Nutrition Major RobinAmara Heard Selected as USDA Future Leader in Agriculture
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RobinAmara Heard, a junior nutrition major, is one of 20 undergraduate and graduate students selected nationally for the 2025 USDA Future Leaders in Agriculture Program. The selected students hail from land-grant universities and Hispanic-serving institutions (HSI).
"I'm honored to be recognized by the USDA as an emerging leader in agriculture," says Heard. "This award reinforces my commitment to connecting overlooked stakeholders to our food systems by increasing access and food security for all communities. I look forward to applying what I am learning at UMass to help shape a brighter future."
Now in its 18th year, the USDA Future Leaders in Agriculture program is aimed at undergraduates and graduate students majoring in agriculture-related subjects, including business, economics, communications, nutrition, food science, and pre-veterinary studies. The program seeks students who exhibit leadership at their university or in their community. Part of the application process for undergraduate students includes writing an essay on "Agriculture as a Career.”
The Future Leaders in Agriculture Program is supported by academic institutions, corporations, and government institutions dedicated to promoting the education of the next generation of agriculturalists.