The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources encourages all students to participate in experiential learning outside of the classroom throughout their time at UMD. There are numerous experiential learning opportunities to pursue, and conferences along with industry-specific experiences can be particularly impactful.
Each year the organization Agriculture Future of America hosts a lineup of such professional development opportunities for undergraduate students.
Leaders Conference
Each November AFA hosts the annual AFA Leaders Conference in Kansas City, MO. This is a 4-day experience during which delegates learn from industry leaders, connect with peers from across the country, and engage with professionals in their fields of interest.
One of the unique aspects of this conference, and all AFA experiences, is that the cost is minimal. Food, housing, and conference registration is all covered by AFA’s corporate partners, so the only cost to the student is transportation to and from Kansas City.
AGNR provides financial support in the form of a travel stipend for AGNR students who are interested in participating in the conference, but for whom the cost of travel is prohibitive. Learn more and complete the application here.
Check out information on daily virtual Q&A sessions with our UMD AFA Ambassador, Malique Fowler, and our AFA Leaders Conference Application Night here:
AFA Industry Institutes
In addition to the Leaders Conference, AFA hosts six industry institutes each year. These Institutes are concentration deep dives into particular industries of interest. Participants have the opportunity to connect with leaders of the industry, exclusive company tours, and network with peers from across the country.
Upcoming Institutes
Note: The dates for Institutes in 2026 will be posted soon. Institutes tend to take place at a similar time each year with application deadlines in late November (Sustainability and Precision Ag), late January (Animal and Food Systems), and mid-March (Plant Science and Policy).
Just like Leaders Conference, most of the expenses for participating in AFA Institutes are covered by AFA Corporate Partners (food, housing, institute costs), the only cost to the student is travel to and from the location. If you would like financial support related to the cost of travel for this experience, consider applying for up to $500 through the Experiential Learning Fund.
AGNR Experiential Learning Fund Application
If you have questions and would like to learn more about AFA opportunities, please contact UCC@AGNR at agnrcareers@umd.edu.