** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** CURRENT ISSUE: AGRICULTURE IS ARKANSAS' LARGEST INDUSTRY, ADDING AROUND $16 BILLION TO THE STATE'S ECONOMY ANNUALLY. IN TODAY'S WORLD, COMMUNICATING MISSION AND RELEVANCE, RECRUITING TALENT, AND DEVELOPING THEM FOR THE JOB ARE KEY CHALLENGES FACED BY THE COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SYSTEM NATIONWIDE. NATIONAL SURVEYS CONDUCTED FOR THE ASSOCIATION OF PUBLIC AND LAND GRANT UNIVERSITIES SHOW THAT MOST YOUNG PEOPLE ARE UNAWARE OF EXTENSION IN THEIR STATE, EVEN STUDENTS AT LAND-GRANT UNIVERSITIES ARE OFTEN UNFAMILIAR WITH THE OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT MISSION OF THEIR SCHOOLS.METHODS &AMP; APPROACHES: THE EXPERIENTIAL SCHOLARS PROGRAM (ESP) PROJECT AIMS TO INTRODUCE CAREER OPPORTUNITIES FOR STEM AND LIBERAL ARTS MAJORS FROM UNIVERSITIES IN ARKANSAS. THE PARTICIPATING STUDENTS, SEVEN IN EACH OF THE FIVE COHORTS, WILL BE SELECTED AND EDUCATED THROUGH HANDS-ON LEARNING IN ONE OF THE THREE NIFA AND EXTENSION FOCUS AREAS: 1) AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES, 2) FOOD SAFETY, NUTRITION, AND HEALTH, OR 3) RURAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, AND WILL RECEIVE LEADERSHIP TRAINING TO DEVELOP SKILLS IN PROBLEM-SOLVING, COMMUNICATION, CONFLICT RESOLUTION, AND DECISION MAKING. MENTORING FOR THE STUDENTS WILL COME FROM FACULTY AND SPECIALISTS, COUNTY EXTENSION AGENTS, AND PEERS IN THE PROGRAM.WITH EXTENSION'S ACCESS TO CUTTING-EDGE SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE AT LAND-GRANT UNIVERSITIES AND EXTENSION'S CONNECTIONS WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES, OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNDERGRADUATE EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES ARE SIGNIFICANT. BUILDING ON THESE STRENGTHS, THE UADA ESP BRINGS TOGETHER EXTENSION PERSONNEL TO HELP ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IN THE FOCUS AREAS OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD, AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION. EXTENSION INTERNSHIPS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO HELP STUDENTS UNDERSTAND THEIR COURSEWORK ON A DEEPER LEVEL AND TO APPLY THEIR KNOWLEDGE IN A REAL-WORLD WORK ENVIRONMENT. SUCCESSFUL STRATEGIES FOR RECRUITING YOUNG PEOPLE TO EXTENSION INCLUDE ONE-ON-ONE INTERACTIONS WITH EXTENSION EDUCATORS AND SPECIALISTS. EACH INTERN WILL BE PAIRED WITH A MENTOR AND RECEIVE AN EXPERIENCE TAILORED TO HIS OR HER INTERESTS, SKILLS, EXPERIENCES, AND CAREER ASPIRATIONS.ULTIMATE GOAL: OUR ESP PROGRAM WILL INCREASE STUDENT AWARENESS OF THE MISSION OF EXTENSION AND THE ROLE THAT THE ORGANIZATION PLAYS IN DELIVERING SCIENCE-BASED KNOWLEDGE TO CITIZENS, WITH THE AIM TO RECRUIT QUALIFIED AND EFFECTIVE EXTENSION PERSONNEL.