OSU’s Dave Shideler receives regional recognition for his economic development efforts

Thursday, April 20, 2017

Oklahoma State University agricultural economist Dave Shideler is the 2017 recipient of the Southern Agricultural Economics Association’s Extension Individual Program Award for his work in economic and rural development.

“Dr. Shideler is well deserving of this award as he has been instrumental in bringing communities together for meaningful discussions about economic trajectories, community impacts and action steps, and in facilitating actual positive economic change,” said Mike Woods, head of the OSU department of agricultural economics. “He also has been a significant cooperating partner with local, county and state government agencies, providing in-demand expertise and leadership.”

Shideler joined OSU’s Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources in August 2008 and quickly became recognized throughout the state and region for developing strong Extension programs and providing much-needed research in the area of economic development.

“Dr. Shideler’s primary focus is to educate, inform and assist community policy makers about decision-making relevant to economic development,” Woods said. “He uses current context to teach communities how to assess their situations, determine goals, identify options and resources, establish action plans to achieve goals and evaluate progress toward those goals.”

Woods added Shideler’s work on the economic impacts of agriculture has become the definitive source for state leaders of farm and commodity organizations, state leaders in the Governor’s office and Oklahoma Legislature, and administrators at OSU.

One example: Shideler served as lead analyst and author of Economic Impacts of Oklahoma Agriculture in 2010, Impacts of the Drought on Oklahoma, Entrepreneurial Communities and Strategic Planning for Thriving Communities.

“Dave’s leadership and coordination of a team of scientists to evaluate drought impacts on the state culminated in critical publications, nationally-recognized symposia, the 2013 SAEA Outstanding Extension Program Team Award and service as a guest editor for a special Choices issue on drought,” Woods said.

In addition, Shideler’s in-service community development workshops provide essential skill-building for OSU Cooperative Extension county office personnel who are typically at the forefront of local decision-making over what to do to strengthen community and county economies.

“Dave is always working on timely and relevant matters, and he has a particular talent for forging partnerships that ultimately provide significant benefits on the ground, and in ways that make a very real difference in the lives of local residents,” said James Trapp, associate director of the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service.

As evidence of the timeliness and relevance of Shideler’s work, he has attracted more than $20 million in grant and contract funding for his scholarly and research activities. He has also secured more than $365,000 in funding to support his outreach activities.

Shideler earned his bachelor’s degree in community and rural development from Clemson University in 1997. He earned master’s degrees in agricultural economics from Penn State University and in economics from The Ohio State University in 1999 and 2002, respectively. He earned his doctoral degree in agricultural, environmental and development economics from The Ohio State University in 2005.

The Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service is a state agency administered by OSU’s Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, and a key function of the university’s state and federally mandated “teaching, research and extension” land-grant mission.