USDA’s Agricultural Outlook Forum provides students with a unique opportunity next February to meet leaders and discuss timely issues at the forefront of America’s agriculture. In 2007, the Agricultural Outlook Forum Student Diversity Program was launched for junior-senior baccalaureate students to attend the event. Former winners say the Forum broadened their horizons as they focused on careers in agriculture. For the first time, graduate students may now also apply.
USDA’s 2013 Agricultural Outlook Forum to be held Feb. 21-22 in Arlington, Virginia, targets students in agricultural disciplines, nutrition and food science or pre-veterinary studies from Land-Grant Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, and American Association of State Colleges of Agriculture and Renewable Resources institutions.
- Undergraduate students may submit a 1-page essay titled “Agriculture as a Career” to their respective institution representative who performs a “pre-selection” process by choosing the final best two essays among the applicants students.
- Graduate students may submit a 2-page essay titled “The Greatest Challenge Facing Agriculture Over the Next 5 Years” to their respective institution representative who selects the final best two essays among the applicants.
ESSAY SUBMISSION DEADLINE IS NOVEMBER 9, 2012. Essays and letters of recommendation from the institution’s dean can be sent to Lisa Purnell, USDA/1890 Program Liaison, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, lisa.purnell@osec.usda.gov. For details, first please visit our website.
2012 Sponsors include: CHS, Inc. and Farm Credit and USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, Economic Research Service, and Natural Resources Conservation Service. If you wish to become a program sponsor, please contact Brenda Chapin, Forum Coordinator, USDA, bchapin@oce.usda.gov , 202-720-5447; or Antonio McLaren, USDA/1890 Program Liaison, Virginia State University, antonio.mclaren@osec.usda.gov, 804-524-6872.