FAMU Meets United States Secretary of Agriculture

Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue visited Florida A&M University (FAMU) to hear from students majoring in agriculture, their views on how to attract and increase pre-college students interest to study agriculture and the many career options it involves. In addition to FAMU students, the roundtable included state representatives from 4-H, Future Farmers of America and extension officers.

“The goal is not only to get students to understand that agriculture is more than just farming,” said Perdue, “but also to promote research at universities like FAMU, “to meet the future needs of agriculture.”

Perdue, who was raised in a farming family in Bonaire, Georgia, said he was encouraged to see young people promoting urban gardens, studying water quality and environmental issues, and exposing the value of small farmers in the farm-totable dining trend. The former Georgia governor also was joined on the panel by U.S. Rep. Al Lawson, who sits on House Committee on Agriculture, FAMU President Larry Robinson, Ph.D. and Robert Taylor, Ph.D. dean of the College of Agriculture and Food Sciences.

Perdue said it was “a great revelation” to understand the depth of research FAMU is conducting in water quality, agronomy and entomology. He said he supports legislation proposed by U.S. Representative David Scott, of Georgia’s 13th congressional district, and graduate of FAMU, that would provide more funding for recruitment and scholarships for land-grant universities. “We believe we have money in USDA to support this,” Perdue said, “We think it will be a great investment in the future of agriculture.

To read more please visit https://issuu.com/cafsmagazine/docs/cafs_magazine_winter_2017_online