Unleashing Entrepreneurial Opportunities and Education: Impact of an Innovation Design Lab

Abstract

This article highlights the development of a university-led, community-based, experiential learning and rural entrepreneurship Innovation Design Lab Farm (Demo Farm) for underserved students and a minority population community. The purpose of this research is to expand upon existing rural entrepreneurship literature by examining the educational effects on institutions, students, and the community while forming a collaborative partnership designed for sharing social and environmental concerns that impact rural farmers (agriculturists) and the community. We propose that this is an inspirational look at one community’s efforts to improve economic development and education in an underserved/minority agricultural region. Based on experiential learning theory, we examine the research question of what the anticipated implications of a demo farm on its stakeholders are. First, we explore the theory of experiential learning and the changing world of education, training, and teaching in rural agriculture. Next, we theorize how experiential agricultural entrepreneurship education is anticipated to positively develop institutions, students, and community participants in one minority rural area. With minimal prior research on experiential learning and innovation design lab rural entrepreneurship, this study adds insight for academic researchers and stakeholders like universities, students, and practitioners (rural farmers/entrepreneurs). Finally, future research is discussed.