1. Virginia State University USDA/Office of Advocacy and Outreach
USDA/1890 Partnership –
A Broad Perspective
Antonio McLaren
USDA/1890 Program Liaison
Virginia State University
USDA/Office of Advocacy and Outreach

2. Purpose of Presentation
Overview of the Office of Advocacy and Outreach (OAO)
History of 1890 Partnership
USDA/1890 Programs
Significant 1890 Accomplishments
National and Local Community Engagement

3. Overview of the Office of Advocacy and Outreach (OAO)

4. Organization Chart Office of Advocacy and Outreach Director
Associate Director
Higher Education Institutions Program
2501 Program
Farmworker Coordination Program
Small & Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Program
Community Engagement Program

5. OAO Legislation
Section 226B of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (Reorganization Act) (7 U.S.C. 6934), as added by section of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill), Pub. L , requires the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) to establish within the Department of Agriculture (Department, or USDA) an office to be known as the Office of Advocacy and Outreach.

6. Establishment of OAO
The 2008 Farm Bill required the Secretary of Agriculture to establish OAO as a means of centralizing outreach efforts across USDA agencies.

7. OAO Priorities
Improving the viability and profitability of small and beginning farmers and ranchers.
Improving access to USDA programs for historically underserved communities.
Improving agricultural opportunities for farm workers.
Closing the professional achievement gap by providing opportunities to talented and diverse young people to support the agricultural industry in the 21st century.

8. OAO Program Areas Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers
Small and Beginning Farmers and Ranchers
Higher Education Institutions
Farmworker Coordination
Community Engagement

9. Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Competitive Grants (2501) Program
The purpose of the 2501 program is to provide outreach, technical assistance, and educational efforts to reach socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers to own and operate farms and ranches and to participate equitably in agriculture programs.
The OASDFR supports a wide range of outreach, technical assistance, and education activities and projects, i.e. farm management, financial management, marketing, application and bidding procedures, and other areas.

10. Small and Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Program
The Small and Beginning Farmer and Ranchers Program coordinates and collaborates across USDA to enhance services to small and beginning farmers and ranchers. This program manage the activities of the Small and Beginning Farmers Advisory Committee.

11. Higher Education Institutions Program
Administers a nationwide network of USDA liaisons to the various institutions of higher learning including:
1890 Land-Grant Institutions
1994 Land-Grant Colleges and Universities
Hispanic-Serving Institutions

12. Farm Worker Coordination Program
The Farm Worker Coordination Program administers grant funding to aid in providing emergency services to low-income migrant and seasonal farm workers who have been adversely affected by a local, state, or national emergency or disaster.

13. History of USDA/1890
Partnership

14. History and Milestones
In 1988, the USDA/1890 Symposium held in Nashville, TN produced the following successes:
Created a closer partnership between USDA and 1890 Institutions.
Attracted more outstanding minority students to professional careers in agriculture, forestry and related areas.

15. History and Milestones
Improved physical facilities on the 1890 campuses
Broadened the research capabilities of the institutions
Enhanced 1890 faculty development

16. USDA/1890
Programs

18. USDA/1890 Programs USDA/1890 Task Force USDA/1890 Program Liaisons
USDA/1890 National Scholars Program
Federal Excess Property Program
Centers of Excellence

19. USDA/1890 Task Force
USDA/1890 Task Force is a partnership comprised of senior officials representing USDA mission areas and presidents or chancellors from the 1890 Land Grant Institutions and Tuskegee University. The task force provides leadership to advance the best interest of USDA and the 1890 Land-Grant Universities.

20. USDA/1890 Program Liaisons
Liaisons are full-time, permanent USDA employees who are assigned and physically located on their respective 1890 Land-Grant university campuses.
We work to advance:
Outreach and Research Assistance (primary emphasis)
Student recruitment, retention and career counseling
USDA’s Cultural Transformation Initiative

21. USDA/1890 Program Liaisons
University
Program Liaison
Alabama A&M University
Dr. Kurt Gardner
Alcorn State University
Clifton Peters
Delaware State University
Chandra Owens
Florida A&M University
VACANT
Fort Valley State University
Karla Martin
Kentucky State University
Ed Thompson
Langston University
Dwight Guy
Lincoln University
Julius Moody
North Carolina A&T State University
Larry Hartsfield

22. USDA/1890 Program Liaisons
University
Program Liaison
Prairie View A&M University
Horace Hodge
South Carolina State University
VACANT
Southern University
Allison Johnson
Tennessee State University
Will Nesby
Tuskegee University
Rodney Stone
University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff
George Richardson
University of Maryland, Eastern Shore
Lisa Purnell
Virginia State University
Antonio McLaren
West Virginia State University

23. USDA/1890 National Scholars Program
The USDA/1890 National Scholars Program is a major effort of the United States Department of Agriculture and the eighteen 1890 Historically Black Land-Grant Institutions to award scholarships to students to attend one of the eighteen universities to study agriculture, food, or natural resources and related sciences.

24. USDA/1890 National Scholars Program
Purpose of the program:
Strengthen the long-term partnership between USDA and the 1890 institutions.
Increase the number of students studying agriculture and related sciences.
Offer USDA/1890 National Scholars employment opportunities with USDA agencies.

25. USDA/1890 National Scholars Program
Since its inception in 1993, the USDA/1890 National Scholars Program, has been a successful component of the USDA/1890 Partnership.

26. Historical Data: USDA/1890 National Scholars Program
Number of Applicants
Since 1993, over 14,580 students have applied to the program.
Number of Awards
To date, 549 students have been selected and hired by USDA as USDA/1890 Scholars.

27. Current Data: USDA/1890 National Scholars Program
Number of Participants
123 Scholars are pursuing undergraduate degrees on the 1890 campuses.
In 2012, USDA selected 24 students to participate in the Scholars Program.

28. USDA/1890 National Scholars Program
Swearing-in Ceremony for 2012 USDA/1890 National Scholars
USDA’s Jamie L. Whitten Building Patio
July 24, 2012

29. Federal Excess Property Program
Established in 1989 at the urging of the USDA/1890 Task Force to:
Provide 1890 Land-Grant institutions the capacity to acquire federal property.
Federal and DOD property reported as excess are used to support research and extension programs on university campuses.

30. Centers of Excellence Initiated in 1992.
Established partnerships between institutions and USDA agencies.
Each center (one per campus) provides a USDA presence on the 1890 Campus to:
Assist the institution in the delivery of USDA programs.
Ensure support from the community.
Provide assistance to students who pursue USDA careers.

31. Significant 1890 Accomplishments

32. Significant 1890 Accomplishments
Provided a USDA presence that enhanced the image and visibility of USDA on the 1890 campuses.
Provided outreach in the establishment of partnerships with government and non-governmental agricultural related organizations.

33. Significant 1890 Accomplishments
Significantly impacted the enrollment of students in agriculture at 1890 Institutions.
Increased the number of students participating in USDA Coop/Internship programs.
Expanded, promoted, and mentored the USDA/1890 National Scholars at respective institutions.

34. PARTNERSHIPS
1890
Community
Organizations

35. National and Local Community Engagement

36. USDA’s Agricultural Outlook Forum Student Diversity Program
Piloted at the 1890 Land-Grant Institutions in 2007.
The USDA Agricultural Outlook Forum Student Diversity Program is designed to expose undergraduate and graduate students to contemporary agribusiness, future trends, scientific research, and agricultural policy in today's real world environment.
Participants come from Land-Grant Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, and American Association of State Colleges of Agriculture and Renewable Resources institutions.

37. USDA’s AgDiscovery Program
USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) partners with various universities and colleges to deliver the AgDiscovery program at locations throughout the country.
Focuses have included plant health, entomology, veterinary science, animal care, biotechnology, and agribusiness.
Students gain a first-hand look at the many career paths open to them in the agricultural sciences.
In 2012:
17 universities hosted AgDiscovery Programs.
11 AgDiscovery Programs were hosted on 1890 campuses.

38. USDA Leadership Dr. Gregory Parham Carolyn Parker, Dexter Pearson,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Administration
Carolyn Parker,
Director, Office of Advocacy and Outreach
Dexter Pearson,
Associate Director, Office of Advocacy and Outreach
Mona Adkins-Easley
Interim 1890 Program Director, Office of Advocacy and Outreach

39. Contact Information
Antonio McLaren
USDA/1890 Program Liaison
Virginia State University
P.O. Box 9416
Carter G. Woodson Avenue
Owens Hall, Room 101-C
Petersburg, VA
(O)
(F)

40. To learn more about OAO, please visit: