Dream WeaverAn Entrepreneurial Approach to Design,

Create, Implement, and Promote Successful Strategies for SRDC

Chyi-Lyi (Kathleen) LiangProfessor of Entrepreneurship and Applied

Economics

The University of VermontCollege of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Department of Community Development and Applied Economics

Introduction – Personal and Professional Background

Path of Career Development Leadership Experiences Vision for SRDC Plan of Work Challenges and Opportunities

As a Faculty As a Director for SRDC

Presentation Outline

Personal and Professional Background

Taiwan

Land area: 12,456 sq mi (32,261 sq km); 70% mountains

Population (2012 est.): 23,234,936

Key industries: Manufacturing, Tourism, Agriculture

PhD and MS – Purdue University, Agricultural Economics

General Equilibrium Modeling, Fertilizer Tax Simulation, Nonpoint Pollution, FINPACK/EPIC/IMPLAN

The first Ag Econ Graduate Instructor to teach Business Statistics at Krannert Graduate School of Business, and won Outstanding Graduate Instructor Award

BS – National Taiwan University, Agricultural EconomicsBenefit-Cost Analysis for Tourism and Nuclear Power Plants, National Seashore Preservation and Evaluation

Path of Career Development

University of Nebraska, Panhandle Research and Extension Center, Scottsbluff, Nebraska

Research and Extension – economic analysis, experimental design

winter wheat, sunflower, alfalfa, corn, soybean, livestock, buffalo + prairie dogs, dry edible beans, water distribution for irrigationTeaching – Agricultural Economics, joint appointment with Western Nebraska Community College

Path of Career Development

Program Leader

Chair, Technical Advisory Committee

Accomplishments More collaborative initiatives More grants and projects More outreach activities

Leadership ExperiencesNortheast Regional Center for Rural Development

Vermont Farms Association Invent Vermont, LLC Camp Uncommon Ground Rural Entrepreneurship through Action Learning

(youth) Agricultural and Applied Economics (AAEA) – CWAE

and Early Career Mentoring Program Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship Association for American University Women Small Business Institute Economic Development Coalition – VT and New

England

Leadership ExperiencesStakeholders and Professional Organizations

Comparison of State and Regional Initiatives

Needs and Priorities

Culture Endowment Capacity Infrastructure Opportunities

Social Characteristics

Economic Characteristics

Ecological Characteristics

Political Characteristics

Issues and Concerns for Rural America

Be the “go-to” agency for Rural Development in the Region• Initiate Team Driven solutions for rural development• Maintain existing relationships and identify new

institutional relationships that enhance rural development

• Coordinate land grant, agency and organizations to find creative solutions

Vision for SRDC

Phase 1 Inventory existing programs Meet with and discuss the needs of the region

with stakeholders, constituents and others at the grassroots

Continue relevant existing programs Define gaps and overlaps Identify new programs and initiatives that

meet the needs of the region Prioritize existing and new programs and

initiatives Complete assessment tools, in measurable

terms, to determine impact of programs

Phase 2

Develop solution-oriented initiatives and programs consistent with needs of the region

Develop collaborative discussion and activities with existing and newly identified partners

Promote Center proposed initiatives to land grant institutions, agencies, and other organizations in the region

Identify and apply for funding to enhance Center’s functions and services

Incentivize existing and newly identified partners to achieve creative and innovative solutions

Assess impacts of initiatives and programs in measurable terms

Phase 3 Continue to develop and prioritize initiatives and

programs consistent with needs of the region Develop, maintain, and expand collaborative efforts

with existing and newly identified partners Continue to promote Center initiatives to land

grant institutions, agencies, and other organizations in the region and across regions

Identify and apply for funding to enhance Center’s functions and services

Offer more incentives to existing and newly identified partners to achieve creative and innovative solutions

Continue assessment activities

Phase 1

Phase 2

Inventory Northeast members 2010-2011Identify new initiatives, partners, and opportunitiesPrioritize initiatives, services, and functions

Create new websiteDevelop assessment indicatorsOffer Center’s Scholars ProgramIdentify funding opportunitiesBuild creative teams

Create new collaborative teamsApply for more fundingUpdate newsletter and social mediaExpand joint services and functionsExpand Center’s Scholars Program

Development of the Northeast Regional Center

Examples of Integrated ProgramsMultifunctional Agriculture in the United

StatesProject Funded by USDA AFRI Program, No 2011-67023-30106 (7/2011-6/2014)

Co PI – Mary Ahearn (USDA ERS), Jason Brown (Federal Reserve), and Stephan Goetz (Penn State University) Background

There has been a significant change in the farming activities among small and medium sized farms in the United States (USDA, 2012).

About 60% of the farms were very small, generating gross cash farm income of less than $10,000 annually (USDA, 2012)

The number of small farms, particularly the non-commercial farms, has slowly increased since 2002 (USDA, 2012), and many of them are engaged in multifunctional operations.

There has been limited information to assess farms’ contribution to community viability beyond traditional production of food and fiber.

Objectives

To design a framework to study multifunctional agriculture in New England and other regions in the U. S.

To examine the relationship between the multifunctional agriculture and farm profile, entrepreneurial characteristics, financial situations, reasons, challenges, risks, networks, expectations, and future outlook.

To integrate multiple sources of information to conduct research at state, regional, and national levels.

Primary field surveys (producer , enterprise, institution, and consumers), Census, National Agricultural Statistic Services, USDA Agricultural Risk Management Survey

Stakeholders, researchers, extension educators, service providers, USDA experts, community organizations (non-profit and for-profit), and government agencies at local, state, and national levels.

Findings and Work in Progress

Top reasons for farmers to choose multifunctional operations – income, connection with customers and community, promotion and education, health care.

The major issues for farmers - access to labor, financing, working capital, markets, and customers education, training, financial and risk management, user friendly tools for marketing, and reaching the balance between accessibility, affordability, and availability.

Multifunctional agriculture has significant impacts on state economic development, not at regional level.

We need better information to represent local and regional characteristics by sectors for rural areas.

We need to find a better way to compare and consolidate different sources of information representing enterprises and individual households at state and regional level.

USDA Foundational Program, Entrepreneurship Division (UVM, CUNY, OSU, PSU, UMD East Shore)Understanding and Designing Long-Term Resilience in the US Food System: the Role of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Supporting Regional Food Networks$500,000 July 2014 – June 2017

USDA Foundational Program, Rural Development Division (UNH and UMaine)Sustaining and Enhancing Local Agriculture in Rural Areas: Assessing Key Producer and Consumer Issues in Northern New England$500,000 July 2014 – June 2017

USDA Foundational Program, Small and Medium Sized Farm Division (UVM and other 5 institutions)Examining Farm Labor Decisions on Long-term Profitability and Farm Enterprise Development$500,000 July 2014 – June 2017

Design and Implement New Ideas

National Science Foundation (with Dartmouth College)Biophysical and Social Interdependence of Integrated Food Energy Systems$700,000 July 2014 – June 2019

USDA Food Security Conference Grant (UVM and the Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development)Enhancing food security and rural viability through innovative food system practices and opportunities $50,000 2014-2015

Design and Implement New Ideas

(Under Review)

Networks for Collaborations and Interdisciplinary Approach

Hawaii

Listen, observe, and learn from others;and ask a lot of questions

Obtain teamwork and consensus building activities;

and offer support and guidance

Value and respect diversity of individuals, ideas, and contributions

Evaluate and explain objectives and priorities, delegate tasks to other people, and reward good performance

How I Operate

Challenges and Opportunities

As a Faculty Goals and Objectives –

personal and institutional

Priorities – personal and institutional

Flexibility Choices and Alternatives

As a Director Goals and Objectives –

SRDC Priorities – SRDC Time Management and

Commitment Collaboration and

Networks Explicit Leadership and

Mentoring Position

Desire, Discipline, Determination Dream Comes True!

Dream WeaverAn Entrepreneurial Approach to Design,

Implement, and Promote Successful Integrated Programs

Chyi-Lyi (Kathleen) LiangProfessor of Entrepreneurship and Applied

Economics

The University of VermontCollege of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Department of Community Development and Applied Economics