION, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND PROSPERITY, AND(2) IDENTIFY[ING] STRATEGIES FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH IN REGIONS OF PERSISTENT EXTREME POVERTY THAT CAN DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY IMPACT PUBLIC-HEALTH CRISES INCLUDING COVID-19, OPIOID ABUSE AND SUICIDE.