THE WESTERN RURAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER (WRDC), AIMS TO CONNECT RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH CAPABILITIES OF WESTERN LAND GRANT INSTITUTIONS (LGIS) WITH STAKEHOLDERS LIKE COMMUNITIES, DECISION-MAKERS, ENTREPRENEURS, FAMILIES, FARMERS, AND RANCHERS. THE WRDC'S MISSION, GUIDED BY THE USDA STRATEGIC PLAN FOR FY 2022-2026, FOCUSES ON ENHANCING CAPACITY, PROMOTING COLLABORATION, AND INCREASING PARTICIPATION OF UNDERSERVED GROUPS.KEY OBJECTIVES FOR FY 2024 INCLUDE STRENGTHENING LGIS' RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CAPACITY, INCREASING COLLABORATION AMONG LGIS, AND PURSUING GREATER EQUITY. TO ACHIEVE THESE, THE WRDC WILL DEVELOP A STRATEGIC PLAN USING DATA ANALYSIS AND STAKEHOLDER INPUT. PRIORITIES FOR FY 2024 INCLUDE ADDRESSING UNIQUE WESTERN ISSUES, ENHANCING LGI CAPACITIES, AND LEVERAGING FUNDING FOR CRITICAL ISSUES.INITIATIVES INCLUDE MULTISTATE INTEGRATED RESEARCH AND EXTENSION SEED GRANTS, WHICH SUPPORT PROJECTS INVOLVING MULTIPLE STATES AND INTEGRATE RESEARCH WITH EXTENSION ACTIVITIES. THE WRDC WILL ALSO INVEST IN CAPACITY-BUILDING PROGRAMS LIKE THE FELLOWS PROGRAM, WHICH FUNDS FACULTY RESEARCH AND EXTENSION ACTIVITIES, AND SUPPORTS POST-DOCTORAL ASSOCIATES AND PH.D. STUDENTS IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH.WORKSHOPS AND TRAINING SESSIONS WILL FACILITATE KNOWLEDGE SHARING AND COLLABORATION AMONG FACULTY. THE WRDC WILL ACTIVELY INVOLVE STAKEHOLDERS FROM ALASKA, PACIFIC TERRITORIES, AND 1994 INSTITUTIONS, PROVIDING TRAVEL GRANTS TO ENSURE BROAD PARTICIPATION.A COMPREHENSIVE DISSEMINATION STRATEGY INCLUDES ANNUAL REPORTS, PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS, AND UPDATES VIA THE WRDC WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA. AN EVALUATION PLAN WILL MEASURE PROGRESS THROUGH SPECIFIC INDICATORS LIKE PARTICIPATION RATES, PUBLICATION NUMBERS, AND CAREER TRAJECTORIES OF SUPPORTED RESEARCHERS. THIS STRATEGY AIMS TO ENSURE TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS.