Identifying Practitioner Needs Related to Rural Population Changes Using Whiteboard-Enhanced, Online Listening Sessions

Rural communities are changing in size and composition, with implications for programming needs. As these communities comprise a large proportion of any Cooperative Extension program's stakeholder group, programs must identify and respond to changing needs. Through online listening sessions with Extension professionals and other rural practitioners, we identified how researchers and others could support practitioners' programming. Practitioners called for local data, examples of successful programs and policies, enhanced program evaluation protocols, better information dissemination, strategies for equitable community discussions, and ways to identify and connect with trusted resources. Using whiteboard-enhanced online listening sessions helped identify needs and reduced logistical efforts.