| Sept. 3, 2024 – Influencer and fitness expert Emily Schaapman (@DairyGirlFitness) and Pennsylvania dairy farmer Jessica Peters (@SeeJessFarm) are slated to serve as mentors during the first week of the 2024 College Aggies Online (CAO) scholarship program, kicking off September 9. Undergraduate, graduate, and pre-professional students, collegiate clubs and classes are encouraged to sign up. More than $20,000 in scholarship awards are available for the 2024 program. Help spread the word about the program by referring a friend to sign up. Each referral will be entered to win a $100 Amazon gift card.
The 2023 program saw major success, with participants rating an increase in confidence communicating about agriculture from 6.5 out of 10 before participating in CAO up to 9.0 out of 10 after participation. This success would not have been possible without the support of platinum sponsor Dairy Management Inc. (DMI), who is returning as a sponsor in 2024. “At Dairy Management Inc., we recognize the importance of fostering and empowering the next generation of agriculture communicators and leaders,” said Lisa McComb, SVP of communications at DMI and incoming Alliance board chairperson. “We’re proud to support College Aggies Online because it equips students with the tools and confidence needed to be effective communicators for agriculture in their future careers – whether that’s on the farm, in the plant, or with an organization.”
CAO consists of individual and club divisions. The individual division is a completely virtual experience with students receiving guidance from industry experts and farmer mentors on how to create viral social media posts, edit TikTok and Instagram Reels, design eye-catching graphics, and so much more. During week one, Peters will share recommendations on how to engage about dairy online, and Schaapman will provide tips and tricks for creating short-form videos for social media.
The club division provides both in-person and virtual engagement opportunities for collegiate clubs and classes to connect with peers about agriculture. The “Undeniably Dairy” challenge, sponsored by DMI, is one of several challenges available for participating groups to choose from to earn points toward scholarship awards. In the “Undeniably Dairy” challenge, groups are encouraged to partner with local dairy farmers and checkoffs to share the nutritional benefits of dairy and how it is produced with students on campus who may not be familiar with agriculture. Additional examples of club challenges include organizing a farm tour, hosting an “Ask a Farmer” panel, bringing agriculture to a local K-12 class, or collaborating with campus dining staff.
Students interested in networking with industry professionals and learning from successful agriculture influencers while strengthening their communication skills are invited to sign up today. In addition to scholarship awards, the top participants at the conclusion of the program will be invited to attend the Alliance’s 2025 Stakeholders Summit, set for April 30-May 2 in Arlington, Va., for national recognition.
In addition to DMI, the Alliance also thanks 2024 CAO sponsors: CHS Foundation, National Pork Industry Foundation, National Corn Growers Association, John K. Vanier Foundation, Institute for Feed Education and Research, Culver Franchising System, Domino’s Pizza LLC, Ohio Poultry Association, and National Chicken Council. To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, email Logan Hall at lhall@animalagalliance.org. |
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