Our Partners - Community College Alliance for Agriculture Advancement

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) improves the health of our Nation’s natural resources while sustaining and enhancing the productivity of American agriculture. We achieve this by providing voluntary assistance through strong partnerships with private landowners, managers, and communities to protect, restore, and enhance the lands and waters upon which people and the environment depend.

The conservation practices NRCS promotes are helping producers prepare for what’s ahead. From systems that help improve the health of the soil and water to restoring wetlands and wildlife populations, they are helping to ensure the health of our natural resources and the long-term sustainability of American agriculture.

In response to its customer and stakeholder needs, NRCS recently formed a new Soil Health Division. Among other responsibilities, division staff members will help deliver soil health management, education and advanced training across the country, and build partnerships that expand impact. As part of this effort, NRCS sought community college partners to be a part of their work plan.

“This partnership with the community colleges will leverage efforts of the newly formed Soil Health Division. It will help build a network of the next generation of land managers, experts, educators and technicians who are actively involved in improving soil health,” said Dr. Bianca Moebius-Clune, NRCS’s Director of the Soil Health Division.

North Central Sustainable Agriculture, Research and Education

North Central Region SARE (NCR-SARE) is one of four regional offices that run the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, a nationwide grants and education program to advance sustainable innovation to American agriculture.

NCR-SARE offers competitive grants and educational opportunities for producers, scientists, educators, institutions, organizations and others exploring sustainable agriculture in America’s Midwest. The twelve states of the North Central Region include Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

North Central SARE supports the C2A3 institutions by providing tools, information and resources for the classroom.

USDA Rural Development

USDA Rural Development (RD) has a commitment to serving traditionally underserved and economically challenged rural areas. They provide resources to assist rural communities and their economic development efforts. The Community College Alliance for Agriculture Advancement (C2A3) signed an MOU with USDA Rural Development in 2023 with the goal of connecting students to leadership opportunities in their rural area.

The cooperative agreement signed between RD and C2A3 promotes connection between community college faculty, students, and rural communities. Through this program, students are presented opportunities to increase understanding of agriculture production as community and economic driver in rural communities. Rural communities’ needs for information, technical assistance, and resources are also supported through student exposure to and engagement with local leaders and practitioners serving as mentors. Community and economic development theory and practice is delivered through college programming, along with mentor-student connections and engagement. Appreciation for rural community capacity building through local leadership is critical to encouraging students to remain in their communities and contribute to the vitality of the region