Twenty-two female college students pursuing degrees in agriculture will attend this month's Women in Agribusiness Summit in Orlando through scholarships provided by leading industry sponsors.
The scholarships, which cover full registration and accommodations for the three-day conference running September 22-24, continue a program that has awarded $1.44 million and benefited more than 400 young women over its 13-year history.
"Students are selected based on their strong resumes, demonstrated leadership, and passion for advancing agriculture," said WIA's Reagan Russell, who manages the program. "We work directly with some sponsors to pair them with students whose interests align with their area of operations in the industry."
Recipients include students from institutions across the country, including Texas A&M University, Iowa State University, Oklahoma State University, Tennessee State University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Major sponsors include ADM, Bunge, Cargill, CF Industries and Wilbur-Ellis.
The scholarship enables full-time students – from freshman through doctorate level – to attend industry tours, networking events, receptions and student-only activities while making valuable industry connections.
Russell noted that the more than 50 applications received demonstrated "genuine commitment to shaping the future of agriculture – from sustainability and innovation to advocating for rural communities."
