Agriculture students and professionals are gathering in Chicago today for the kickoff of MANRRS38, an annual conference that features industry leaders, small-group breakout sessions, workshops, a career expo, and networking opportunities with major industry brands — all while refining your professional skills in preparation for internships and career advancement.
Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS) is a national society dedicated to the academic and professional advancement of minorities in agriculture, natural resources, and related sciences through fiscal and experiential empowerment.
Through their sponsors and their own boots on the ground development of curriculum, conferences, and professional development engagements, MANRRS has allowed students from middle school through post-baccalaureate to soar to new heights within their own academic and professional goals. Many students who have engaged with MANRRS have found themselves traveling down the track toward successful agricultural science careers and/or masters/doctorate programs; feeding talent down the pipeline of an industry is so desperately in need of diversification.
“Here, you have a valuable voice, and your participation matters,” declares their mission statement, echoing to all minority professionals, academics, and students that they can become lifetime members in their community at any stage. Their goal is to work together with their partners and stakeholders to change the future of the agricultural industry to a more equitable and diverse place for minorities.
The 38th Annual Training Conference and Career Expo (more simply known as MANRRS38) is an extension, even a celebration, of all the influential work the MANRRS society has accomplished and its students.
While attendees and stakeholders attend conference sessions that glorify the many talented and deserving scholarship winners and showcase motivational speakers within the sciences and agriculture industries, MANRRS38 also offers the opportunity for students to attend a career expo. There, students attending as well as other science and agricultural professionals can network with huge industry brands such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Zoetic, AGCO, and BASF. These industry partners not only monetarily fund scholarship opportunities for students, but they also come offering internship and employment opportunities (some even do applications right there on site).
“You are the future of the science industry,” shares the MANRRS society to its attendees over their conference invite page, “Together, we will cultivate the path forward and motivate each other toward success.”
The conference not only provides its attendees with the chance to hear from other industry partners and leaders, but to refine their skills toward filling the shoes of those who have come before them. Prior to the conference starting officially, students who qualify will also compete in leadership development events. These range from job interview contests to memorize and recite speech contests. Students can even engage with their digital media side through the MANRRS photo contest.
Last year, the conference was held in Georgia, where the same nurturing yet empowering energy was shocked into the city of Atlanta. In attendance, attendees, exhibitors, and stakeholders from across 40 states. As with each year, MANRRS promises each conference attendee the opportunity to hear from industry leading guest speakers, engage in small break out sessions to build relationships with like minded students and professionals, and network with industry through exhibition and workshops.
This year’s training conference and career expo aims to be no different than the last, yet all intend to provide new opportunities to engage in the conference and the attendees’ futures. This year, MANRRS Career Expo is welcoming John Deere and their career exhibition booth, as well as a MANRRS Got Talent.
“Through our Annual Training Conference and Career Expo, the National Society of MANRRS offers many benefits and services to help members increase their knowledge and develop skills in partnerships for student success,” the organization says.
The conference will be jam packed with events all the way to its conclusion Sunday, March 24.
MANRRS is a national society that welcomes membership of people of all racial and ethnic group participation in agricultural and related science careers. Each day, this society aims to change the face of agriculture by linking hands around the world to all walks of life, to all communities, to empower and celebrate their engagement in agriculture. MANRRS38 is a homecoming where all of these stories come together to encourage the next story to keep aspiring for more. Just as the conference theme suggests, this conference will employ the idea of “inspiring to aspire.”
Bre Holbert is a past National FFA President and studied agriculture science and education at California State-Chico. “Two ears to listen is better than one mouth to speak. Two ears allow us to affirm more people, rather than letting our mouth loose to damage people’s story by speaking on behalf of others.”
