“The United States is poised to experience one of the largest leadership transfers in its history,” Hastings said. “This is coupled in rural communities with a sizable wealth transfer. Between now and 2060, $75 trillion will be transferred from older generations to the younger.”

These transfers, she said, will “disproportionately impact rural communities.”

This impact prompted Dr. Lindsay Hastings to ask, “How can we help rural communities navigate both wealth and leadership transfers?”

Her mixed-method study began qualitatively, with interviews of youth and adult leaders in Valley and Holt counties, as well as in Nebraska City — all places with a track record of successful leadership transfers. After months of interviews, Hastings and the students working with her tried to discover what set these communities apart. Nebraska Today | November 17, 2021