Agriculture touches almost every part of our daily lives. From the clothes we wear to the food we eat, we experience first-hand the importance of this industry each and every day. USDA strives to foster a connection between youth and everyday links to the farm both in the classroom and in the community. Find resources and program information below.
AgLab
AgLab is dedicated to students, educators, and parents who are interested in exploring the intersection of where food meets science. It is designed with STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) students in mind, where young innovators with a thirst for science can feed their hunger to improve the world.
Scientific Discoveries
Scientific Discoveries is a compilation of impactful advancements and achievements from the Agricultural Research Service, USDA’s chief, in-house scientific research agency.
AgDiscovery
AgDiscovery is a two- to four-week summer outreach program to help middle and high school students explore careers in plant and animal science, wildlife management, and agribusiness. Students stay on a college campus and learn about agriculture from university professors, scientists, and administrative professionals in a variety of fields. Students gain experience through hands-on labs, workshops, field trips, and team-building activities.
Youth Loans - Farm Loan Program
USDA makes loans to individual young people to start and operate income-producing projects of modest size in connection with their participation in 4-H clubs, FFA, a Tribal youth group, or similar agricultural youth organization - providing an opportunity for the young person to acquire experience and education in agriculture-related skills.
Earth Team Volunteers
Available to anyone 14 and older, Earth Team volunteers work with conservation professionals on private lands to improve soil quality, conserve water, improve air quality and enhance wildlife habitat. Opportunities include full- or part-time; outdoor or indoor activities; and as an individual or part of a group.
MyPlate Kids' Place
MyPlate Kids' Place is a great resource for kids, parents, and teachers. Resources include games, activity sheets, kid-friendly recipes, and physical activity tips. Pledge to become a MyPlate Champion today!
1994 Tribal Scholars Program
The USDA 1994 Tribal Scholars Program seeks to increase the number of American Indian and Alaska Native students studying agriculture, food, natural resource sciences, and related disciplines.
The USDA 1994 Tribal Scholars Program combines classroom study with paid work experience that leads to employment at USDA. Through this program, USDA seeks to boost the number of students studying and graduating in food, agriculture, natural resources, and other related fields of study, and help build the pipeline of future agricultural scientists and professionals. The program also strengthens USDA partnerships with 1994 land-grant institutions.
USDA/1890 National Scholars Program
The USDA/1890 National Scholars Program is a partnership between USDA and the 1890 historically black land-grant colleges and universities (PDF, 1.2 MB). The program provides full tuition, fees, books, room and board to students pursuing degrees in agriculture, food, natural resource sciences, or related academic disciplines. When the student has completed the academic and summer work requirements of the scholarship, USDA may at its discretion convert the student to a permanent employee without further competition.
- Make Your Volunteer Experience Count
