He is one of only 20 students nationwide to receive this award and be invited to participate in the Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Outlook Forum.
Alan Crews, Agricultural Systems Management Major University of Arizona YumaWhen he asked a question to a class of high school students, he was surprised that no one raised their hands.
“Is there anyone who wants to work in agriculture even when they are old?”
Looking back on his aspirations in high school, Cruz, a 27-year-old senior, admitted he hadn’t even thought about food production. But he now serves as a role model for his colleagues and future generations to pursue a career in agriculture, Yuma’s signature industry.
“We need more food to feed the world,” Cruz said. “I think it’s important for students here to participate in these programs.”
Yuma is known as winter salad bowl This is because approximately 90% of Japan’s domestic leafy vegetables are supplied from here from November to March. Yuma County ranks first in Arizona and third in the nation for vegetable production. The University of Arizona maintains multiple facilities including: Yuma Agricultural Center, Cooperation expansion Yuma,and Yuma Desert Agricultural Excellence Center Along with six agriculture-related degree programs, it fosters research, innovation and education in the region.
It is clear that Yuma, which touts such an impressive resume, is also producing future agricultural leaders for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Cruz is one of only 20 undergraduates from across the country selected for the program, which also includes an invitation to the department’s annual Agriculture Outlook Forum in Washington, D.C., last month.
Tanya Hodgesdirector of regional academic programs, praised Cruz as a team player in the classroom and a leader on campus. She said most of her students are first-generation and may not realize how much expertise is available around them at Yuma.
“If you don’t know that, you don’t know what you’re comparing yourself to,” Hodges said. “Once you have a chance to see it and experience it, you realize, ‘Oh my god, I’m as experienced as anyone at this.'”
Mr. Cruz was named as future leader by Mr. Hodges. Bareshka BrenesA director of agricultural programs, he left Washington, D.C., with better self-awareness and a career in agriculture. He says his eyes were opened to the larger industry and the many adjacent support systems and advocacy groups.
“I’m lucky to say that Bareshka and Tanya are my professors,” he said. “The entire staff at the University of Arizona at Yuma was really supportive and tried to keep me on the right track.”
It doesn’t take much to get back on the right track these days, as Cruz holds a paid internship at a local research farm and mentors juniors through a 2+2 program. It has been years since a Yuma University student was selected for the Agriculture Future Leaders Program, but Mr. Cruz’s selection is the latest sign of Yuma University’s long and fruitful relationship with the Department of Agriculture.
“The Future Leaders program will revolutionize student perceptions of USDA and create opportunities through true partnerships,” Brenes said. “We’re looking at that effort on many different levels.”
Commitment from USDA comes in all forms, including $10 million in student support grants for careers in STEM-based fields and agriculture. Simply put, this eliminates barriers for students to earn degrees in underserved communities, Hodges said.
“So many young people will not be able to afford their education,” she said. “We cannot thank them (USDA) enough for all the work and support they have done for our students.”
USDA understands the importance of Yuma, and so does Cruise. Recent recognitions and a whirlwind of visits with high-ranking industry leaders haven’t taken his focus away from home. Cruz grew up surrounded by agriculture and considers the fields to be his happy place.
“It changes your mood because you can see the greenery around you and sometimes there is a breeze blowing through,” he said. “Why move, especially if you like farming? This is the place to be.”
Whatever the future holds for this future agricultural leader, there is no doubt that he will lead the way. in Yuma.
