a predominantly rural and conservative image which inhibits urban participation and engagement (Dobbins et al. 2021; personal communications, June-July 2022). Further, the culture of local Extension offices may lean toward conventional agricultural practices, dominated by agribusiness farming strategies related to row crop and large-scale livestock production. As a result, Extension’s urban-focused staff commonly find themselves defending the validity and value of their work, as colleagues, rural stakeholders, university administration, government officials, and various funders question the legitimacy of urban agriculture as true ‘farming’ (personal communications, June-July 2022). ● Extension offices are still largely located in rural or suburban areas and are not accessible for urban farmers. Additionally, urban extension educators sometimes live far (over an hour) away from urban centers (Ruemenapp 2017; Dobbins et al. 2020; personal communications, June-July 2022). Thus, Extension offices should consider relocating or opening up satellite office space in easily accessible, urban-centric locations near public transportation. ● With this context in mind, Extension must also update their language surrounding urban and rural food production. Alternative descriptors such as “local,” “agroecological,” or “innovative” may be more relevant and attention-grabbing for marketing and knowledge dissemination purposes in certain social and spatial circumstances (Dobbins et al. 2020). ● We find that the majority of urban agriculture programs are less than five years old, and many are currently in their pilot year (personal communications, June-July 2022). While these programs are new, educators must remain open and adaptable in order to capitalize on their courses’ growing popularity. That is, educators should allow programming to be reflexive and responsive to community needs and interests. Program evaluation and adaptation is key. ○ Implement Data Collection and Program Evaluation at the Rural-Urban Interface ■ In order to navigate relationships between the urban and rural, Extension must pose research questions, collect data, and evaluate programming with the complex realities of this spatial interface in mind. And although the urban and rural are porous categories, it is still useful to employ these markers to compare data. The USDA views agriculture as consisting of “even small plots of land - whether rural or urban - growing fruit, vegetables or some food animals...” (USDA 2022). However, the Census
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