MANRRS Gives Students Like Maxwell Opportunities

[Link]It was in late 2021 when American Farm Bureau and MANRRS announced they had entered into an agreement with the goal of increasing minority involvement in agriculture. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed with expectations to strengthen membership value for both organizations through collaboration on projects, including written content for each organization's publications, providing leadership training and expertise, and cross promoting programs and events.

"We are excited to join with MANRRS and share Farm Bureau's resources and programs with potential new farmers and the next generation of leaders in agriculture," said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. "Farmers and ranchers represent less than 2% of America's population but are responsible for feeding the entire country and beyond. We will need the brightest minds and new perspectives to continue meeting the growing demand for healthy, affordable food. We believe the partnership we're forming today will benefit both of our organizations and all of agriculture."

MANRRS stands for Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS) began as a vision shared by a group of agriculture students and faculty at Michigan State University and Pennsylvania State University. The goal was to develop a network between minority agriculture and natural resources students and professionals from academic institutions, government entities and organizations within the industry.

According to its website, the mission at MANRRS is to promote academic and professional advancement by empowering minorities in agriculture, natural resources, and related sciences. Here, you have a valuable voice, and your participation matters.

As a member of MANRRS, Maxwell Chibuogwu has now attended multiples Farm Bureau conferences. Maxwell is a recent Ph.D. graduate in the plant pathology program at UW-Madison.

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"I've always been interested in how diseases impact our food and supply chain which led me into this career path," said Maxwell.

Maxwell grew up on a farm in Nigeria. On campus, he was involved with several organizations besides MANNRS such as the REACH ambassadors' program, what's eating my plants (WEMP), plant pathology grad student council (PPGC), mentorship opportunities in science and agriculture for individuals of color (MOSAIC).

"I was honored to serve as the president of the UW-Madison's chapter of MANRRS," said Maxwell in a Spring 2024 interview with CALS news.. "The organization provided a supportive community for fellow minority students and I was proud to be a part of it. Minorities are not as represented as they could be in some spaces in the agricultural community. MANRRS tries to help with that."

Maxwell was first exposed to Farm Bureau through MANRRS.

"I saw a flyer to become a fellow with American Farm Bureau and because of that I got to attend the AFBF FUSION Conference. I think these connections are important. We can learn from each other and be part of each other's story," said Maxwell.

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