This spring, USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) hosted 111 students at USDA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. for the NextGen Spring Student Summit. Students traveled from 11 states and Puerto Rico, representing more than 20 colleges and universities including 1890 Historically Black Colleges and Universities, 1994 Tribal Colleges and Hispanic-Serving Institutions.
NextGen students represent NIFA’s From Learning to Leading: Cultivating the Next Generation of Diverse Food and Agriculture Professionals (NextGen) program. NIFA coordinated the Spring Summit in collaboration with USDA’s Research, Education, and Economics Mission Area (REE), Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Talent Outreach Branch, and USDA’s Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement. NextGen Student Summits provide opportunities for students funded through the program to come together for three days of professional development trainings, career exploration sessions, networking opportunities with leadership across the department, as well as special experiential learning opportunities to explore identity and inclusion in food, agriculture, and the environment.
The Summit opened with a Fireside Chat with USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and REE Deputy Under Secretary Sanah Baig. During this conversation, Secretary Vilsack addressed topics of importance to the U.S. agricultural system, including the growing need for a young and motivated workforce. The Secretary also spoke to his own career development and addressed students’ questions.
Over the following days, students engaged in a communications training, learned about USDA careers, and viewed four leadership panels that included representation from USDA agencies and the White House. Students also participated in tours of USDA’s ARS and Plant Health Inspection Service collections at the National Museum of Natural History, the National Museum of American History’s Food: Transforming the American Table exhibit, the National Museum of the American Indian’s Americans exhibit, and the U.S. Botanic Garden’s Cultivate: Growing Food in a Changing World exhibit.
Early in the program, Jacqueline McClendon, a student at Texas A&M University Kingsville, shared that the event had “already been such an inspiring and life-changing experience.”
On the final day of the program, the students attended Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres-Small’s National College Tour Capstone event. During her spring tour, the Deputy Secretary visited campuses in seven states - including three hosting NextGen projects - to highlight how USDA is working with Land-grant Universities to advance rural prosperity, climate-smart practices, competition and sustainability. The Capstone event marked the conclusion of her tour and provided an opportunity for the Deputy Secretary to touch on topics of interest and importance as informed by her visits in a whiteboard presentation.
Continuing the Capstone, Anne Knapke, Deputy Chief of Staff in the Office of the Secretary, moderated a panel between Deputy Secretary Torres-Small and three NextGen students whose campuses Deputy Secretary Torres-Small visited. During the panel, Alexa Arnedo, a New Mexico State University graduate student, spoke to the challenges and rewards of cultivating unique vegetable crops suited for the New Mexico climate and the importance of preserving and promoting traditional, heirloom, or culturally significant crop varieties. She also emphasized the importance of connecting directly with community members to understand their needs.
Steffan Kinley, a Northwest Indian College graduate student and Lummi Tribal Member, spoke about the importance of salmon for his tribe and the impacts of declining salmon populations in Washington State.
Aniiya Turner, a rising sophomore at North Carolina A&T State University, emphasized the need for underrepresented groups, women and children to have secure and reliable access to quality food and her aspirations to become a professional working in nutrition and dietetics to support these communities. The three students represented the variety of disciplines that the NextGen program supports.
Following the event, students reported that their week in Washington, D.C., was transformative and motivated them to pursue employment in the federal sector. For example, Keishla M. González Vélez, a graduate student at University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez, shared how the experience broadened her understanding of the various opportunities within USDA for professionals with her background.
“I also had the chance to network with inspiring individuals, some of whom I never imagined I would have the privilege of meeting. For the first time, I truly grasped the significance of my career and how I can contribute to meaningful change,” said Vélez, “I am incredibly grateful for these experiences and the opportunity to share this space with fellow students from diverse backgrounds and with various life goals. Being part of this moment in history is something I will cherish forever.”