Environmental Resource Management Student is a USDA Future Leader in Agriculture

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has recognized Emma Chaplin, a second-year student majoring in environmental resource management in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, as a Future Leader in Agriculture.

In February, Chaplin attended the USDA’s 100th annual Agricultural Outlook Forum in Washington, D.C. The theme for 2024 was “Cultivating the Future.” Chaplin was one of 20 undergraduate and graduate students from across the United States selected to attend.

The Future Leaders in Agriculture program introduces students to the USDA and its partner organizations. The program provides learning opportunities in contemporary agribusiness, scientific research and agricultural policy for students majoring in agriculture-related subjects.

“I’ve met so many students and professors at Penn State who are passionate about food security and sustainable agriculture,” said Chaplin, of Camp Hill. “I had the opportunity to travel to Nyeri, Kenya, to work on conservation agriculture projects, and I interned at the Penn State Agriculture and Environment Center and the Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council. These experiences inspired me to apply to become a USDA Future Leader. I have fallen in love with agriculture and the innovation happening in this field right now.”

Robert Shannon, environmental resource management program coordinator and Chaplin’s academic adviser, pointed to her strong interest in international agriculture and the challenges of producing enough food to feed the world, while sustainably improving soil health and water quality.

“She was a perfect fit for the forum because of her interests in how agricultural and natural resource policy decisions are shaped and implemented by USDA and its partner agencies,” he said.

A Schreyer Scholar who is working toward a minor in international agriculture, Chaplin learned about the forum from Shannon. She said undergraduates were asked to write an essay on “Agriculture as a Career” as part of the application process.

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Photo Credit: usda