Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS) is dedicated to increasing diversity in farming and natural resource careers. The roots of MANRRS trace back to 1982, when a group of students and teachers at Michigan State University initiated efforts to promote diversity in these fields. By 1985, Minorities in Agriculture was established at Penn State, aiming to build a robust network connecting minority students and professionals with educational institutions, government agencies, and industry organizations.
Just a couple of years later, the MANRRS acronym became official. And while those are just a few of the milestones over the organization’s long history, 2024 saw another major step: Longtime Chief Operating Officer Ebony Webber was selected for the newly created CEO position at MANRRS.
Since its inception, MANRRS has grown significantly. In 2023 alone, the organization awarded over $300,000 in scholarships to 150 students. MANRRS boasts over 19,000 members, including 55 percent professionals and 45 percent students, with 74 collegiate chapters. The organization posted 2,532 job submissions and placed 14 internships in the past year, demonstrating substantial growth and influence since 1982.
The impressive progress of MANRRS is no coincidence. The organization’s journey of growth accelerated when it hired its first employee in 1990. Webber — a 21-year veteran of the organization who has been instrumental in MANRRS’ success — intends to accelerate that growth.
Webber is from Moorhead, Mississippi, located in the rural Mississippi Delta. As the COO, she strategically relocated the national office from Memphis, Tennessee, to Atlanta, Georgia. This move was pivotal for the organization, and under her leadership, MANRRS experienced a 10 times increase in revenue over 20 years and a 700 percent growth in staff, enhancing the scale and quality of services.
Active membership has increased by 300 percent in Webber’s time, and she has been instrumental in developing over 105 MANRRS and Junior MANRRS chapters across 40 states. With a background in Computer Science and Mathematics, Webber graduated at the top of her class from Stillman College in Alabama. She holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science, a master’s in business administration, and a certification in Technology Management from the University of Phoenix.
Since being announced as CEO in April, Webber has initiated several transformative programs. Among these is the first-ever Junior MANRRS summer camp, which hosted 22 students from middle school to 12th grade. Webber plans to expand this initiative, hosting two additional camps at the University of Georgia for a week.
Webber is also implementing the creation of the SMART academy, which stands for Sales, Marketing, Agriculture, Retail, and Technology. This academy aims to attract communication, marketing, and technology students, providing new career pathways in agriculture.
In the coming months, Webber said she will help organize four regional recruitment events in New Jersey, Atlanta, Denver, and St. Louis, expected to draw up to 1,300 students and professionals. Additionally, she is preparing for the next MANRRS national conference, which will take place in the spring in Memphis, Tennessee.
It is “a cornerstone event for the organization,” Webber said in an interview with AGDAILY.
Although MANRRS is often perceived as a student organization, Webber emphasized its commitment to providing value to professional members as well.
“We have a lot of companies looking to hire at the mid-seniority level. We are implementing development programs for next year’s conference,” she said.
She noted that her and her team are focused on creating workshops and networking opportunities for professional members, including committee participation and officer roles. Next year, the organization aims to have the professional track of the conference certified by the Society for Human Resource Management, which measures an individual’s ability to apply HR principles to real-life situations.
“We like to say you can be a member for life in MANRRS. Although collegiate membership is our wheelhouse, we do have Junior MANRRS that starts at seventh grade through 12th grade. Collegiate, both graduate and undergrad, as well as professional from early career to those about to retire, so you truly can be a member for life,” she said.
With Webber leading the charge for MANRRS its continued growth seems inevitable. Her vision and dedication to the organization’s mission ensures that MANRRS will continue to support and advance minorities in agricultural sciences and related fields, for a more inclusive and diverse future.
David Salazar serves as the 2024 American Farmland Trust Agriculture Communications Intern at AGDAILY, with a focus on helping to amplify diversity and minority voices in agriculture. David is originally from King City, California, and attended the University of California, Fresno, as a first-generation college student. He received a bachelor’s degree in viticulture and enology and has worked in California’s premier wine producing regions.
