The Cultivator program provides awards for up to six undergraduate or graduate-level students from accredited agricultural programs in the United States to participate in a Farm Foundation Round Table meeting.

Farm Foundation is an accelerator of practical solutions for agriculture. Our mission is to build trust and understanding at the intersections of agriculture and society. We accomplish this by leveraging non-partisan objective dialogue, information and training, catalyzing solutions and creating multi-stakeholder collaboration. Our vision is to build a future for farmers, our communities and our world. Since 1933, we have connected leaders across agricultural sectors–farming, business, academia, organizations and government.

A program of Farm Foundation, the Round Table is an invitational group of agricultural leaders who meet semi-annually to discuss issues of importance to agribusiness, the food system and rural communities. The sessions are intended to provide ideas and a learning experience that participants may use in their own activities.

Only a dean, director, or department chair from a participating institution can nominate a student for the Cultivator program. Farm Foundation encourages the sponsoring institution to choose students who have a direct interest in the subject on which the Round Table meeting program will be focused

Students are expected to attend each Round Table session. They are expected to actively engage with Round Table participants throughout the meeting.

Importantly, Cultivators will be required to prepare a (1) brief (approximately 5-8 minute) presentation to be shared during the meeting and (2) prepare a related poster to be displayed throughout the meeting. During select meeting networking breaks, students will have the opportunity to discuss their posters and research with fellow attendees. Posters should be no smaller than 36’X24’ and no larger than 36×48. They will be affixed to a hard backing.

A Round Table participant will be assigned as a host/mentor for each Cultivator. Mentors will reach out to the students before the event to let them know what to expect, etc. During the meeting, Mentors will ensure that the Cultivators are meeting other Round Table members, students, speakers, and guests. They will also be introduced and integrated among the Round Table participants throughout the event.

Only a dean, director, or department chair from a participating institution can nominate a student for the Cultivator program. Nominators or their designees should complete the online nomination form.

To nominate a student, please submit an online nomination form by Monday, October 23, 2023. Selectees will be notified by Monday, November 1, 2023, if they have been selected.

Please note: Contact information and a current resume/CV for the student will be required, in addition to a brief description of the student’s proposed presentation.

Students selected for the Cultivator Program will receive an award that will cover all hotel and registration expenses. The nominating university or college will be responsible for the student’s other travel expenses*, including flights, other transportation, and incidental travel expenses. If a selected student from a nominating school is unable to attend the Round Table for any reason, another student will be named in their place.

*For the January 2024 meeting, a $1,000 travel stipend will be provided to the selected student’s university department.