Future of Ag News | Interests

Education series announced

The Wisconsin Youth Livestock Program is offering live virtual Zoom educational programs for spring 2022. The current topics are for youth and adults alike and occur on the second Thursday of the month from January through May. Each session begins at 7 p.m. with a presentation followed by question-and-answer time. Register for any or all the events to get the connection information by email.

There are three scheduled topics upcoming.

• March 3 — Grand Challenge: Food Safety, Pork Carcass Evaluation, Fabrication and Cooking with Pork

• April 14 — Grand Challenge: Land and Water

• May 12 — Grand Challenge: Biomedical Advancements

The sessions will provide awareness and knowledge of animal agriculture in the challenge areas listed. They will also give details on careers and how the area connects with animal projects. There will be a case study to further develop discussion skills with a local project leader, or an agriculture or a science teacher on the discussion topic. Younger youth can learn through a take-home activity they talk about with parents or project leaders. Visit go.wisc.edu/tnq61h for more information.

Program applications being accepted

The American Soybean Association is now accepting applications for the Valent Ag Voices of the Future program, which will be held July 11-14. The Ag Voices of the Future program is for students interested in improving their understanding of major agricultural policy issues, the importance of advocacy and careers that can impact agricultural policy. Class size is limited, and students must be at least 18 years old by July 11 to apply.

Through a partnership the American Soybean Association and Valent have with collegiate organization Agriculture Future of America, two students from the 2022 Ag Voices of the Future program will also have the opportunity to win various prizes.

• $1,600 academic scholarship

• complimentary registration, which includes hotel stay, for the Agriculture Future of America Leaders Conference

• as much as $500 for reimbursement of travel expenses to the Agriculture Future of America Leaders Conference application process

Deadline to apply is March 9. Visit soygrowers.com for more information.

Company offers pollinator-garden program

The GROWMARK System is offering the Pollinator Garden Program to 4-H clubs, Ag in the Classroom groups and FFA chapters throughout the United States. Groups who previously participated in the program have been automatically re-enrolled.

Organizations are asked to locate a public place and secure permission to plant a pollinator garden prior to filling out an application. That could be in a park, near a school, along a well-traveled road, at the county fairgrounds or any visible location. GROWMARK will provide enough seed to plant about a 700-square-foot area as well as educational signage to be placed around the garden.

Clubs across the United States wishing to participate should fill out the online application by March 11. Visit bit.ly/2022GMKPollinator or contact [email protected] or 309-557-6184 for more information.