USU Extension Co-sponsors Utah Rural Summit

Utah State University Extension co-sponsors the Utah Rural Summit to be held Thursday, Aug. 9, and Friday, Aug. 10, at the Haze Hunter Conference Center at Southern Utah University in Cedar City. The year 2012 marks the 25th anniversary of the conference with the theme “Exploring Opportunities for the Next 25 Years.” 

The summit is intended for rural Utah leaders and anyone interested in Utah’s rural communities, economies, issues and opportunities.

“USU Extension has been a partner with SUU’s Center for Rural Life since its beginning and has assisted in the planning of the Utah Rural Summit,” said Charles Gay, USU Extension associate vice president. “This year, the array of speakers is particularly impressive, and anyone attending should be rewarded with new information, contacts and ideas to use in their respective jobs.”

Keynote speakers include Jack Schultz who will deliver his “Boomtown USA” presentation and Robert Lang, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, a fellow of the Urban Land Institute  and director of Brookings Mountain West and the Lincy Institute at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Other keynote speakers include Glenda Humiston, California state director for USDA Rural Development, who will unveil a rural community investment model for rural Utah, special guest Craig Bolerjack, the voice of the Utah Jazz and Fox Sports broadcaster and Utah Gov. Gary Herbert.

Breakout sessions include economic opportunity through creativity and innovation, demographic change and the future of rural Utah ? revelations from the 2010 census, leadership for the future, and natural resources and agriculture.

Information about the summit is online or contact Kathleen McDowell, mcdowell@suu.edu or call 435-586-7738.

Related link:

Utah State University Extension

Contact: Charles Gay, USU Extension associate vice president, (435) 797-2200, charles.gay@usu.edu

Writer: Julene Reese, Utah State University Extension writer, (435) 797-0810, julene.reese@usu.edu