**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 BEEF IMPROVEMENT FEDERATION (BIF) HAS HELD ANNUAL SYMPOSIA SINCE 1968, BRINGING TOGETHER ALL SEGMENTS OF THE BEEF INDUSTRY TO DISCUSS DEVELOPMENTS IN GENETIC IMPROVEMENT AND INDUSTRY COORDINATION. THESE MEETINGS INCLUDE PRESENTATIONS ON CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRODUCER APPLICATION. HISTORICALLY, GRADUATE STUDENTS HAVE NOT BEEN DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THE CONFERENCE. THIS PROJECT AIMS TO SEED GRADUATE PARTICIPATION IN THE 2024 SYMPOSIUM HELD IN KNOXVILLE, TN. WE WILL FUND THE TRAVEL FOR AT LEAST 10 STUDENTS AND THE REGISTRATION FOR ANOTHER 20. IN ADDITION TO LOWERING THE BARRIERS OF PARTICIPATION IN THE SYMPOSIUM, WE ARE OFFERING GRADUATE STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT POSTERS AT MULTIPLE SESSIONS THROUGHOUT THE MEETING, A NEW IDEA PITCH COMPETITION, AND A MENTORING PROGRAM. THIS INITIATIVE WILL HELP TO DEMONSTRATE THE VALUE OF STUDENT PARTICIPATION IN BIF, BOTH TO STUDENT MENTORS AS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF A BEEF-FOCUSED TRAINING PROGRAM AND TO THE ENTIRE BIF ORGANIZATION.