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29(2)

From the Executive Editor

We have always held to the hope, the belief, the conviction that there is a better life, a better world, beyond the horizon. Franklin D. Roosevelt, October 12, 1940

During some of the bleakest times in world history, Roosevelt held on to the belief that the best approach to tough issues was to face them head-on and with optimism. Working to improve the lives of the American people during the Great Depression, he was rewarded with a world war he could not avoid all the while fighting his own battle against the lingering effects of polio. Optimism to face the obstacles of each day sustained his own will to succeed and spread to those around him. Each person in his inner circle fed off his energy and hope for the future.

It is easy to get caught up in the events of the day. While we continue to deal with the lingering effects of a global pandemic, the threat of a sustained war in Europe seems likely for the first time since Roosevelt was in office. How do we continue to support those who depend on us as professionals in the face of such obstacles? We do so with hope; hope for a better life and hope for a better world, but even with hope, we must continue to seek out opportunities to be impactful. My dad had many sayings as I was growing up, one of his favorites being, “Pray for rain but plow the field.” We optimistically continue to work, believing we can positively impact the world around us.

This spring issue of the journal reflects that premise as we see four articles focused on the future. Two of these delve into how we understand and develop the human capacity for international agriculture development though our undergraduate students. This group of students will be responsible for continuing the legacy built by generations of extension professionals. In addition, we have an extremely well-referenced meta-analysis and a case study which give us insight into improving our research methods as well as our dissemination efforts. Each of these studies look to the future with hope for agriculture, hope for our profession and hope for the world.

Thank you all for reading the JIAEE. Please feel free to contact us at any time if you have questions. We continue to wish you all peace, safety and health.

M. Todd Brashears, Executive Editor