**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THIS OPPORTUNITY WILL BE OPEN TO FLORIDA HIGH-SCHOOL AGED YOUTH. YOUTH WILL ENROLL AND PARTICIPATE IN BI-MONTHLY VIRTUAL 4-H CLUB MEETINGS WHERE THEY WILL LEARN A VARIETY OF SKILLS INCLUDING TECHNICAL SKILLS IN AGRICULTURE AS WELL AS COMMUNICATIONS SKILLS, TIME MANGEMENT, INTERVIEW/RESUME SKILLS, AND OTHER SOFT SKILLS TO PREPARE THEM FOR PASTTING AEST CERTIFICATION TESTS AND TO PREPARE THEM FOR FUTURE EMPLOYMENT. PARTICIPANTS WILL ALSO ENGAGE IN VIRTUAL FARM FIELD TRIPS AND OTHER VIRTUAL FIELD DAYS TO EXPOSE THEM TO ON-FARM EXPERIENCES AND SKILLS NECESSARY TO WORK IN REAL-WORLD AGRICULTURE. IN-PERSON SUMMER PROGRAMS ON CAMPUS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA AND FLORIDA A & M UNIVERSITY WILL EMPHASIZE HANDS-ON LEARNING IN A VARIETY OF AGRICULTURAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL CONTEXTS. IT IS HOPED THAT AFTER YOUTH PARTICIPATE IN THE VIRTUAL 4-H CLUB, FIELD DAYS/FIELD TRIPS, AND ON-CAMPUS EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES, AND PASS THEIR AEST CERTIFICATIONS, THEY WILL BE PRIME CANDIDATES FOR WELL-PAYING JOBS IN FLORIDA AGRICULTURE.
$748,988FY2022National Institute of Food and AgricultureUSDA
University Of Florida, Gainesville FL