At the U.S. Department of Agriculture headquarters on Feb. 15 in Washington, D.C., University of Guam students Charlene Badajos and Jamilee Cruz were among several students asked to stand during a speech by Secretary of Agriculture Thomas J. Vilsack.

During his remarks at the release of the 2022 Census of Agriculture, he cited data that the average age of farmers in the country has been rising, now at 58 years old, and shared how USDA is investing heavily in the next generation of agriculture professionals.

That investment is coming through USDA’s NextGen program, which is supporting $252 million worth of projects at Land-Grant institutions to build awareness about career opportunities in food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences.

The University of Guam received one of 33 NextGen grants and launched its project, COMPASS, in 2023.

Badajos and Cruz, both agriculture majors at UOG, are focusing their degrees on nutrition/food science and tropical agriculture production, respectively. The COMPASS program connected them with internships and the opportunity to attend USDA’s 100th Annual Agricultural Outlook Forum, the department’s largest annual gathering.

Traveling with COMPASS co-director Rachel Jolley, Badajos and Cruz met with and heard from top USDA directors, including Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small and Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics Chavonda Jacobs-Young, and National Institute of Food & Agriculture Director Manjit Misra.

These administrators shared their career paths and discussed ways that students could get experience in USDA in a variety of career paths.

“It was inspiring to learn about the hardships many of the USDA leaders endured in their educational career since their determination ultimately led them to where they are today,” Badajos said.

The NextGen students also toured the National Agricultural Research Center and the National Agricultural Library in Beltsville, Md., learning about research instruments, library research tools, and potential career opportunities with USDA.

For Cruz, who is originally from Palau, it was her first time traveling outside of the region.

She said the trip expanded her curiosity and increased her confidence in agriculture as her major and career path to serve her community.

“The leaders who sat in their seats in front of us did not know they would end up working in the USDA,” Cruz said. “Sanah Baig, deputy under secretary for research, education, and economics, shared that you must be your authentic self to enjoy your career and succeed. I feel that I belong in agriculture more than any major.”