Agriculture provides the food that fuels our bodies, helps steward the land around us, and supplies the materials used to clothe and support our everyday lives. Yet, according to the USDA Economic Research Service, agriculture and its related industries account for just 10.4% of U.S. employment. That means nearly 90% of Americans are not directly involved in agriculture and may not fully understand how it impacts their daily lives.
As one of the nation’s most diverse and complex industries, agriculture depends on effective communicators who can help bridge the gap between producers and consumers. As a student, you have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact by sharing your knowledge and experiences. Whether online or in person, engaging in thoughtful conversations with people who are unfamiliar with agriculture helps build trust, increase understanding, and support the future success of the agriculture industry.
About College Aggies Online
Misinformation about food and agriculture is consuming our social media feeds and cluttering our brains in the grocery store. Making it harder than ever for consumers to separate factfrom fiction and trust the industry dedicated to providing safe and nutritious food for you and your families. As an agriculture student, you have the knowledge to help address the misconceptions, but making a meaningful impact takes more than simply knowing the facts. It requires strong communication skills, thoughtful messaging, and the ability to engage in productive conversations.
College Aggies Online (CAO) is an initiative of the Animal Agriculture Alliance that helps build lifelong advocates for agriculture. The nine-week scholarship program connects college students from across the country interested in agriculture. CAO helps you as a student become a confident and effective communicator!
10 reasons to sign up for CAO
- Learn new tool, trends, and techniques to create engaging social media graphics and content to talk about animal agriculture.
- Receive personalized guidance and feedback from industry professionals and farmer mentors to strengthen your communication skills and become a more confident advocate for animal agriculture.
- Compete for weekly scholarship opportunities alongside peers from across the country.
- Earn points throughout the program to qualify for finalist recognition and the CAO Excellence Award. These achievements can strengthen your resume and showcase your accomplishments on LinkedIn.
- Build confidence discussing animal agriculture and navigating conversations both online and in-person.
- Participate in a flexible, fully online program that fits your schedule and creative strengths. Each week offers unique opportunities to build your skills, allowing you to participatewhen it works best for you without the expectation of completing every challenge.
- Strengthen your writing skills through hands-on challenges, including blog posts and op-ed writing. Bonus, your blog may be featured on the Animal Agriculture Alliance website and social media!
- Attend webinars and connect with mentors and fellow participants to ask questions, expand your network, and build relationships with potential future employers.
- Organize interactive events through your collegiate club or class to talk about animal agriculture while building connections across your campus and local community.
- Earn an all-expenses-paid trip to the Alliance’s annual Stakeholders Summit on May 5-7 in Arlington, VA by placing as one of the top individuals or collegiate clubs. Winners will have the opportunity to connect to farmers, ranchers, veterinarians, animal scientists, retailers, and other industry leaders representing every sector of animal agriculture while at this conference!
Sign up today to compete in the 2026 program, which kicks off September 21th!
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