Animal Agriculture Alliance's 2023 College Aggies Online Program Starts Sept. 11
The names of Emily Schaapman, known online as @DairyGirlFitness, Natalie Kovarik (@NatalieKovarik), Brandi Buzzard (@BrandiBuzzard), Jessica Peters (@SeeJessFarm), and Ryan Goodman, known online as @BeefRunner, fill the roster as mentors for The Animal Agriculture Alliance’s 2023 College Aggies Online (CAO) program.
Beginning on September 11, the program connects college students passionate about promoting agriculture and equips them with essential skills to engage effectively with their audiences both online and on campus. Scholarship awards totaling $20,000 are also available to undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students, collegiate clubs and classes.
Participants, either as individuals or clubs, will utilize social media to disseminate information on current agricultural issues and share personal anecdotes. Clubs, in particular, are encouraged to host virtual or on-campus events to foster discussions about modern agriculture among their peers. In the previous year, CAO students reached more than 8.5 million individuals online and engaged with 2,300 people in person, notes a recent release.
Throughout the program, participants will undergo nine weeks of interactive and educational content designed to boost their confidence and communication skills in advocating for agriculture. Industry experts and experienced farmers will guide them in this journey. The 2023 mentor lineup includes:
- Jessica Peters, Pennsylvania dairy farmer
- Emily Schaapman, Dairy Girl Fitness
- Paul Montgomery, United Egg Producers
- Ryan Goodman, Certified Angus Beef
- Kristin Stawarz, Ketchum
- Jennifer Sorenson, Iowa Select Farms
- Laycee Gibson, National Turkey Federation
- Natalie Kovarik, Nebraska cattle rancher
- Brandi Buzzard, Kansas cattle rancher
- Kylie Diaz, Signal Theory
Reflecting on the experience, a 2022 participant shared, "College Aggies Online gave me the opportunity to put my skills and creativity to use. It gave me materials to add to my portfolio and something to share with future employers... It was rewarding to hear feedback from my friends and know they were learning with me!"
As part of the competition, students will vie for points and the chance to secure weekly $100 scholarship prizes. At the program's conclusion, the top five individual participants and the top three clubs with the most points will receive scholarship awards, with the first-place individual earning $3,000 and the first-place club receiving $2,000. These high-achievers, along with one representative from each top club, will be invited to the Alliance's 2024 Stakeholders Summit, scheduled for May 8-9 in Kansas City, Missouri, for national recognition.
Students eager to network with industry professionals, learn from successful agriculture influencers, and enhance their communication skills are encouraged to register at https://animalagalliance.org/initiatives/college-aggies-online-sign-up/.
