Rural Sociology electronic theses and dissertations (MU)
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The items in this collection are the theses and dissertations written by students of the Department of Rural Sociology. Some items may be viewed only by members of the University of Missouri System and/or University of Missouri-Columbia. Click on one of the browse buttons above for a complete listing of the works.
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Item The creating entrepreneurial opportunities (CEO) program : a mixed methods case study(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2024) Henness, Steven; Hendrickson, Mary; Jeanetta, StephenThis dissertation explores how real-world learning influences entrepreneurial mindset and social capital of high school students in the rural Midwest. A mixed-methods case study design was used to document the overall case of the Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities (CEO) program. CEO is an experiential high-school entrepreneurship program that originated in Effingham, Illinois, in 2008, and has been replicated in over 70 communities in 10 states. This case study applies entrepreneurial development, positive youth development, and community development frameworks for an integrated in-depth case description and interpretation. Qualitative fieldwork with program leaders and community stakeholders combines with a quantitative survey of CEO alums from the program's 15-year history. Findings affirm the experiential and community-driven nature of the program, and community and institutional contexts supporting successful implementation. Results attest to how real-world learning facilitates entrepreneurial mindset and social capital of students, with entrepreneurial activities and civic involvement continuing into adulthood. Evidence also found a co-formation of outcomes. The study aims to narrow gaps in research on community-based experiential learning and engagement of younger generations. Findings provide insights for researchers of entrepreneurship, youth engagement, and community vibrancy, and for practitioners working to build more equitable entrepreneurial ecosystems.Item Forming supply chains framed within agroecological principles : possibilities for the Andean blueberry in Antioquia, Colombia.(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2023) Mesa Valencia, Andres Felipe; Hendrickson, MaryThis study discusses the importance of agroecology and food sovereignty in ensuring sustainable food systems. Agroecology improves productivity by utilizing ecosystem services while recognizing the significance of farmers and food producers' knowledge and practices, offering localized solutions for global challenges, and reducing costs and negative environmental impacts by using fewer external resources. Food sovereignty provides a broader political and social context for agroecology, emphasizing the importance of empowering communities through control and local decision-making in food production and distribution. However, traditional approaches to analyzing power in the agricultural food industry have yet to notice the unique characteristics of rural communities. Agroecological social movement studies must take action to prevent smallholders from being overcome by global market pressures. Social capital, which can promote sustainable agricultural practices by encouraging cooperation, knowledge exchange, and resource sharing, cannot be assumed implicitly within agroecological networks, particularly in areas historically impacted by violence and displacement. This dissertation proposes an analytical framework to examine how social capital shapes power relations within agroecological networks in a region affected by violence and displacement in Colombia. Using a qualitative approach, the study examines how power relations and social capital elements interact within agroecological networks in Eastern Antioquia, a region with a history of violence where networks struggle to perdure despite the pressure of urban expansion, gentrification, and the agroindustry's expansion. The study explores the obstacles actors within the Andean blueberry (Vaccinium Meridionale Swartz) supply chain encounter when trying to associate, access institutions and external resources, and influence policies, considering Colombia's legal framework governing food supply chains. Overall, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of how social capital shapes power relations and affects the formation of agroecological networks, particularly in areas affected by violence and displacement, and offers insights into the challenges of forming agroecological supply chains and joining agroecological networks in such contexts.Item Digital agriculture' implications for small farmers : evidence from Colombia(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2023) Melo Velasco, Jenny Marcela; Hendrickson, MaryDigital agriculture proposes to revolutionize the processes of production, marketing, and consumption within food systems through the use of tools that collect, store, analyze, and share information digitally. While its proponents emphasize potential benefits, such as improved technical efficiency, resource allocation, and reduced transaction costs, the understanding of the risks and challenges associated with its implementation remains limited. This qualitative study focuses on exploring the social and ethical implications of digital agriculture technologies and their specific impact on small-scale farmers. Digital agriculture operates at the intersection of technology and food systems, presenting a critical challenge due to the non-neutrality of technology intersecting with an already highly concentrated, centralized, and globalized food system. Understanding how these technologies can effectively serve resource-limited small-scale farmers and prevent further marginalization is urgent. This study investigates the current state of digital agriculture technologies available in Colombia and analyzes the perspectives of Colombian promoters regarding the promises, dangers, and implications of these technologies. The review of the Colombian case reveals an emerging sector with a variety of digital products and services, driven by a mix of public and private actors, including startups, medium-sized enterprises, and large corporations. The perspectives of Colombian promoters predominantly align with an optimistic narrative, emphasizing the positive outcomes of efficiency and productivity for adopting farmers. This thesis provides applicable knowledge for academia, practitioners, and the community alike. Its aim is to empower those with less power and agency, especially small-scale farmers, by shedding light on the broader implications of digital agriculture that must be taken into account. This work underscores the importance of addressing access to these technologies and implementing appropriate governance to ensure equitable distribution of benefits within the agricultural sector.Item Mobile truck entrepreneurship: motivations and strategies of non-food mobile retail truck entrepreneurs in the United States(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2022) Link, Stephanie A.; Grigsby, MaryThis dissertation set out to explore the emerging phenomenon of modern mobile retail trucks opening for business across the United States starting in the early 2010s. Thirty-one participants were interviewed, and the data collected was used to glean a further understanding of who mobile retailers are and the key motivations drawing these individuals to alternative retail spaces on wheels. This study was conducted using qualitative methods and thirty-one participants participated in in-depth interviews. A grounded theory approach was used to inform data interpretation and allowed the themes to emerge directly from the data. The data sorted participants into four cohorts, just out of school (10), career shift (9), escapist (8), and retired hobbiest (4). Four primary motivations emerged among participants, need for flexibility, desire for autonomy, creativity, and social interaction. All of these motivations were representative across the four cohorts; however, each cohort emphasized the motivations in different combinations. All the participants had access to high-speed internet and relied on smartphones for many daily business activities. This study can offer contributions to both academia and the retail industry giving insight into this emerging retail venue. Study limitations include the short duration of the study and the small number of participants, which does not allow for the data to be generalized across all mobile retailers. This study offers a preliminary exploratory view of the phenomenon of modern mobile retail emerging across the United States.Item Acculturation and social capital of Somali Muslim women(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2022) Iftekhar, Anadil; Hendrickson, Mary; Jeanetta, Stephen[EMBARGOED UNTIL 12/31/2026] This study examines the social capital and acculturation of 20 Somali immigrant women who participate in a community garden in a small Minnesota town. Even though some of them did not enter the U.S. as refugees, all of the women had at some point been refugees. The study examines the women's acculturation using John Berry's framework for acculturation. Field notes and phenomenological interviews were employed to acquire the interview data. The study examined the 20 Somali women's acculturation patterns and factors that facilitated the process. It also looks into the significance of the neighborhood garden in their daily lives. The ladies built up their social capital within the Somali community through a variety of support networks and initiatives to preserve Somali culture while overcoming the language barrier. The Somali community's involvement in the community gardens served as another means of maintaining strong group bonds, but many women also found delight in the process of raising their own food. Though the growing season lasted about four months at most, the gardens were an integral part of the gardeners' daily routine. The fact that the Center for Minnesota Sustainability Project supervised the community garden plots and made them accessible and simple to grow food on contributed to their well-being. The separation trend was evident in the acculturation of the women. Many of the study's participants were older women who were grandmothers. They struggled when attempting to learn English. They preferred to remain in the Somali neighborhood. Even the mothers of K-12 students desired that their kids stay in the Somali community, barring special circumstances related to their careers. Language barriers, being ejected from their homes forcibly, and being thought of as outsiders were some of the causes. The gardens, on the other hand, were a location where they felt secure enough to be by themselves. The ladies had the freedom to create and be independent while in the gardens, which gave them agency. The gardens reminded them a bit of Somalia.