Cooperative Extension at N.C. A&T hosted more than 60 students participating in regional 4-H programs and 40 leaders, staff members, and chaperones from partnering universities this summer as part of the Youth Innovators Empowering Agriculture Across America - Research and Extension Apprenticeship Program (YEA-REAP) 1890 Collaborative project.
The event is one of the largest gatherings of African American 4-H’ers in a program at a Historically Black College and University, said Misty Blue-Terry, Ph.D., Youth, Families and Communities program leader in N.C. A&T Cooperative Extension and head of the collaborative project.
The project is funded by a $7.85 million, five-year award funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. REAP is the culminating event for youth who have participated in the year-long mentoring program. This was N.C. A&T’s first REAP experience.
“If we are going to effectively impact the complex challenges of STEM and agriculture, we have to prepare all young people for majors and careers in these areas,” Terry said. “We have to help them find their sparks. It is critical that we give them opportunities and exposure to leaders who look like them. This project is about mentoring the next generation and making sure that there are Black and brown leaders in STEM and agriculture.”
During the June week, the group engaged in such activities as an HBCU quiz bowl, faculty workshops, mock interviews, a youth- focused financial literacy program, university farm tour, and field trips, including a visit to the N.C. A&T Center of Excellence in Post-Harvest Technologies in Kannapolis.
This one-week residential agricultural research and Extension experiential learning program enabled the students to network with other youth across the U.S., showcase their talents and leadership skills, and impact future 4-H programming.
“We received very positive feedback as the students expressed that the overall benefits of the camp were excellent. Ninety percent indicated that the summer camp met their expectations and was intellectually challenging,” said Thasya Campbell, N.C. A&T Extension YEA program manager.
The 1890 Collaborative is a project spanning six states in partnership with Alcorn State University, Fort Valley State University, Kentucky State University, Lincoln University, Prairie View A&M University, and North Carolina A&T State University. Together, they are working to develop programs that make college more accessible and aims to provide the youth with the necessary leadership skills for agricultural-related careers.
Faculty from the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences who participated in the project include soil scientist Arnab Bhowmik, Ph.D.; nutrition specialist Katryn Eske, Ph.D.; agricultural economist Godfrey Ejimakor, Ph.D.; sustainable agricultural production systems researcher Lauren Mayo, Ph.D.; horticulture specialist Trequan McGee, Ph.D.; human and community development expert Chantel Simpson, Ph.D.; sustainable energy and biotechnologist Lijun Wang, Ph.D.; and food scientist Leonard Williams, Ph.D.
The YEA program is funded by the USDA and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), with the goal of reaching minority youth with positive youth development and mentoring to make college more attainable and prepare a more diverse STEAM (science, technology, engineering, agriculture, and math) work force. The program provides students with a stimulating and valuable introduction to careers in the food, agricultural, environmental, and family and consumer sciences, and expose them to research and Extension initiatives.
