PORTLAND, Ore. — Projects that help youths succeed in agriculture — particularly those from marginalized communities — took center stage at the inaugural conference of Youth Innovators Empowering Agriculture Across America, hosted by Oregon State University in March.
The two-day conference, held at the OSU Portland Center, brought together representatives from six land-grant universities, including Oregon State, to share progress on initiatives funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
Youth Innovators Empowering Agriculture Across America (YEA) is a collection of university-led projects designed to build youth leadership and provide educators with curriculum and workshops that promote agricultural and food science careers.
Oregon State’s coordinating role
In June 2023, the USDA awarded a $10 million grant to the Oregon State University Extension Service to serve as the national coordinator of USDA-funded projects aimed at cultivating the next generation of research, education and Extension professionals in food and agricultural sciences.
As part of this role, Extension leads professional development events and workshops — including the Portland conference — to advance collaboration and share outcomes across institutions.
At the event, OSU Extension presented its climate change curriculum for youth, which emphasizes “climate-smart” agriculture and forestry. Designed with inclusivity and equity in mind, the culturally responsive curriculum focuses on Pacific Islander and Indigenous youth.
The project aims to validate students’ experiences, disrupt power dynamics that privilege dominant groups and help youth see themselves as future innovators and leaders in food and environmental systems.
National collaboration across universities
Key aspects of each YEA project include:
- Youth leadership development
- Community resource building
- Curriculum addressing current agricultural and food science issues
- Tools that support youth empowerment and inclusion
YEA projects are funded by USDA-NIFA through its Agriculture and Food Research Initiative’s Education and Workforce Development Program.
The other universities that presented at the conference were North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina State University, The Ohio State University, the University of Maine and the University of Vermont.
Partner university initiatives
- North Carolina State University and Washington State University — YEA! Advancing equitable agriscience pathways through the National Juntos Consortium and STEM Agriculture Pathways develops culturally responsive programs to prepare Latinx youth for leadership in STEM and agriscience.
- The Ohio State University — YEA Empowering the Next Generation Ag and Food Systems Workforce leads an eight-university collaboration focused on research and engagement to help youth and adults — especially from historically underserved communities — explore careers in agriculture and food systems.
- The University of Maine and the University of Vermont — Oh YEA! 4-H Grows True Leaders engages teens, youth and adults in place-based learning and leadership development. The initiative draws on the strengths of underrepresented families, including migrants, immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers, to prepare future leaders in food production and healthy living.
Previously titled OSU hosts national conference focused on innovative projects for youths in agriculture
