Rural Renewal Symposium
The Rural Renewal Symposium and Prizes are designed to raise awareness, attract resources
and stimulate research toward solving grand challenges facing rural communities.
This symposium provides a unique opportunity for faculty, students and rural community members from across the U.S. and around the world to connect with others and learn about the latest discoveries, trends and approaches for rural renewal. Corporate partners, non-profit organizations, government and tribal leaders, and anyone with a passion for rural people and places are invited to participate. The symposium includes invited speakers, oral and poster presentations by researchers, round table discussions for community leaders, networking opportunities, and award presentations. The students from the Rural Scholars program describe their studies and present the findings of their research projects.
VIEW RECORDINGS FROM THE 2022 RURAL RENEWAL SYMPOSIUM
2024 Symposium Information
The fifth annual Rural Renewal Symposium will be hosted in Ardmore, Oklahoma at Lake Murray Lodge on October 8-10, 2024.
You can register using this link. Professional registration is $150, student registration and community member registration is $50.
Attendees are responsible for booking their own accommodations. Hotel rooms are available at Lake Murray Lodge (580-223-6600) and overflow rooms are available at the Best Western Plus in Ardmore (580-223-3200) (make an online reservation at the Best Western). Both blocks are under Rural Renewal Initiative- Oklahoma State University.
Best Western block closes after 8/31/2024 and the Lake Murray Lodge block closes after 9/7/2024
The registration site is coming soon and will be linked below.
Registration for professionals is $150
Registration for students is $50
Registration for community members is $50
One highlight of this year's Symposium is the local industry tours near the town of Madill on the afternoon of October 9th. All attendees will have a choice of three tours. One option is to tour the new state-of-the-art agricultural education facility at Madill High School and learn about local youth development. Another tour option is to spend the afternoon at Landgraf Pecan Farms to see their orchard and hear how agritourism impacts rural communities. The last tour option is to explore the Oklahoma Steel and Wire facility and learn how the family-owned and operated company functions and interacts with its community.
General Itinerary
Tuesday, October 8: Registration will begin around 1 pm. We will have a main session of speakers, a Rural Scholars panel discussion, and we will have a banquet where we will introduce our Research Prize winner.Wednesday, October 9: We will start with breakout sessions followed by another main session with our Research Prize winner. In the afternoon we will split into tours in the nearby town of Madill. That evening we will gather at Madill High School for another banquet where we will host a community member panel discussion and honor the Citizenship Prize winner.Thursday, October 10: We will begin with the poster session in the morning, followed by our last main session, and closing remarks including the award of the Weckler Prize (honoring our outstanding Rural Scholars).
Rural Renewal Prizes
A highlight of the symposium is awarding the Rural Renewal Research Prize and the Rural Renewal Citizenship Prize.
The Rural Renewal Research Prize is awarded to a global leader in rural renewal research, education and engagement. The prize is open to individuals employed by colleges, universities or research institutions anywhere in the world, nominated by their colleagues. The prize includes a plaque and a cash award.
Nomination information for the 2024 Rural Renewal Research Prize
The Rural Renewal Citizenship Prize is awarded to a leader who has made an important contribution to the renewal of one or more rural communities in Oklahoma. This prize recognizes a person who shows true leadership qualities, is an exceptional role model, promotes community welfare, and advocates for community needs. The prize includes a plaque and a cash award.
Nomination information for the 2024 Rural Renewal Citizenship Prize