** 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 PROPOSED PROJECT AIMS TO CULTIVATE AND DEVELOP FUTURE LEADERS IN AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY MARKETING AND RISK MANAGEMENT BY PROVIDING THEM WITH SUMMER RESEARCH AND EXTENSION EXPERIENCES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO (UI). SPECIFICALLY, WE WILL (1) ENGAGE 10 MOTIVATED UNDERGRADUATE FELLOWS EACH YEAR, 50 IN TOTAL OVER FIVE YEARS, TO PARTICIPATE IN AN 8-WEEK SUMMER PROGRAM; (2) EQUIP SELECTED FELLOWS WITH FUNDAMENTAL KNOWLEDGE ON AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY MARKETING, RISK MANAGEMENT, AND DATA ANALYSIS TOOL; AND (3) MENTOR FELLOWS TO CONDUCT HANDS-ON RESEARCH AND EXTENSION ACTIVITIES THAT ADDRESS PRESSING CHALLENGES FACED BY THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY IN IDAHO AND THE REGION.STUDENTS WILL BE PRIMARILY RECRUITED FROM UI, COLLEGE OF WESTERN IDAHO (CWI), COLLEGE OF SOUTHERN IDAHO (CSI), AND BRIGHAM YOUNG UNVIERSITY-IDAHO (BYUI), WHICH IS EITHER HISPANIC-SERVING INSTITUTION (CSI), OR HAVE SIGNIFICANT POPULATIONS OF UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS (UI, CWI, BYUI).THROUGH TRAINING MODULES, MENTORED RESEARCH/EXTENSION PROJECTS, GUEST LECTURES, INTERACTION WITH INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS, FIELD TRIPS, A MARKETING TOUR TO PORTLAND, AND SIMULATED CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS, THE PROGRAM WILL PREPARE 50 FELLOWS WITH PRACTICAL SKILLS AND EXPERTISE TO EFFECTIVELY NAVIGATE THE COMPLEXITIES OF MARKETING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS AND MANAGING ASSOCIATED RISKS. ADDITIONALLY, THE PROJECT WILL ESTABLISH THE INITIAL COLLABORATIVE CAPACITY BETWEEN UI AND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS TO CONTINUE ATTRACTING STUDENTS TO AG MARKETING AND RISK MANAGEMENT RESEARCH/EXTENSION. THIS EFFORT WILL FURTHER STRENGTHEN UI'S INSTITUTIONAL ABILITY TO SUSTAINABLY PROVIDE QUALITY, DYNAMIC, AND INNOVATIVE RESEARCH AND OUTREACH IN THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR, FOSTERING OPPORTUNITIES FOR AGRICULTURAL ECONOMIC GROWTH AND ADVANCING HIGHER EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT IN IDAHO AND THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST.