The University of Wisconsin-Madison's Department of Animal & Dairy Sciences (ADS) was awarded a $238,500 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under the Higher Education National Needs Graduate Fellowship Grants program (CFDA 10.210). The grant will establish a National Needs Fellowship (NNF) program to develop underrepresented minority students for leadership roles in the animal production industry. The 5-year program will support the training of three Ph.D. students, providing them with evidence-based instruction in core competencies like reproductive physiology, endocrinology, immunology, and statistics, as well as experiential learning through industry internships and career networking opportunities. The program aims to diversify the animal science field by incorporating a range of perspectives and prepare fellows for successful careers in research, extension, industry, and teaching.