You are invited to the 2025
Stand Up Rural America Summit
COME JOIN US!
I’d like to personally invite you to this national Rural Economic Development Summit taking place July 29-July 31, 2025. Our exciting host city for our 2025 gathering is Canyon, Texas. The event will be held at the beautiful Canyon ISD Event Center and other special locations around the area. The 2025 Stand Up Rural America Summit will feature more than 20 nationally renowned subject matter experts and successful economic development practitioners.
Topics covered include planning, leadership, entrepreneurship, downtown revitalization, rural tourism, sustainability, innovative marketing, business retention & expansion, effective communications, rural retail development, diverse housing, talent development, best practices and much more. We will also be presenting the 2025 Jim Walton Impact Award and recognizing our 2025 Rural Trailblazers. And as always, the sharing of tips, tricks and resources will be off the charts.
Experience an event designed specifically for Rural America. You will receive tangible tools and strategies to help your cities, counties and regions grow. This event is packed with informative and dynamic panels, presentations, discussions, networking and celebrating what makes Rural America special. The Stand Up Rural America program has held highly successful events in Tulsa OK, Charleston WV, Somerset KY, Mulvane KS, Laurel MS, Decorah IA, and French Lick IN while garnering high praise for the superior level of speakers, quality content and excellent networking opportunities.
This Summit is coordinated by ACCELERATION by design LLC. It has been my privilege to work with more than 450 rural communities and regions throughout my 34+ year economic development career. We thank the Canyon Economic Development Corporation for graciously serving as our 2025 Summit Host. And thanks to The High Ground of Texas for being our generous Presenting Sponsor. We are so excited to be working with this awesome team representing the Texas Panhandle and High Ground Region!
This Summit is perfect for Economic Development Organizations, Chambers of Commerce, Cities, Counties, Regional Groups, Utilities, Industry Leaders, Lenders, Workforce Development, Elected Officials, ED & Chamber Board Members and anyone with a vested interest in the growth and prosperity of Rural America.
Summit sponsorships are available and we will host an exciting exhibit area. Registration for the Summit is open and we also offer a special group registration rate for five or more participants from one organization. We recognize your travel and budget challenges and want to do all we can to help you participate in the Summit.
We are excited to roll out a brand new Stand Up Rural America website in Summer of 2025! Not only will it function as the information and registration site for the annual SURA Summit and SURA Regional Forums, but it will be active throughout the year with additional resources, blogs and case studies updated regularly to assist rural communities in their growth efforts. We are also adding a new App for the Summit. We can't wait to roll out these new initiatives for our rural trailblazers throughout the USA.
You won't want to miss this special Summit. Please join me July 29 - July 31 in Canyon, Texas to celebrate Rural America!
Grab your boots and cowboy hats....
Let's Go! See you there!
Lorie Vincent
Lorie Vincent, CEcD
Founder | President
ACCELERATION by design LLC
2025 Summit Speaker Team!
Summit Schedule
Tuesday, July 29, 2025
1:30 pm to 1:45 pm | Welcome to the Summit | Happy State Bank Stadium
1:45 pm to 2:45 pm | The Stars Shine Bright in Canyon, Texas Panel
2:45 pm to 3:45 pm | Aaron Alejandro | Executive Director | Texas FFA Foundation
3:45 pm to 4:00 pm | Networking Break
4:00 pm to 4:30 pm | Featured Vendor #1| Marketing Alliance
4:30 pm to 5:30 pm | Regionalism Works | The High Ground of Texas
5:45 pm to 7:30 pm | Welcome Reception | Creek House Honey Farm
7:30 pm to ??? pm | Dinner on your own
Wednesday, July 30, 2025
8:30 am to 8:45 am | Welcome to the Summit | Happy State Bank Stadium
8:45 am to 9:00 am | Welcome to Canyon, Texas
9:00 am to 10:45 am | Doug Griffiths | 13 Ways to Kill Your Community
10:45 am to 11:00 am | Networking Break
11:00 am to 12:00 pm | Calina Mishay Johnson | Celebrating Your Story through Art & Murals
12:00 pm to 1:00 pm | Networking Luncheon
1:00 pm to 1:15 pm | Jim Walton Community Impact Award
1:15 pm to 1:30 pm | Exhibitor Introductions
1:30 pm to 2:15 pm | Meet the 2025 SURA Trailblazers
2:15 pm to 2:45 pm | Featured Vendor #2 | Cal Farley's Boys Ranch
2:45 pm to 3:00 pm | Networking Break
3:00 pm to 3:45 pm | Special Guest
3:45 pm to 4:00 pm | Texas Bingo for Charity
4:00 pm to 5:00 pm | Keith Mundee | President, American Hat Company
5:00 pm to 6:30 pm | Enjoy Canyon Businesses on your own
6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | Summit Celebration (meal, fun & live music) | The Lumberyard
Thursday, July 31, 2025
8:30 am to 8:45 am | Welcome to Texas | Happy State Bank Stadium
8:45 am to 9:00 am | Featured Documentary
9:00 am to 10:00 am | Cody Byrns | Why "Why" Means Everything to Empowering a Team
10:00 am to 10:15 am | Networking Break
10:15 am to 10:30 am | Special Acknowledgements & Announcements
10:30 am to 11:30 am | The Rural Rock Star Panel
11:30 am to 12:00 pm | Lorie Vincent | Stand Up Rural America | Closing Remarks
Post Summit Tour (Optional)
12:30 pm to 11:00 pm | Box Lunch & Transportation Included | Cadillac Ranch, Big Texan, Sip & Shop in Canyon, BBQ Dinner in Palo Duro Canyon & the Play TEXAS
Tickets can be purchased on Registration Site
2025 Summit Sponsorships
Sponsorships for the 2025 Stand Up Rural America Summit are available for interested Vendors, Associations, State & Federal Agencies, Lenders, Utilities and supporters of Rural America.
Sponsorship opportunities, offered at many levels, will help provide you with the perfect formula of exposure, promotion, advertising, branding and networking benefits to meet your budgets and your objectives.
A Summary of 2025 Summit Sponsorships available are:
SOLD Presenting Sponsor (exclusive) | $10,000
Platinum Sponsor | $5,000
SOLD Hospitality Event Sponsor (exclusive) | $5,000
Digital App Sponsor (exclusive) | $4,000
Gold Sponsor | $3,000
BOTH SOLD Featured Vendor Sponsor (2 available) | $3,000 each
Summit Journal Sponsor (exclusive) | $2,500
SOLD Summit Luncheon Sponsor (exclusive) | $2,500
SOLD Welcome Reception Sponsor (exclusive) | $2,000
SOLD Summit Networking Break Sponsor (exclusive) | $2,000
SOLD Summit Attendee Bag Sponsor (exclusive) | $2,000
Community Sponsor | $1,500
Silver Sponsor/Exhibitor Package | $1,500
SOLD Lanyard Sponsor (exclusive) | $1,000
Bronze Sponsorship | $750
Click the button below for the 2025 Sponsorship Package, Exhibitor Details and Sponsorship Commitment Instructions. Please send all inquiries and forms to lorie@accelerationbydesign.com. Sponsorship payments are accepted online on the Registration page or by invoice upon request. All exclusive sponsorships are available until sold. Deadline for inclusion on all Summit printed materials and signage is July 15, 2025.
Thank You 2025 Summit Sponsors
Summit Hosts
Canyon Economic Development Corporation
Presenting Sponsor
The High Ground of Texas
Platinum Sponsors
ACCELERATION by design LLC | City of Canyon
Gold Sponsors
American Hat Company | Lindale Economic Development Corporation
Community Sponsors
Sad Monkey Development | Childress Economic Development Corporation
Amarillo Economic Development
Silver Sponsors
Day One Experts | Sumner County Economic Development
Full Strut Media
Bronze Sponsors
Dove's Rest Cabins | Sherman County Development
Dumas Economic Development Corporation | Development Corporation of Abilene
Featured Vendor Sponsors
Marketing Alliance | Cal Farley's Boys Ranch
Tuesday's Welcome Reception Sponsor
Big Lake Economic Development Corporation
Wednesday's Rural America Celebration Sponsor
Main Street Canyon
Wednesday Luncheon Sponsor
Visit Canyon
Networking Break Sponsor
Main Street Canyon
Forum Bag Sponsor
Bowie Economic Development Corporation
Forum Lanyard Sponsor
Opportunity Strategies LLC
Canyon Business Supporters
Table Top Tavern | The Cake Company
Post Summit Tour Sponsor
Visit Canyon
Housing & Travel Options
