Implementation of the Ag-Discovery Program

United States Department of Agriculture
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Program Aid No. 2001

Ag-DISCOVERY 2009:
Investing in the Future of American
Agriculture

What Is AgDiscovery?
AgDiscovery is an outreach program to help
teenagers learn about careers in plant and animal
science and wildlife management. The program
allows students to live on a college campus and
learn about agriculture from university professors
and scientists who work for the U.S. Government
in a variety of fields. They study the life cycles
and habits of insects (entomologists); research
microorganisms, such as bacteria and viruses
(biotechnologists); examine cells and tissues
under a microscope to identify diseases (plant
pathologists); work to conserve and manage wild
animals and their habitats (wildlife biologists); carry
out animal health programs (veterinarians); and
provide leadership and education on the humane
care and treatment of animals (veterinarians and
animal care inspectors).
This 2-week summer boarding program for 2009
targets middle and high school students* who are
interested in learning more about protecting plants
and animals. Students chosen to participate in
AgDiscovery will gain experience through handson labs, workshops, and field trips. Students also
will participate in character and team-building
activities and diversity workshops.

*Students between the ages of 12 and 16 are
eligible to participate in AgDiscovery programs
at Alcorn State University and Kentucky State
University. For all other participating unversities,
the eligible ages for participation are 14 through
17 years old.

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Who Sponsors AgDiscovery?
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA)
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
(APHIS) partners with various universities and
colleges to deliver the AgDiscovery program at
locations throughout the country. Many of the
Federal Government’s professional plant scientists,
biotechnologists, veterinarians, and wildlife
biologists work for APHIS. The agency funds
AgDiscovery each year, and partner universities
host program participants on their local campuses.
In 2009, there are seven universities participating
in AgDiscovery: Delaware State University, Alcorn
State University, The University of Arkansas at
Pine Bluff, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical
University, Kentucky State University, the
University of Maryland, and North Carolina
State University. Each university’s AgDiscovery
program focuses on a specific area of interest to
our Nation’s agriculture, such as plant health,
entomology, veterinary science, animal care,
biotechnology, and agribusiness.
AgDiscovery is a unique opportunity for students
to gain a first-hand look at the many career
paths open to them in the agricultural sciences.
For those interested in an agricultural career,
AgDiscovery is a great way to get started. Read on
to learn more about this year’s program, including
dates, locations, cost information, and how to
apply…

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Delaware State University
July 5–18, 2009

Investing in the Future of Agribusiness
There is more to agriculture than animal and plant
health sciences. It takes a cadre of professionals
to keep USDA operating. That’s why Delaware
State University (DSU) is hosting AgDiscovery
program participants this year on its campus in
Dover. New to AgDiscovery in 2009, the DSU
program is designed to help teenagers learn
about the business aspects of protecting plants
and animals and explore careers in agribusiness.
The program allows students to live on the DSU
campus and learn about a variety of administrative
professions from university professors and
agriculture employees in the fields of finance,
human resources, information technology,
emergency management, investigative services,
biosafety, biosecurity, acquisition, and facilities
management.

About Delaware State University
Founded in 1890 as the State College for
Colored Students, DSU began as a land-grant
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college for agriculture and mechanical arts.
During the last 115 years, it has evolved into
a fully accredited, comprehensive university
with a main campus and two satellite sites that
encompass six colleges and a diverse population
of undergraduate and advanced degree students.
The 400-acre main campus is located in Dover,
Delaware. The university offers 64 undergraduate
degrees, 22 graduate degrees, and 5 doctoral
degrees. Through the College of Agriculture and
Related Sciences, students can earn degrees in
Agriculture including Agri-Business, Agriculture
Education, General Agriculture, Plant Sciences
(Agronomy/Horticulture), Pre-veterinary Science,
Environmental Science, Fisheries/Wildlife
Management, and Pre-Forestry.
DSU’s College of Agriculture and Related
Sciences offers an outstanding opportunity for
undergraduates and graduate students alike to
partner with research faculty, as more than 92
percent of the college’s faculty are involved in
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research. Facilities include two working farms—
the 192-acre Outreach and Research Center for
crop research and trials and the 75-acre Hickory
Hill Farm for forage and farm animal research. The
largest herbarium at an 1890 land-grant institution
resides on the DSU campus. The Claude E.
Phillips Herbarium has faculty and staff who
maintain more than 150,000 rare and endangered
plant species, dating back to 1799.

Learn More
To find out more about the 2009 AgDiscovery
program at DSU, contact
Dr. Dyremple B. Marsh
Dean/Research Director/1890 Extension Administrator
College of Agriculture and Related Sciences
Delaware State University
1200 N. DuPont Highway
Dover, DE 19901
Phone: (302) 857-6400
E-mail: [email protected]
http://www.desu.edu

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Alcorn State University
June 14–26, 2009
Investing in the Future of Veterinary
Science
With funding from the National Civil Rights
Leadership Committee of APHIS’ Veterinary
Services program, Alcorn State University (ASU)
is hosting AgDiscovery program participants on
its campus in Alcorn State, Mississippi. The
university will make a variety of animal species
available to the AgDiscovery participants. Every
participant will work with live animals during this
summer program. The students will learn what
it feels like to be a veterinarian through hands-on
experiences. Dr. Cassandra Vaughn, of ASU’s
Department of Agriculture, will facilitate the
program.

About Alcorn State University
Founded in 1871, ASU is the country’s first
State-supported college for African Americans. It
is located in Alcorn State, Mississippi, 80 miles
southwest of Jackson, the State capital. The
university provides students with education and

Night vision cameras
are often used to
monitor animal
behaviors.

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training through bachelor’s and master’s degree
programs in numerous fields of study, including
the animal sciences. ASU currently offers a
Veterinary Science option in the Animal Science
discipline within the university’s Department of
Agriculture.

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Learn More
To find out more about the Department of
Agriculture at ASU, contact
Dr. Cassandra Vaughn
1000 ASU Drive
Box 750
Alcorn State, MS 39096–1500
Phone: (601) 877–6541
E-mail: [email protected]
http://www.alcorn.edu

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The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
June 14–26, 2009
Investing in the Future of
Plant and Animal Health
The AgDiscovery program at the University of
Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) will take place on
its campus this summer. The university will make
a variety of plant and animal species available
to the AgDiscovery students. Every participant
will work with plants and animals to discover
the effects of insects and diseases on American
agriculture. Shannon Hendrix, from the College
of Agriculture, Fisheries and Human Sciences,
will facilitate the 2009 program. Several offices
within APHIS—Policy and Program Development,
Investigative and Enforcement Services, Plant
Protection and Quarantine, Wildlife Services, and

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Veterinary Services—will fund the UAPB program
this year.

About the University of Arkansas
at Pine Bluff
UAPB, one of America’s premier historically black
land-grant institutions, offers bachelor’s degrees
in several agricultural areas through its School of
Agriculture, Fisheries and Human Sciences. As a
State-supported public college, UAPB particularly
emphasizes research and coursework in two
disciplines where Arkansas farmers lead the
Nation: poultry science and aquaculture. Besides
the campus in Pine Bluff, the university maintains
3 farm sites with more than 1,100 acres of land for
crop research and 112 earthen ponds for aquatic
research. Facilities also include greenhouses, a
poultry research lab, and two fish hatcheries.
Students in the 2009 AgDiscovery program at
UAPB will not just work with plants and livestock.
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They also will get to learn about UAPB’s new
degree program in Regulatory Science. The
university—a USDA-designated Center of
Excellence—has worked with APHIS to create
an undergraduate major in the development and
writing of governmental regulations. Congress
passes laws, but it is these regulations that
tell Americans what they have to do to be in
compliance with the laws. No other college in the
country offers this kind of instruction. Come to the
UAPB AgDiscovery program and find out all about
it!

Learn More
To find out more about career preparation in
agriculture-related disciplines at UAPB, contact
Linda L. Okiror, Ph.D.
Assistant Dean
College of Agriculture, Fisheries and Human Sciences
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
1200 N. University Drive
Pine Bluff, AR 71601
Phone: (870) 575–8538
E-mail: [email protected]
http://www.uapb.edu

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Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
June 7–19, 2009
Investing in the Future of Animal Care
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical (A&M)
University is hosting AgDiscovery program
participants on its campus in Tallahassee, Florida.
The university will make a variety of animal
species available to AgDiscovery students. Every
participant will work with live animals during
the summer. Drs. Ray Mobley and Thomas
Peterson of the Animal Science Department and
Cooperative Extension Program will facilitate the
program. APHIS’ Animal Care program will fund

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the AgDiscovery session at Florida A&M University
this year.

About Florida A&M University
Founded in 1887, Florida A&M University is a
4-year, public, coeducational institution of higher
learning. The main campus occupies 419 acres
on the highest of seven hills in Tallahassee, the
capital of Florida. The university offers degrees at
the bachelor, master, doctorate, and professional
levels. The college of Engineering Sciences,
Technology and Agriculture currently offers
a “pre-vet and animal industry” option in the
Animal Science discipline, along with a Veterinary
Technology program.

Learn More
To find out more about the Animal Science
Department at Florida A&M University or
cooperative extension program, contact
Dr. Thomas E. Peterson, DVM, MS
Assistant Professor/Extension Veterinarian
College of Engineering Sciences, Technology
and Agriculture
202-H Perry Paige
Florida A&M University
Tallahassee, FL 32307-4100
Phone: (850) 412-5117
Fax: (850) 561-2151
E-mail: [email protected]
http://www.famu.edu

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Kentucky State University
June 14–27, 2009
Investing in the Future of Veterinary
Services in Horse Country
Kentucky State University (KSU) is hosting
AgDiscovery program participants on its campus
in Frankfort, Kentucky. The university will
make a variety of animal species available to
the AgDiscovery participants. Every participant
will work with live animals during this summer
program. The students will learn what it feels like
to be a veterinarian through hands-on experiences.
Dr. John Hollis, of APHIS’ Veterinary Services, and
Dr. Kimberly Holmes, of KSU, will facilitate the
program. The National Civil Rights Leadership
Committee of APHIS’ Veterinary Services program
and KSU will both provide funding for the
university’s AgDiscovery session this year.

About Kentucky State University
Founded in 1887, KSU is a historically black
college that is strengthened by both its liberal
arts mission and its 1890 land-grant foundation

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and heritage. The university is located in
Kentucky’s State capital, Frankfort, which is 20
miles northwest of Lexington and 50 miles east of
Louisville. The university provides students with
education and training through bachelor’s and
master’s degree programs in numerous fields of
study, including aquaculture and the biological
sciences. The Land-Grant Program at KSU works
to resolve agricultural, educational, economic, and
social problems of all Kentuckians but especially
those with limited resources. It does so through
research, service, and teaching in the food and
agricultural sciences.

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Learn More
To find out more about the 2009 AgDiscovery
program at KSU, contact
Dr. Kimberly Holmes
Associate Director, Land-Grant Program
Kentucky State University
400 E. Main Street, CEB 108
Frankfort, KY 40601
Phone: (502) 597–5647
E-mail: [email protected]
Dr. John Hollis
USDA–APHIS–Veterinary Services
Post Office Box 399
Frankfort, KY 40602
Direct Phone: (502) 682-1402
General Phone: (502) 848–2040
Fax: (502) 848–2041
http://www.kysu.edu

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The University of Maryland
July 12–24, 2009
Investing in the Future of
Plants and Animals
The University of Maryland (UM) is hosting 2009
AgDiscovery program participants on its campus in
College Park, Maryland. The university will make
a variety of plant and animal species available to
AgDiscovery students. Every participant will work
with plants and animals to discover the effects of
insects and diseases on America’s agriculture,
learn about regulating genetically engineered
organisms, and understand the challenges of
managing and resolving wildlife conflicts. Dr.
Leon Slaughter, from the College of Agriculture
and Natural Resources, will facilitate the program.
Several APHIS offices—Biotechnology Regulatory
Services, Legislative and Public Affairs, Plant
Protection and Quarantine, and Policy and
Program Development—will fund the AgDiscovery
program at UM this year.

About the University of Maryland
UM is a land-grant institution founded in 1856
and located in College Park, Maryland, just outside
Washington, D.C. The 1,250-acre campus is
home to just over 25,000 undergraduate students,
32 percent of whom are minorities. A nationally

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recognized leader in engineering and computer
science with historic strengths in agriculturerelated biological sciences, UM provides a highquality education in numerous fields of study.
The university offers bachelor’s degrees in 127
fields (including plant sciences, food science,
entomology, landscape architecture, pre-veterinary
medicine, and wildlife ecology and management)
and graduate degrees in 112 specialties.
The university’s own mission statement
emphasizes its continuing commitment to
engaging “in outreach and collaborative
partnerships with the greater community by
extending the scholarly reach of [its] campus.”
UM’s participation as a host for the summer
2009 AgDiscovery program demonstrates this
commitment in action.

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Learn More
To find out more about career preparation in
agriculture-related disciplines at UM, contact
Ms. Elizabeth Weiss
College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
(301) 314–7222
http://www.agnr.umd.edu
For more information about the College of
Agriculture and Natural Resources at UM, contact
Leon Slaughter, Ph.D.
Associate Dean of Academic Programs
Phone: (301) 405–2078
e-mail: [email protected]
http://www.umd.edu

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North Carolina State University
July 13–24, 2009
Investing in the Future of Plant Science
North Carolina State University (NCSU) is hosting
AgDiscovery program participants on its campus in
Raleigh, North Carolina. The university will make
a variety of plant species available to AgDiscovery
students. Every participant will work with plants
to discover the effects of insects and disease on
America’s agriculture. Ms. Janet Bailey of the
Science House—NCSU’s statewide kindergarten
through grade 12 learning outreach project—will
facilitate the program. APHIS’ Plant Protection
and Quarantine Eastern Region office will fund the
2009 AgDiscovery program at NCSU.

About North Carolina State University
NCSU is a land-grant institution founded in
1887 and located in Raleigh, North Carolina.
A nationally recognized leader in science and
technology with historic strengths in agriculture

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and engineering, NCSU provides a high-quality
education in numerous fields of study, including
agricultural and life sciences. NCSU offers
bachelor’s degrees in 102 fields, master’s degrees
in 108 fields, and doctoral degrees in 60 fields
(including botany, crop science, entomology,
horticulture, and plant pathology).
The Science House is a learning outreach project
of NCSU. Its mission is to work in partnership with
K–12 teachers to increase the use and impact of
hands-on learning technologies in mathematics
and science. The Learning House is pleased to
facilitate AgDiscovery in 2009.

Learn More
If you’d like to learn more about NCSU, contact
Ms. Janet Bailey
The Science House - NCSU
(919) 515-9403
To find out more about career preparation in plant
science and veterinary medicine at NCSU, contact
the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences by
phone at (919) 515-3248. The college’s Web page
is http://www.cals.ncsu.edu.
http://www.ncsu.edu

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How Much Will It Cost?
Students selected for the 2009 AgDiscovery
summer session will pay only the cost of their
transportation to get from home to the college
campus for the start of the session and back again
at the end of the session. The cost of tuition,
room and board, and lab supplies for the 2-week
program will be covered by various offices within
APHIS.

How Do I Apply?
For the programs at Alcorn State University and
KSU, students between the ages of 12 and 16 are
eligible to apply for admission to AgDiscovery. For
all other participating universities, the eligible ages
for AgDiscovery program admission are 14 through
17 years old. (Note: You must be at least the
minimum eligible age and no older than the
maximum eligible age for your selected program
as of May 31, 2009.)
You must submit a complete application package
to APHIS that is postmarked no later than April 17,
2009. APHIS will not accept application packages
that are postmarked after that date and/or are
incomplete.

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Here’s what to put in your application
package:
•

A two-page essay entitled “Why I Want
to Attend the AgDiscovery Program at ______
(indicate the participating university you would
like to attend) and What I Want to Learn.” In
the essay, include information on your
interests and hobbies and explain what you
want to do when you grow up. Be sure to
include your full name, age, home address,
and home telephone number.

•

Three character references—letters from
people not related to you who know you well.
At least one of the three references must come
from a teacher or counselor.

• A completed application form. (If you did not
receive one with this leaflet, you can print the
form from the Web. Go to http://www.aphis.
usda.gov and click on the AgDiscovery
Program hotlink.)

Mail your completed package to:
For DSU, UAPB, and UM
Ms. Beatrice Jacobs
USDA, APHIS, Office of the Administrator
Civil Rights Enforcement and Compliance
4700 River Road, Unit 92
Riverdale, MD 20737–1234

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For ASU – focusing on Veterinary Science
Dr. Carol Belzer
Chairperson, National Civil Rights Leadership
Committee
USDA, APHIS, National Veterinary Services
Laboratories
1800 Dayton Avenue
Ames, IA 50010
For Florida A&M University
Ms. Joyce Barkley
USDA, APHIS, Animal Care
4700 River Road, Unit 84
Riverdale, MD 20737–1234
For KSU
Dr. John Hollis
USDA, APHIS, Veterinary Services
Post Office Box 399
Frankfort, KY 40602
For NCSU
Ms. Nancy D. Matthews
USDA, APHIS, Plant Protection and Quarantine
920 Main Campus Drive, Suite 200
Raleigh, NC 27606

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What Happens Next
In May, APHIS will notify you if you have been
selected for this summer’s AgDiscovery program.
Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about APHIS
or this year’s participating universities, visit these
Web sites:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov
http://famu.edu
http://alcorn.edu
http://kysu.edu
http://www.uapb.edu
http://umd.edu
http://desu.edu
http://www.ncsu.edu

For More Information
For additional information about the AgDiscovery
program, contact
Ms. Terry Henson or
Ms. Beatrice Jacobs
USDA, APHIS, Office of the Administrator
Civil Rights Enforcement and Compliance
4700 River Road, Unit 92
Riverdale, MD 20737–1234
Phone: (301) 734–6312
Fax: (301) 734–3698
E-mail: [email protected]
[email protected]

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits
discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of
race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable,
sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion,
sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal,
or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from
any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases
apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means for communication of program information
(Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s
TARGET Center at (202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD). To file a
complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of
Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington,
D.C. 20250–9410, or call (800) 795–3272 (voice) or (202)
720–6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and
employer.
Issued February 2009