1. Success Story: UA-Yuma
Baleshka Brenes, PhD
Director of Agriculture Programs, UA-Yuma

3. Winter vegetable Capital of the World
Local Context Desert Southwest Border Region Yuma & Imperial Counties
90% of all leafy vegetables grown in the United States
Alfalfa/ Bermuda grass
Cotton
Dates
Citrus
Melons
Wheat
Winter vegetable Capital of the World  
5,000 sq. miles
400,000 population
70% Hispanic

4. Few of today’s students study or live full-time at four-year campuses
The Face of College Students is Changing
Few of today’s students study or live full-time at four-year campuses

5. UA Yuma is a regional campus for the University of Arizona
Imperial
In- state tuition
La Paz
Yuma
Underrepresented Communities
Underserved students
Rural areas
Partnerships

7. 2 years AWC/IVC- General
UofA- Yuma
Major
BACHELOR

8. Workforce Development & Growing Our Own

9. Over 22 thousand jobs in agriculture related fields may go unfilled every year through at least 2020. 
This is a great opportunity for smart, young people to start careers in a field that addresses some of the world's most pressing challenges.
100% PLACEMENT
STUDENTS can make a difference not only today but for generations to come!
AG CAREERS WHY?

11. AgDiscovery (USDA-APHIS)
2 week program
High School Students
10 years
AgDiscovery (USDA-APHIS)
1 week program
College students
1 year
Mentorship program- 1 year
USDA “STEAM” Summer Residential Program

12. CAREER EXPLORATION Ag leadership Agribusiness Food Safety
Plant science
Animal science
Agribusiness
Food Safety
Ag leadership
Entomology
USDA Career Pathways

13. Live on College Campus
Learn about agriculture from university professors, scientists, and administrative professionals U.S. Government
To have a college/university experience
Hands on labs, workshops, field trips

15. Experiences Cooperative Agreement Internships NRCS
USDA-NRCS Hispanic Recruitment Initiative for a Natural Resources Career Development Program
1 year, renewed next year
Internships
NRCS
Student success conferences
MANRRS Annual Career Fair
Latinos in Agriculture Conference
HACU annual conference
Experiences

16. New and beginning farmers Aspiring farmers Young farmer entrepreneurs
Geared toward:
New and beginning farmers
Aspiring farmers
Young farmer entrepreneurs
The event brought together stakeholders from the: interstate agricultural industry from Arizona and the southernmost part of California 
There were over 100 participants who took part in networking, sharing, and learning with agricultural education workshops on the most-pressing issues, challenges, and opportunities, such as:
Looking into the 2020 Latino Farmer Symposium in conjunction with the Southwest Ag
Financial Resources for Beginning, Socially Disadvantaged, and Limited Resource Farmers;
The Changing Landscape of Precision Agriculture for Farming
Food Safety
Innovation Marketspaces and Entrepreneurship in Farming
Irrigation and Nutrient Management
Agronomy and Sustainable Agriculture. 

17. SUPPORT STUDENTS STEAM CAREERS
Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between Imperial Valley College and The University of Arizona – Yuma within STEAM.
Regional Engagement with the University of California Desert Research and Extension Center in Holtville, CA and also the University of California Cooperative Extension – Imperial County
Southwest Agriculture Summit's Student Program. 
HACU’s Annual Conference “Championing Hispanic Higher Education Success” with its HACU Student Track as USDA-HSI Student Scholars
USDA’s Annual Ag Outlook Forum with its Student Diversity Program/Future Leaders in Agriculture

18. & CULTIVATING THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS THROUGH EDUCATION
PROVIDING HOPE AND OPPORTUNITY, WEALTH CREATION, AND ASSET BUILDING

19. Special thanks to our local support
Rick Tafoya National Hispanic Program Manager USDA
Natural Resources Career Development Program
Gloria Magaña Smuggling Interdiction & Trade Compliance Officer USDA, APHIS,PPQ Dustin C. Sandberg Plant Pathologist/Botanist (Identifier) USDA-APHIS-PPQ
AgDiscovery Camp
Roberto González Jr.
USDA-HSI Regional Director for SoCal & AZ
STEAM Summer Residential Program
Latinos in Agriculture Conference
MOA IVC
Information/
support grants
Partner and collaborator in USDA programs

20. - Henry Ford "Coming together is a beginning.
Keeping together is progress.
Working together is success.”
 - Henry Ford