WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE KNOW SECURING LEADERSHIP POSITIONS ISN'T EASY. ALTHOUGH FEMALES MAKE UP A MAJORITY OF AGRICULTURAL UNDERGRADUATES IN THE UNITED STATES AND WOMEN COMPRISE MORE THAN ONE-THIRD OF AGRICULTURAL PRACTIONERS, THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT DEFICIT IN THE NUMBER OF WOMEN WHO HOLD LEADERSHIP POSITIONS IN AGRICULTURE (CHO ET AL., 2017). THIS INEQUALITY COULD BE LINKED TO REDUCED EXPERIENCES IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF LEADERSHIP SKILLS (GOLDBERGER AND CROWE, 2010). IN SPITE OF TREMENDOUS EFFORTS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF WOMEN LEADERS IN STEM FIELDS, AGRICULTURE REMAINS RELATIVELY STAGNANT--DESPITE THE RISING NUMBER OF FEMALES PURSUING AGRICULTURAL CAREERS. THIS INEQUITY IS ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE AT MINORITY SERVING INSTITUTIONS AND INSTITUTIONS WITH LIMITED RESOURCES. WE BELIEVE INCREASING THE ACCESSIBILITY OF HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING WILL ENHANCE THE ABILITY OF TALENTED WOMEN TO ATTAIN SUCCESS AND REACH THEIR LEADERSHIP POTENTIAL. THIS PROPOSAL AIMS TO CREATE A SIX-WEEK FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM SERVING WOMEN AND UNDERRPRESENTED RACIAL AND ETHNIC MINORITY STUDENTS AT THREE COLORADO INSTITUTIONS (COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY- FORT COLLINS, ADAMS STATE UNIVERSITY, CSU-PUEBLO). THE CSU-HOUSED PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES IN ANIMAL SCIENCES (IN THE LABORATORY AND FIELD) AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING (INCLUDING GENDER-CENTRIC ISSUES), IN CONJUNCTION WITH DEVELOPING A PEER NETWORK AND NETWORK OF FEMALE PROFESSIONALS. FURTHERMORE, THE PEDAGOGICAL MATERIALS DEVELOPED WILL BE USED TO CREATE AN UNDERGRADUATE COURSE ADDRESSING CRITICAL ISSUES OF DIVERSITY AND GENDER EQUALITY IN AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES. THE NEED FOR BRIDGING THE GAP IN AGRICULTURAL LEADERSHIP IS CRITICAL, AND THIS PROGRAM WILL AID IN ASSURING THAT FUTURE WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE WILL KNOW SUCCESS.