Thank You for Making the
2026 Annual Meeting a Success

As we reflect on another meaningful RSS Annual Meeting, we want to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who attended, presented, volunteered, sponsored, and contributed to the meeting's success. The energy, scholarship, and sense of community on display are what make RSS such a special organization.

As we transition into the new academic year, the Business Office is already hard at work supporting Society initiatives and planning ahead. Here are a few reminders and upcoming opportunities:

Consider renewing your membership if it is due to expire this year to ensure uninterrupted access to member benefits and RSS communications. Membership renewals for 2027 will be available this October.
Be sure to check your emails from RSS to receive updates on upcoming opportunities such as:
- RSS Award Submissions
  Open: October 1
  Close: December 1
- Election Nominations
  Open: October 6
  Close: November 30
- Abstract Submissions
  Open: December 15
  Close: February 15
Share news of publications, awards, promotions, grant funding, and other accomplishments so we can celebrate member successes.
Follow RSS on our social media channels and visit the website regularly for job postings, announcements, and opportunities to get involved.

The Annual Meeting may be over, but the work of RSS continues year-round through the efforts of our members, committees, Research Interest Groups, and leadership. Thank you for being part of the RSS community.

We wish you a productive and successful fall semester and look forward to staying connected.

Warm regards,

Suzanne Bevan
Executive Director, Rural Sociological Society
sbevan@ruralsociology.org

Ashley Smedley
Account Representative
asmedley@ruralsociology.org

RSS 2026 Annual Meeting Survey

Dear RSS Community,

We invite you to take a few minutes to complete the RSS Community Survey. Your feedback is invaluable as we continue to strengthen the Rural Sociological Society and enhance the benefits, programs, and opportunities we provide to our members.

The survey includes questions about:

RSS membership and member experiences
The 2026 RSS Annual Meeting
The Society's programs, priorities, and future direction

Everyone who received this message is encouraged to participate in the survey, including individuals who did not attend this year’s annual meeting and individuals whose membership has lapsed. Your insights help inform important decisions and ensure that RSS continues to meet the needs of our community.

Survey will be available until September 15th.

Thank you in advance for sharing your thoughts and experiences. We greatly appreciate your feedback and the time you take to help shape the future of RSS.

Take Survey

RSS 2026: Annual Meeting Awards

Congratulations to all our 2026 award winners! Your hard work and dedication make the RSS community stronger — well done, everyone!

Rural Sociology Best Paper Award: Jennifer Lai, Kristina Beethem, Sandra T. Marquart-Pyatt

Master's Thesis Research Award: Madison Harris

Dissertation Research Award: Yue Xu

Early Career Research Award: Christian Kelly Scott

Early Career Research - Honorable Mention: Andrew Smolski

Lawrence Busch Graduate Student Research Award: Samantha Wyman

Excellence in Instruction Award: Paige Kelly

Excellence in Research Award: Theresa Selfa

Minnie Miller Brown Excellence in Extension and Public Service Award: Angie Carter

Olaf Larson Graduate Student Paper Award: Hazel Velasco Palacious

Olaf Larson Graduate Student Paper Award - Honorable Mention: Joshua Grove

Frederick H. Buttel Outstanding Scholarly Achievement Award: Amanda McMillan Lequieu

Margaret Hagood Distinguished Rural Sociologist: Michael Schulman

RSS 2026: Poster Session Winners

Sharon Adams: The Role of Childcare in Farm Safety

Pierce Greenberg: Mapping Air Quality Data Gaps in Rural South Carolina

Lydia Phillips: Mechanism of Access for Historically Underserved Producers Participating in Government Cost-Share Programs

RSS 2026: RIG Award Winners

COMMUNITY, HEALTH & FAMILY

Ronald Wimberely Student Paper

Elizabeth Long‑Meek

Ralph B. Brown Scholar Paper

Amanda McMillan Lequieu

NATURAL RESOURCES

William R. Freudenberg Award of Merit

Weston Eaton

Graduate Student Paper

Julia Terhune

Graduate Student Travel Scholarship

Alexander Theophilus

RURAL POVERTY

Graduate Student Paper
Hazel Velasco Palacios

POPULATION

Student Paper
Sara Peters

Co‑Author
Michael Topping

SAFRIG

Diversity Travel
Shristi Adhikari

Student Paper
Wandipa Mualefhe

Student Paper – Honorable Mention
Daniel Yuhasz

Announcements:

Upcoming Events:

→ Webinar - "From Research to Impact: Communicating Rural Research to Broader Audiences"

See additional details below.

Call For Applications: Rural Sociology Editor

→ Applications Due: January 15, 2027 - Rural-Sociology-Editorial-Call-July-30-2026-.pdf

Upcoming Webinar

"From Research to Impact:
Communicating Rural Research to Broader Audiences"

Join us on September 17, 2026, at 1:00 PM Eastern Time for From Research to Impact: Communicating Rural Research to Broader Audiences, an engaging webinar focused on expanding the reach and impact of rural scholarship.

Rural-focused scholars often seek avenues and strategies for sharing their research findings beyond traditional peer-reviewed journal articles, academic books, and professional conferences. With myriad other publication and presentation pathways possible, it can be difficult to navigate the need to package, communicate, and build dissemination networks for research.

In this webinar, panelists, Florence Becot, Matthew Brooks, Mary Hendrickson, and Tim Slack will reflect on experiences from their wide-ranging substantive areas of research and share lessons learned, practical tips, and effective strategies for disseminating rural-focused research to the press, policy audiences, and the general public.

Whether you are an early-career scholar or an experienced researcher looking to increase the visibility and influence of your work, this conversation will provide valuable insights and actionable ideas for extending the reach of your research.

Date: September 17, 2026
Time: 1:00 PM Eastern Time

This event is co-sponsored by the Rural Sociological Society and the Interdisciplinary Network on Rural Population Health and Aging (funded by the National Institute on Aging grant R24AG089064).