Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** north carolina a & T state…

Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** north carolina a & T state university in partnership with the association of 1890 research directors will work with the 1890 universities foundation and 1890 land-grant institutions to organize conferences for students receiving scholarships through the scholarships for students at 1890 institutions program. These conferences will highlight career opportunities in food and agricultural sciences, connecting students with jobs in federal agencies and the private sector. Since 2020, nifa has invested over $70M in this program, emphasizing the importance of continuing support and introducing students to agricultural workforce opportunities. We propose to have four regional conferences hosted by one of the 1890 institutions. The selection of a host institution will be based on geographical location to make travel arrangements easier for each institution to participate in the conferences. The conferences will include workshops, presentations by speakers from various agencies, and breakout sessions focused on skill building, such as preparing a successful resume and developing job interview skills.students will have opportunities for networking to improve their understanding of the processes and pathways leading to training opportunities and employment in the federal sector, particularly at USDA, as well as private organizations, and industry. Showcasing the vast and rewarding career opportunities currently available in food and agriculture may attract youth and other audiences to train and prepare for employment in the broader agricultural enterprise and related disciplines