Time to Apply for Native Youth in Food and Agriculture Leadership Summit

Photo by Bryan Pollard/Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative

More than 100 Native American youth representing nearly 70 tribal nations gathered on the University of Arkansas campus for the 2017 Native Youth in Food and Agriculture Leadership Summit.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The 2018 Native Youth in Food and Agriculture Leadership Summit is seeking applications from American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian youth entering grades 9-12 during the 2017-18 school year. Participants will be chosen to attend the event held June 7-14 by the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative at the University of Arkansas School of Law.

Go to the online application.

The summit will provide an intensive, skills-focused curriculum that will give students an opportunity to explore one of four subject areas regarding food and agricultural production or policy in Indian Country:

• Agricultural Business and Finance
• Conservation Practices and Planning for Agricultural Production
• Agricultural Law and Policy
• Nutrition and Health

Based on their applications, students will be accepted into one of these four areas and will focus on that topic during their time at the summit. In addition to learning the critical skills they need to be the next generation of Indian Country food and agriculture leaders, the students will also receive full Food Safety Modernization Act training on the Produce Safety Rule and will earn food safety certificates.

Students attending the summit will not be charged for food, lodging, instructional materials or field trip costs. Some travel scholarships will also be provided.

The summit is made possible through funding from the United States Department of Agriculture and its Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program; National Institute of Food and Agriculture; Natural Resources Conservation Service; the Southern Region Extension Risk Management Education Program; and the national Farm Credit Council.

The priority deadline for applying to the 2018 Summit is March 1. Priority students will be allocated additional points in the application process. The final application deadline is March 15.

About the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative: The initiative enhances health and wellness in tribal communities by advancing healthy food systems, diversified economic development and cultural food traditions in Indian Country. The initiative empowers tribal governments, farmers, ranchers and food businesses by providing strategic planning and technical assistance; by creating new academic and professional education programs in food systems and agriculture; and by increasing student enrollment in land grant universities in food and agricultural related disciplines. For more information, visit www.indigenousfoodandag.com.

About University of Arkansas School of Law: The University of Arkansas School of Law prepares students for success through a challenging curriculum taught by nationally recognized faculty, unique service opportunities and a close-knit community that puts students first. With alumni in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, two territories and more than 20 countries, it has been ranked among the top 10 "Values in Legal Education" by the National Jurist magazine for five consecutive years and is among the top 42 public law schools, according to U.S. News and World Report.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs.