Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** there is currently a nationwide…

Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** there is currently a nationwide shortage of students who are pursuing careers in food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences (fanh). This is due to many factors that include, but are not limited to, a misconception of fanh careers only including farming and ranching; a decrease in academic programs offered in high schools, colleges, and universities; and the belief that salaries are extremely low. In addition, there is a lack of diversity as the profession is dominated by older, white, males. Even though trends indicate that there will be a high demand and need for individuals to work in this sector, individuals who are currently eligible to retire will have no one to replace them. The supply of individuals currently pursuing studies in fanh is not meeting the demand for employment. This project will develop an academy at south carolina state university (scsu) and alabama a & m university (aamu) to expose approximately 40 middle school students, 400 high school students, and 45-90 minority, undergraduate students to pursue careers in fanh and the USDA. The academy will consist of an on-campus and regional recruitment program for middle and high school students; the opportunity for high school students to earn college credit in fanh-related courses; a college scholarship program; professional development workshops for high school educators; a middle school/parent mentorship program; a summer program for high school students; and certification programs for undergraduate students. The goal is to establish a direct pipeline to employment opportunities in fanh and the USDA from scsu and aamu. If this goal is met, a minimum of 485 students will know and/or actively pursue careers in fanh and the USDA. This project may help to meet the current demand and fill numerous vacancies in fanh and the USDA.