YOUTH
Tailoring outreach, engagement, and development to support upcoming leaders is part of IAC's commitment to see beyond what we need right now to ensure the health and prosperity of future generations. Our youth programs equip Native youth with employable skills, higher education resources, immersive learning experiences and virtual engagement opportunities nationwide.
MISSION
In response to the growing age gap in the agriculture industry, IAC prioritizes youth and young adult programs. We wholeheartedly believe that youth are the future and deserve a head start.
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The Youth program offers leadership development opportunities such as internships, fellowships and apprenticeships, plus technical assistance to support youth agricultural endeavors.
EDUCATE & EMPOWER NATIVE YOUTH
UPCOMING EVENTS
The 2024 IAC Annual Conference is just around the corner, and we're inviting young voices to be heard through our Youth Essay Contest. This is your chance to share your ideas on the future of agriculture in Indian Country and win an opportunity to attend the conference. Check out the 2023 agenda below!
2024 YOUTH ESSAY CONTEST
Have you heard of the United States Department of Agriculture Tribal Advisory Committee?
The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 requires that the Secretary establish and maintain a Tribal Advisory Committee (TAC) . The role of the TAC is to provide advice and guidance to the Secretary on matters relating to Tribal and Indian affairs. The Committee facilitates, but does not supplant, government-to-government consultation between the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Indian Country.
Subcommittees include:
Economic Development
Education and Research
Farming Production and Conservation
Food, Food Safety, and Trade
Forests and Public Lands Management
Subcommittee Administration
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Essay Topic Questions:
Utilizing the resources and information provided on this page, write an essay in response to this prompt:
What is my vision for what the USDA Tribal Advisory Committee can do for Indian Country?
In responding to the prompt, consider answering the following questions (responses should be prepared in essay format including an introduction paragraph, body paragraphs, conclusion, and resources):
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Tell us, if you were on the TAC, what recommendations would you have for the USDA? Are there specific recommendations you might have that address the overlap of USDA and BIA functions and services to your home community?
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Are these subcommittee topics relevant to you and your community? How so? Outline why these topics are important to you and your community’s agricultural, natural resources, food systems, and community development goals.
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Did you already know about the TAC? How can we ensure that our communities are aware of the TAC and its purpose?
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Is the USDA TAC webpage easy to navigate and understand? What information do you wish that it also highlighted?
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What kind of questions do you have about what TAC does?
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Will you now be empowered to offer public comment to the TAC at an upcoming meeting? Are there any professional development trainings that would help empower you to do so?
So what does this have to do with you? There is a barrier of communication from Indian Country to USDA, and the TAC has been created to bridge the gap. At the Intertribal Agriculture Council, we believe your voice is strong, passionate, and informative, and we want to encourage you to share that voice with the TAC. The currently seated TAC is made up of 11 people from Indian Country who are charged with taking in input to inform an annual set of recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture and to Congress. They, alongside a representative from USDA and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, meet on a quarterly basis during which formal public comment periods are held. They are a great resource for you as a leader within your community, and this year’s IAC Essay Contest is aimed at preparing you to carry on your own concerns, suggestions, ideas, and questions to this monumental advisory committee.
Full travel scholarships to attend the IAC Youth Conference will be awarded to 60-80 essay finalists and candidates to attend the 2024 IAC Youth Conference in Las Vegas, December 10th-12th, 2024.
NATIONAL YOUTH
ADVISORY COUNCIL
The IAC National Youth Advisory Council serves as the advising body for the IAC Youth program, ensuring the needs of youth in Indian Country are properly met within IAC programs.
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Applications for 2024 will be accepted on a rolling basis until positions have been filled. Eligible applicants must be 18-27 years of age. Successful NYAC applicants will serve in shaping the leadership roles that this body will carry forward.
The following regions have open council positions; Alaska, Eastern, Great Lakes, Navajo, Rocky Mountain, Southwest, Southern Plains, and Western.
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