This project will help prepare students in southwest arkansas for good jobs in agriculture and animal care

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded $650,000 to Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas on March 1, 2026, under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Education and Workforce Development program (CFDA 10.310).

Cossatot will develop two new hands-on training programs targeting first-generation, Hispanic, and rural students in southwest Arkansas: a Regenerative Agriculture degree and a Veterinary Technician program leading to national certification. Curriculum covers practical skills including animal care, farm technology such as GPS and drones, welding, equipment repair, and modern farm management. The college will offer paid internships, student support services, and clear employment pathways through partnerships with local farmers, businesses, and schools.

The award period runs from March 1, 2026, through February 28, 2030, with place of performance in De Queen, Arkansas. Cossatot Community College is a state-controlled Hispanic-Serving Institution and child entity of the University of Arkansas serving a four-county rural service area in southwest Arkansas.

UA cossatot will create two new training programs: a hands-on rgenerative agriculture degree and a veterinary technician program that leads to national certification.students will learn practical skills that local employers need, such as working with animals, using farm technology like GPS and drones, welding and equipment repair, and managing modern farms. The program is designed especially to support first-generation, hispanic, and rural students by offering paid internships, strong student support, and clear pathways to jobs.by working closely with local farmers, businesses, and schools, this project will strengthen the local workforce, help students earn credentials that lead directly to employment, and support the long-term success of agriculture in arkansas.