The purpose of the wet grant is to promote experiential learning opportunities for students in wildlife, ecology and applied science

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded Texas A&M University Kingsville $300,000 on August 1, 2026, under the Capacity Building for Non-Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture program (CFDA 10.326) to deliver experiential learning and professional development training in wildlife, ecology, and applied science to undergraduate students.

The award funds two five-day training workshops annually, each serving 20 participants, with lodging, materials, and travel covered by the grant. Over the three-year period of performance through July 31, 2029, the project will directly impact 120 undergraduate students from diverse cultural and educational backgrounds. Participants will obtain two state-level licenses, engage in hands-on laboratory work, and develop partnerships with university faculty, peer educators, and state wildlife education leaders. The training addresses wildlife and environmental education for educators and seeks to accelerate progress toward productivity and economic, environmental, and social sustainability of U.S. agriculture with respect to natural resources and the environment.

Work is performed in Kingsville, Texas.

Previous research has shown the importance of wildlife and environmental education and training for educators. Through this program students will obtain two state level licenses, take part in hands-on labs and develop partnerships with their peers, university faculty and state wildlife education leaders. This will include a training twice a year, with 20 participants per workshop. At forty students a year, this project will directly impact 120 undergraduate students from diverse cultural and educational backgrounds. Each training is 5 days, with lodging, materials and travel covered from the grant project. Through the wet program, we seek to accelerate progress toward the productivity and economic, environmental, and social sustainability of U.S. Agriculture with respect to natural resources and the environment by providing experiential, hands-on training, a quality curriculum, leadership and professional development opportunities, and an enhanced understanding of program outcomes through research and external evaluation.