Announcing the 2020 Extension Competition for Graduate Students

The AAEA Extension Competition for Graduate Students provides incentives and opportunity to develop extension and outreach programs from their research for an extension (usually non-economist) audience. Entries can be based upon the graduate student’s research for a thesis, dissertation or other academic work. The competition is sponsored jointly by the Extension and Graduate Student Sections.

Who is Eligible?

• Graduate students currently engaged in topics related to agricultural economics, agribusiness, natural resources, and community resource economics.
• Those who graduated from such programs in 2019 or later.
• Participants must identify and work with a mentor with experience in outreach or extension activities.

Competition Application Information

Applications should be addressed to Kate Fuller at kate.fuller@montana.edu and must include:
1. Student’s name, university, department, address and contact information.
2. Title of the extension program to be delivered.
3. A summary of the proposed/conducted extension program. This should include target audience, delivery plans, communication methods and activities planned for distributing the information to the public such as fact sheets, press releases, reports, web sites, spreadsheets, presentations, and training activities (4 page maximum). If the applicant was part of a team, the role of the applicant within the team must be made clear.
4. A profile of the applicant’s background and research (1 page maximum).
5. The mentor’s name, address, and description of the mentor’s role in assisting the student with this project.

Submission Deadline

Applications must be submitted electronically no later than midnight MST on May 15, 2020.

Finalists at AAEA

Finalists will be selected to make a 15-minute extension/outreach presentation at the AAEA meeting in Kansas City, MO on Sunday July 26, 2020, to a panel of judges, who will then ask 5 minutes of questions. The competition will begin at 8 am. Selection of the finalists will be based on the material submitted and the criteria listed below. Finalists will be notified by June 1, 2020. The top three finalists are expected to make presentations during an AAEA Extension track organized symposium.

Criteria for Selecting Finalists

Criteria for judging finalists and winners will include:
1. Identification of a target audience.
        a. An explanation of the issue/problem/opportunity being addressed.
        b. An explanation on how this target audience was identified.
2. Development of an extension program for the target audience that includes:
        a. An outline of the goals of the extension program, and a description of how the results will address the issue/problem/opportunity and benefit the target audience.
        b. A summary and explanation of the main elements of the research results to be included in the extension program.
        c. A summary or explanation of the program in an extension report, or extension presentation, or other appropriate extension communication media.
3. An explanation of extension team development and responsibilities in terms of program development and delivery should be addressed, if appropriate.
4. Plans for evaluating the effectiveness of the extension program.

Awards

Cash awards will be given to those judged to be the top three graduate students in this competition. Award funding is provided by the AAEA Extension Section through membership dues and via support provided by sponsors. Awards are:

• First Place: $1,000 and a plaque
• Second Place: $300 and a certificate
• Third Place: $200 and a certificate

Other finalists receive finalist certificates.

The top 3 competitors selected will be recognized at the AAEA Awards ceremony. All finalists will be provided tickets to the Extension Luncheon during the AAEA annual meetings.

Submit Entries to:
Dr. Kate Fuller
Competition Committee Chair
Department of Agricultural Economics and Economics
Montana State University
Email: kate.fuller@montana.edu