** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE NEED FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN AGRICULTURE LITERACY IS NEEDED NOW MORE THAN EVER FOR OUR CURRENT CLASSROOM EDUCATORS. MOST AGRICULTURE EDUCATION TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM HAVE BEEN THROUGH AN AGRICULTURE EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT PREPARES THEM AS AN EDUCATOR IN THE CLASSROOM. THIS INCLUDES PEDAGOGY, CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT, CURRICULUM DESIGN, LESSON PLANNING, DELIVERY OF LESSONS, POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT AND MUCH MORE. WHAT OUR UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS LACK FOR EDUCATORS IN PROGRAMS IS THE HANDS-ON TRAINING IN MANY AREAS OF AGRICULTURE EDUCATION. FOR EXAMPLE, A HIGH SCHOOL AGRICULTURE TEACHER MAY BE TEACHING AN EQUINE SCIENCE CLASS BUT MAY HAVE NEVER EVEN TOUCHED A HORSE. WHILE THEY HAVE PROVEN KNOWLEDGEABLE IN THE TOPIC, THEY LACK THE HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE NEEDED TO TRULY ENGAGE AND DELIVER THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION AS THEIR COUNTERPARTS THAT MAY HAVE GROWN UP WITH HORSES, WORKED AT A LIVESTOCK AUCTION, VOLUNTEERED AT A HORSE RESCUE AND SO ON.THE ONE HERD SYMPOSIUM WAS DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THIS NEED. THIS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EVENT GAINED ITS NAME AFTER THE PROJECT TEAM, CURRENT EDUCATORS AT BOTH SECONDARY AND COLLEGIATE LEVELS AND WORKFORCE STAKEHOLDERS DISCUSSED THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS, EDUCATORS AND THE ANIMAL SCIENCE WORKFORCE. FEEDBACK AND DISCUSSIONS FROM ALL ENTITIES EXPLAINED AN IDEAL SCENARIO WOULD BE FOR ALL OF THE ENTITIES DESCRIBED TO WORK TOGETHER, COLLABORATE AND HAVE A SHARED VISION THAT WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER, WE ARE ONE HERD, WORKING FOR THE BETTERMENT OF YOUTH AGRICULTURE EDUCATION.THIS 4-YEAR PROJECT WILL PROVIDE HIGH SCHOOL AGRICULTURAL TEACHERS WITH NOVEL HANDS-ON EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES FOCUSING ON THE LIVESTOCK COMPONENT OF THE FOOD SYSTEM, INCLUDING VETERINARY MEDICINE, REGULATORY ACTIVITIES, PRODUCTION PRACTICES, INDUSTRY INVOLVEMENT, AND ANIMAL CARE AND WELFARE. COMMODITIES COVERED IN THESE EDUCATIONAL EVENTS MAY INCLUDE DAIRY CATTLE, BEEF CATTLE, SMALL RUMINANTS, AND WILDLIFE SPECIES SUSCEPTIBLE TO FOREIGN AND EMERGING ANIMAL DISEASES, AMONG OTHERS. FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL ANIMAL HEALTH OFFICIALS WILL BE ENGAGED IN THE EDUCATIONAL EVENTS TO EXPAND AWARENESS OF ANIMAL HEALTH REGULATORY ACTIVITIES AS WELL AS ANIMAL HEALTH REGULATORY RELATED CAREER OPPORTUNITIES. ADDITIONALLY, THE VETERINARY PROFESSION, PRODUCTION PROFESSIONALS, ANIMAL HEALTH INDUSTRY, ACADEMIC, EXTENSION, FFA, 4H, AND AGRICULTURE EDUCATOR COMMUNITIES WILL BE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THE EDUCATIONAL EVENTS.