USDA Agricultural Outlook Forum Student Diversity Program

USDA’s Outlook Forum Student Diversity Program is a sponsorship opportunity for agencies, corporations, and organizations. Sponsorship allows junior and senior students who represent the diversity of American agriculture to attend USDA’s annual Outlook Forum. It’s a unique opportunity for students to learn about agribusiness, the latest research, future trends, and policy in contemporary agriculture. In 2007, USDA launched the Diversity Program focused on students majoring in agriculture-related majors at Land Grant colleges and universities.

2009 USDA Agricultural Outlook Forum Student Diversity Program Winners

The following students were selected based on their essays, “Agriculture as a Career:”

• Rosalva Chavez, California State University-Fresno
• Courtney Hannink, California State University-Stanislaus
• Kati McWaters, University of Florida
• Jonathan Adam Watson, University of Florida
• Maurice D. Smith, Jr., Virginia State University
• Ashley Harold, University of Idaho
• Evelina Arzanova, Miami Dade College
• Jose Turcios, Prairie View A&M University
• Bobby J. Smith, II, Prairie View A&M University
• Jessa M. Becker, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• Pam Dahlman, University of Minnesota
• Amber Seibert, University of Minnesota
• Ar’Quette Grant, Delaware State University
• Ashley Jones, University of Arkansas
• Dalton Henry, Kansas State University
• James Millsap, Kansas State University
• Jannel S. Irons, University of Maryland Eastern Shore

• Kedena P. Thompson, University of Maryland Eastern Shore

 Examples of the winning essays:

• Jessa M. Becker, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• Pam Dahlman, University of Minnesota
• Dalton Henry, Kansas State University
• Ashley Jones, University of Arkansas

• Jonathan Adam Watson, University of Florida

Sponsorship for the 2008 Outlook Forum Students

Thank you CHS, Inc., Tyson Foods, Inc., Deere & Company, Farm Credit Bank of Texas, Agfirst Farm Credit Bank; and USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture; and the Economic Research Service for your 2009 sponsorship.

If your corporation, association, or agency would like to consider sponsoring a student(s) to attend the 2010 Outlook Forum, please contact Brenda Chapin at 202-720-5447.

For More Information, please contact: Brenda Chapin, Forum Coordinator, at 202-720-5447