September 8, 2026 – The Animal Agriculture Alliance is kicking off its 2026 College Aggies Online (CAO) program on September 21. The nine‑week initiative provides agriculture‑focused students with mentorship, online training and the chance to earn scholarship awards totaling $18,000.
Mentors and participants
Influencers Emily Schaapman (@DairyGirlFitness), Brandi Buzzard (@BrandiBuzzard) and Jessica Peters (@SeeJessFarm) serve as student mentors for the 2026 cohort. The program welcomes undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students, as well as collegiate clubs and classes, to sign up.
Program goals and activities
CAO connects college students who want to promote modern animal agriculture, giving them the skills to engage peers both online and on campus. Participants post about current and emerging issues facing farmers and ranchers, share personal stories, and host campus events that highlight the importance of agriculture.
Last year’s participants generated more than 1,660 social‑media posts and reached over 8,000 people in person.
Scholarships and competition
During the program, students compete for points each week, with $100 scholarship prizes awarded weekly. At the end of the nine‑week period, the top five individual participants and the top three clubs receive larger awards, including a $3,000 prize for the first‑place individual and $1,500 for the first‑place club. Winners will also be invited to the Alliance’s 2027 Stakeholders Summit in Arlington, Virginia, scheduled for May 5‑7.
Sponsorship
The 2026 CAO program is sponsored by Dairy Management Inc., CHS Foundation, National Pork Board, Cooper Farms, Culver Franchising System, Farm Credit, Institute for Feed Education and Research, Lallemand, National Corn Growers Association, Marty Vanier, Dairy’s Foundation, National Chicken Council and Ohio Poultry Association. Organizations interested in sponsoring can view opportunities on the Alliance’s website or contact Nicki Hardy at [email protected].
About the Alliance
The Animal Agriculture Alliance works to safeguard the future of animal agriculture by bridging the communication gap between farms and consumers. It equips food‑industry stakeholders with accurate information, promotes consumer choice, and defends the nation’s food security against misinformation.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
