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Nominations Now Open for Farm Foundation’s 2027 Next Generation Programs
Nominations are now open for two of Farm Foundation’s flagship Next Generation programs: the January 2027 Cultivators Program and the 2027 Agricultural Scholars Program. Both programs connect promising students with agricultural leaders, researchers, and decision-makers while giving them opportunities to take their work beyond the classroom.
Faculty, advisors, and university staff have an important role to play. Even if you aren’t the person who can officially submit a nomination, you may be the first to recognize a student who would thrive in one of these programs. We encourage you to share these opportunities with students and colleagues and help ensure outstanding emerging leaders are considered.
Nominations for both programs are open September 1 through October 13, 2026.
January 2027 Cultivators Program
The Cultivators Program gives undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to step beyond the classroom and into conversations shaping the future of agriculture.
Selected Cultivators will attend the Farm Foundation Round Table meeting in Jacksonville, Florida, January 11–15, 2027, where they will present original research to an audience of approximately 200 senior leaders from across the food and agriculture sector.
Beyond presenting their work, Cultivators gain firsthand exposure to industry conversations, build their professional networks, and engage with leaders whose decisions influence agriculture and the food system.
Students must be nominated by a dean, director, or department chair. Self-nominations are not accepted.
Learn more about the Cultivators Program and nomination process
2027 Agricultural Scholars Program
For graduate students interested in the intersection of agricultural research, economics, and public policy, the Agricultural Scholars Program offers a year-long professional development experience.
Over 12 months, selected Scholars are paired with an economist from the USDA Economic Research Service (ERS), providing an opportunity to learn from experts working at the intersection of research and agricultural policy. Scholars also participate in Farm Foundation events and experiences in locations including Washington, D.C., Toronto, and Philadelphia, expanding their networks while learning how research can inform real-world decisions.
The program is fully funded and designed for graduate students studying agricultural economics or related fields. Applicants must be U.S. citizens enrolled at an accredited North American university and must be nominated by their dean or department head.
Learn more about the Agricultural Scholars Program and nomination process
Help Us Find the Next Generation of Agricultural Leaders
Great candidates are often identified because a professor, advisor, dean, or colleague recognized their potential and encouraged them to pursue an opportunity.
If you know a student whose research, curiosity, and leadership potential deserve a bigger stage, now is the time to put these programs on their radar—and, if you are eligible to nominate them, put their name forward.
Nominations for the January 2027 Cultivators Program and the 2027 Agricultural Scholars Program close October 13, 2026.
Help us get the next generation of agricultural leaders in the room.