THIS AGREEMENT SUPPORTS A RESEARCH COMPETITION THAT CHALLENGES GRADUATE STUDENTS TO ADDRESS REAL-WORLD QUESTIONS FACING AMERICA'S SMALL AND MID-SIZED FARMERS. STUDENTS COMPETE TO PRODUCE RESEARCH FINDINGS THAT ARE DIRECTLY USEFUL FOR THE LOCAL AND REGIONAL FOOD SECTOR. GUIDED BY SENIOR EXPERTS, STUDENT TEAMS APPLY THEIR CODING AND DATA VISUALIZATION SKILLS USING USDA'S LOCAL FOOD DATA WAREHOUSE, THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE MAPPER AND EXPLORER, AND OTHER PUBLIC DATA SOURCES TO DEVELOP ANALYSES IN RESPONSE TO A PROMPT PROVIDED BY USDA AMS. TEAMS PRESENT THEIR FINDINGS AT THE ANNUAL AAEA CONFERENCE, WHERE THEY ARE JUDGED BY AGRICULTURAL ECONOMISTS AND USDA LOCAL AND REGIONAL FOOD EXPERTS.