Presentation on USDA's agenda to attract and retain youth in rural America under Pillar 2B at the 12th OECD Rural Development Conference on Delivering Well-being, 24-26 September 2019, Seoul Korea. Presentation by Bette Brand, Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service. More information: https://www.oecd.org/rural/rural-development-conference/

1. USDA’s Agenda for Attracting and Retaining Youth in Rural
America
Bette Brand
Administrator
Rural Business-Cooperative Service

2. 2
White House creates initiatives Congress provides funding
Government agencies implement the funded plans
U.S. Federal Government

3. • Established by Presidential Executive Order in
2017
• Focused on agriculture, economic
development, job growth, infrastructure,
innovation, energy security, and quality of life
• Identified five key indictors of rural prosperity
“Calls to Action”
• Our priority at USDA is to answer the Calls to
Action
Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity
USDA Rural Development
Calls to Action
Access to High-Speed Internet in Rural
America
Improving Quality of Life
Supporting a Rural Workforce
Harnessing Technological Innovation
Economic Development

4. Addressing the priorities established by the Task Force
Objectives and Recommended Actions
• Modernize rural utilities, transportation, and health care
access
• Reduce regulatory barriers to infrastructure deployment
• Incentivize private capital investment
• Increase agricultural, forestry, and food production
• Promote entrepreneurship and apprenticeship
• Advance educational and training opportunities
• Support development of biotechnology
Task Force on Agriculture
and Rural Prosperity

5. Educational Initiatives
Organizations designed for
mentoring and developing youths:
• Promote and support agriculture
education
• Provide leadership development
for rural youths
• Provide rural youths with
opportunities to network with
peers from other areas of the
country
• Work in partnership with USDA
4-H and FFA

6. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
www.rd.usda.gov
Thank You!