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EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (February 28, 2024) – North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University student Alaina Block has been named a Future Agriculture Leader by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Block, a food and nutrition major in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, is one of only 20 undergraduate and graduate students chosen from land-grant universities and Hispanic-serving institutions around the country.
This program is designed for undergraduate and graduate students majoring in agriculture-related subjects such as business, economics, communication, nutrition, food science, and pre-veterinary studies. The University of Maryland Eastern Shore, the Farm Credit Administration, and the Department of Agriculture support this program.
“The Future Leaders Program is central to our efforts to develop an agricultural workforce as diverse as America itself,” said USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack. “These students represent the exciting future of agriculture, and USDA is committed to advancing their development, which is essential to ensuring a robust and sustainable food system.”
When Larry Hartsfield, North Carolina A&T’s USDA agricultural liaison officer, told Bullock about the program, she didn’t think she had much of a chance.
“I thought it was mainly for people interested in agribusiness and agricultural policy,” she says. “But then I found out that food science was one of the majors I was allowed to apply for, and I was told, ‘Your major is related to agriculture, so you’re eligible to learn about the future of agriculture.’ , I feel better.”
As part of his application, Block was tasked with writing a one-page essay on “Agriculture as a Career.”
“I’m a food science major, and there’s a saying: ‘Everyone has to eat,'” she said. “This is especially true given that the world’s population is rapidly increasing. I talked about that in my essay and my interest in food science, such as dairy fermentation.”
Earlier this month, Block traveled to Washington, D.C., with other honorees to attend the Agriculture Perspectives Forum, the Department of Agriculture’s major annual event. The group also attended several of his USDA information sessions and had the opportunity to network with USDA leaders.
“The forum examined the current state of U.S. agriculture, what crops hold promise for the future, what problems we face, and what needs to be solved now. ” she said.
During the tour, Block and other students met with USDA leaders, including USDA Chief Economist Seth Meyers, Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small, and Vilsack.
“Meeting with Secretary Vilsack and Deputy Commissioner Torres Small was probably my favorite part of the trip,” Block said. “Both were very personable and gave us insight into how they found their passion in the field of agriculture. It made me and the other program participants so proud when they told us afterwards how excited they were about the future of agriculture.”
In addition to agricultural policy, Block said the session taught her life lessons.
“Always be open to trying things,” she said. “When I heard about this program and the Agricultural Outlook Forum, I thought I had no chance of winning, but I gave it a shot anyway. I am proud to have that courage, considering the power is so great.”
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