Virginia agriculture and forestry industries have an economic impact of $105 billion, provide 490,000 jobs and offer tremendous opportunities for minority students.
WHAT: Celebratory events sharing impactful information to transform perspectives and open opportunities for 300+ attendees.
“Ag Fest Block Party” campus-wide activities for students, faculty and staff. (11 a.m. - 2 p.m.)
Speaker: Dr. Dionne Toombs, acting director, USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
Culture House College Tour: sponsors 300 free meals and snacks to students from black-owned vendors: Everything Legendary (plant-based burgers), Rap Snacks chips and Partake (allergen-free cookies).
College of Agriculture showcases current research, projects, community partnerships, scholarships, and more!
Food, music, and activities for all.
Minorities in Agriculture Panel Discussion moderated by Dr. Janine Woods. (3:15-3:55 p.m.)
Topics: The challenges, opportunities, and entry pipeline for minorities in the agriculture industry.
Networking event enables students to meet professionals, VSU agriculture alumni and peers.
WHO: Nationally recognized agricultural experts and industry professionals.
Ag Fest "Block Party":
Owners of the vegan food line, Everything Legendary. The company was featured on Shark Tank twice and made a deal with billionaire Mark Cuban. Now, this brand is featured in Target stores and more.
USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Acting Director Dr. Dionne Toombs
Community and industry partners
Government affiliates
Minorities in Agriculture Panelists are as follows:
Former USDA Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Dr. Jewel Bronaugh
USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Acting Director Dr. Dionne Toombs
USDA Farm Service Agency in Virginia Executive Director Dr. Ronald Howell
VSU Political Science Department Chair and former Vice-Mayor of Charlottesville, Dr. Wes Bellamy
WHY: To highlight the importance of agriculture, dispel misconceptions and inform students of industry opportunities.
Agriculture is a vital industry with tremendous impact:
Agriculture is Virginia’s largest private industry.
Its economic impact is over $100 billion.
It provides nearly a half-million jobs.
Together, agriculture, forestry and value-added industries account for over 9% of the commonwealth’s gross domestic product.
Every job in agriculture and forestry supports 1.6 jobs elsewhere in Virginia’s economy.
Agriculture, food, and related industries contributed over $1.26 trillion to U.S. gross domestic product in 2021, a 5.4% share.
There are more agriculture sectors than people realize:
Food and beverage manufacturing.
Food and beverage stores.
Food services and eating/drinking establishments.
Textiles, apparel and leather products.
Forestry and fishing.
Farming and food.
The impact and opportunities in agriculture are greater than people realize:
In 2021, 21.1 million full- and part-time jobs were related to the agricultural and food sectors—10.5% of total U.S. employment. (USDA)
WHEN AND WHERE: Wednesday, March 22 at Virginia State University, Ettrick, VA 23806
11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Foster Hall & University Avenues
3 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. L. Douglas Wilder Building Auditorium, 1 Hayden Drive
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