The Role of Land Grant Universities in the Global Development of Youth

Not many land grant universities have seriously addressed the issues related to the global development of youth. In the United States, colleges of agriculture have a long and proud domestic record of youth leadership development through extension 4-H programs and high school agriculture programs, including FFA. Rural and urban young men and women have benefited from being involved in these educational and leadership development programs. However, with some notable exceptions, the international record has been spotty and almost entirely related to United States Agency for International Development (USAID) support for projects that included some type of 4-H or FFA component in a larger program. These efforts have tapered off over the last few years as the priorities of funding agencies have changed and fewer agricultural education and extension personnel are employed by USAID.