Youth agriculture summit returns to Arkansas with focus on risk management

The Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative will host the 11th Annual Youth in Agriculture Leadership Summit from July 10-17 at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, according to an IFAI media alert. The summit brings together Native American, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian youth, ages 18-24, to learn from industry professionals and collaborate on capstone projects.

Whitney Nelson, IFAI’s youth coordinator, was quoted as saying that this year’s theme is “Grow Your Potential.” The curriculum focuses on agricultural risk management. IFAI created the summit in 2014 to support Native producers and future leaders in agriculture, according to attorney Erin Parker, who helped create the first youth summit in 2014. The program’s alumni have gone on to become farmers, attorneys and policy leaders.