The 2022 Extension Competition for Graduate Students

AAEA Anaheim, CA July 31-August 2

The AAEA Extension Competition for Graduate Students provides an opportunity to develop and/or get feedback on programs that communicate research to extension (usually noneconomist) audiences. Entries can be based upon graduate student research for a thesis, dissertation or other academic work. The competition is sponsored by the Extension and Graduate Student Sections.

Note: This year, we will once again work with applicants who cannot or do not wish to attend the conference in person. The details below refer to our current plan and may change.

Who’s Eligible?

•      Graduate students currently engaged in topics related to agricultural economics, agribusiness, natural resources, and community resource economics as well as those who graduated from such programs in 2021 or later.

•      Participants must identify and work with a mentor with experience in outreach or extension activities.

The Application:

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, reports, web sites, spreadsheets, and presentations (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 one-page logic model* (new this year)
5. A profile of the applicant’s background and research (1 page maximum).
6. The mentor’s name and description of the mentor’s role in the project.

*Logic models can be used for planning a program as well as evaluation. Logic models are often linked with evaluation, so these two categories are combined in the scoring rubric (see following page). You can find many examples of logic models online, including:

https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/programdevelopment/logic-models/bibliography/

https://www.cdc.gov/tb/programs/evaluation/Logic_Model.html

https://www.extension.uidaho.edu/publishing/pdf/cis/cis1097.pdf

Criteria for Selecting Finalists
Finalists will be selected using the following rubric:
Points
All required information submitted                                       5
Target audience identification
Importance of problem                                                          10
Description of target audience and their
identification                                                                         10
Development of program
Outline of goals                                                                     10
Description of how the results address issue                        15
Summary of research to be communicated                           15
Presentation of program results                                            10
Project completion: Is the project purely
hypothetical (0pts), partially complete (partial score)
or delivered and evaluated (5 pts)?                                       5
Logic model for program/project and evaluation*              20
Total                                                                                    100

Finalists at AAEA

Finalists will be selected to make a 15-minute presentation at the AAEA meeting either virtually or in Anaheim, CA on Sunday July 31, 2022, to a panel of judges, who will then ask 5 minutes of questions. The competition will begin at 8AM PST. Selection of the finalists will be based on the material submitted and the criteria listed below. Finalists will be notified by June 5, 2022. The top three finalists are be expected to make presentations during an AAEA Extension track organized symposium if present in Anaheim or virtually.

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:

1. First Place: $1,000 and a plaque
2. Second Place: $300 and a certificate
3. 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. Submission Deadline: Midnight MST on Friday, May 13, 2022. Email entries to Dr. Kate Fuller, Competition Committee Chair at kate.fuller@montana.edu. Finalists will be notified by June 5, 2022.