Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** across the united states, there…

Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** across the united states, there is a growing need for agricultural professionals who can strengthen the health, productivity, and applied workforce readiness of our food and agricultural systems. From animal and plant sciences to nutrition, conservation, and environmental management, these disciplines are critical to supporting a secure food supply, property or natural resources, and advancing the USDA's mission in food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences (fanh). Many regions also face shortages of specialists, particularly in veterinary medicine who support livestock health and food production, underscoring the importance of preparing the next generation of skilled agricultural professionals including farmers, ranchers and producers.to address these needs, laguardia community college (lagcc) in queens, new york, has partnered with rutgers university in new jersey to establish the animal science discovery (anscid) program. This initiative establishes a structured educational pathway from secondary education through community college and into four-year degree programs in animal science, pre-veterinary studies, animal and plant inspection services, or related fields of fanh. Through hands-on, work-based learning, experiential learning, paid summer research, academic advising, and mentorship, anscid helps students develop the scientific knowledge, technical skills, and professional confidence needed to succeed in veterinary science, agriculture and the life sciences.