Tanner Smith, a U of A student in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, is one of fewer than 100 students across the country who has been selected to attend the Agriculture Future of American Crop Science Institute.

Smith is a freshman majoring in environmental, soil and water science in the Department of Crop, Soil and Envioronmental Sciences. His adviser is professor of microbial ecology Mary Savin, also a researcher and scientist with the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the research arm of the U of A System Division of Agriculture.

Selection is based on industry and leadership involvement, career goals with a specific interest in the crop and soil sciences sector, and articulation of the benefit of the program to their career development.

"Tanner is excited to be participating in the Crop Science Institute this summer," Savin said. "I believe he is eager to meet and share his experiences and is anticipating the professional development opportunities that may arise out of the conference. It is exciting to have a CSES student representing us, and I look forward to hearing his feedback after the conference."

The Crop Science Institute, set for July 18-20 in Raliegh, North Carolina, brings up to 75 students together for the three-day program. The conference provides interaction between students and crop sector leaders, exposes students to area businesses and other related service providers, and includes discussion and training to enhance student preparation to enter careers in the agriculture industry.

AFA focuses on building transformational leaders, those who have a positive influence on and lift up others, in food and agriculture. AFA fosters professionalism, intellectualism and intrapreneurialism through experiential opportunities.

About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture. For more information about Bumpers College, visit our website, and follow us on Twitter at @BumpersCollege and Instagram at BumpersCollege.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas' economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the top 3% of U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research News.