Rural Prosperity Nebraska

Rural Prosperity Nebraska At Rural Prosperity Nebraska, we couple research with experience to help you live better in Nebraska.

We believe that for America to truly thrive, our rural residents and communities must thrive. We’ve learned that growing and sustaining a vibrant rural sector takes:
– Future-focused leadership and entrepreneurship
– Social as well as technological capital and connectedness
– The wise use of natural, agricultural and cultural resources
– Rich collaborations

As we strive for a thriving high-touch,

high-tech future for rural people and places, we have determined that the central point of innovation for the highly complex nature of rural communities is where students, faculty and communities connect. It is important to note that “students” refers to learners from secondary through adulthood; “faculty” refers to those within the University of Nebraska and beyond; and “communities” are not just localities, but also networked groups of people and communities of practice. In our work we intentionally connect students, faculty and communities to stimulate discovery and innovation. We also stimulate research and apply future-focused ideas and evidence-based practices designed to grow the body of knowledge. Finally, but importantly, we share stories of successes and solutions from scholars, leaders, entrepreneurs and funders to elevate the value and voice of rural nationwide.

RPN Extension Educator talks about thinking of community leadership development in a whole new way. Watch her talk about...
06/03/2026

RPN Extension Educator talks about thinking of community leadership development in a whole new way. Watch her talk about the work she and the RPN team have been doing in Seward and Taylor:

Nebraska Extension’s Rural Prosperity Nebraska team and UNL faculty have been collaborating with the communities of Taylor and Seward on a new approach to leade

If you’re looking for local foods grown in your area, Christina Lyons from the Beatrice Daily Sun wrote an amazing story...
06/02/2026

If you’re looking for local foods grown in your area, Christina Lyons from the Beatrice Daily Sun wrote an amazing story about Buy Fresh Buy Local, the university’s program for getting food from Nebraska farms onto your tables.

"The whole point is to foster joy and connections with the local farmers, but also knowing where you can access fresh, local foods is important. It’s about food security, resiliency and community pride.”

Read the whole story here: https://archive.is/G1Et2 -3663.0-3676.0

RPN Extension Educator Shawn Kaskie is back on NTV talking about the resources available to those affected by the Nebras...
06/01/2026

RPN Extension Educator Shawn Kaskie is back on NTV talking about the resources available to those affected by the Nebraska wildfires! Check them out here:

Nebraskans that have been affected by tornadoes, wildfires, or anything else Mother Nature has thrown at us this year may be looking for resources for help, an

RPN Extension Educator Shawn Kaskie talks about upcoming workshops for small business owners and entrepreneurs on NTV. G...
05/29/2026

RPN Extension Educator Shawn Kaskie talks about upcoming workshops for small business owners and entrepreneurs on NTV. Great job, Shawn!

Nebraskans interested in starting a small business have access to free classes to help with the endeavor. Shawk Kaskie from Rural Prosperity Nebraska joined NTV

05/27/2026

Rural Prosperity Nebraska is proud to be part of Nebraska Extension and the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, serving Nebraskans and their communities.

RPN Extension Educator Rulon Taylor appeared on Pure Nebraska to talk about a new online platform to help producers sell...
05/15/2026

RPN Extension Educator Rulon Taylor appeared on Pure Nebraska to talk about a new online platform to help producers sell locally, consumers buy locally, and everyone enjoy the benefits of fresh, healthy foods!

Pure Nebraska

I you missed it, you still don't have to miss out. Watch this month's Rural Rendezvous to see Madi Wilkinson and sister ...
05/14/2026

I you missed it, you still don't have to miss out. Watch this month's Rural Rendezvous to see Madi Wilkinson and sister Allie Benzel, from Sidney, talk about The Sidney Park Project, a state-of-the-art, all-inclusive playground. go.unl.edu/rpnnews

We love being part of growth and change in Nebraska's rural communities! Thanks, Loup County Public Schools Foundation!
05/14/2026

We love being part of growth and change in Nebraska's rural communities! Thanks, Loup County Public Schools Foundation!

The LCPS Foundation is helping build a stronger future for both our school and community — and the work happening behind the scenes is making a real impact.

Since January, the Foundation has partnered with UNL Rural Prosperity Nebraska and invited their team into Loup County to lead conversations focused on growth, opportunity, and long-term success for our community.

Together, the team has been exploring ways to better develop our county’s resources, strengthen our workforce, and create opportunities that help Loup County continue to thrive for generations to come.

Rural Prosperity Nebraska’s mission is in its name: rural prosperity. Since 2018, Nebraska Extension educators have worked alongside rural communities across the state to help them grow stronger, more connected, and more sustainable. More importantly, it’s about the stories of real people taking real action to improve their communities and the state of Nebraska.

The LCPS Foundation is proud to support initiatives that invest not only in our students, but in the future of our entire community. Thank you to everyone dedicating time, ideas, and passion toward making Loup County an even better place to live, work, and learn.

We’re bringing together community leaders from across Nebraska to share ideas, spark inspiration, and highlight what’s w...
05/11/2026

We’re bringing together community leaders from across Nebraska to share ideas, spark inspiration, and highlight what’s working in your rural communities. This month we'll be discussing and learning about the Sidney Park Project. Check out the calendar at https://ruralprosperityne.unl.edu/

The 8th Annual Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities (CEC) Conference is officially in the books as another rousing suc...
05/08/2026

The 8th Annual Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities (CEC) Conference is officially in the books as another rousing success! Check out the highlights here. Thank you to all those who joined us to celebrate Tekamah and Burt County, Nebraska. Thank you, Burt County, for welcoming us to your communities and showing us what it means that "The Future is Local!" We'll see you again next year in Ord! https://instituteofagriculturenaturalresources.exposure.co/connecting-entrepreneurial-communities-conference-2026

Address

Agricultural Hall (AGH) 300
Lincoln, NE
68583

Telephone

+14024724389

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