“It’s important that the ag industry has a consistent pipeline of talent, and the NALC Bridges Initiative is one part of helping fulfill that from an ag and food law perspective.” —Harrison Pittman
By Drew Viguet
National Agricultural Law Center
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Fast facts:
- NALC initiative focuses on career development for pre-college, undergrad and law students
- Information on the Bridges Initiative is available online
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The nation’s leading source of agricultural and food law research and information, the National Agricultural Law Center, is prioritizing outreach to a group with tremendous impact on the future of agriculture: students.
“It’s important that the ag industry has a consistent pipeline of talent, and the NALC Bridges Initiative is one part of helping fulfill that from an ag and food law perspective,” NALC Director Harrison Pittman said.
Established in 2021, the NALC’s Bridges Initiative is a student-focused, public-private partnership that offers professional development, networking, and increased legal knowledge to pre-college, undergraduate, and law students interested in agricultural and food law issues and careers. It includes a focus on students traditionally underrepresented in ag and food law.
“It’s a way for us to get students plugged into the greater ag community, creating a legal-focused talent resource into the agricultural and food industries,” Pittman said.
Over the years, the Bridges Initiative has developed many components to prioritize students’ professional development, including the “Growing Careers” webinar series.
The “Growing Careers” webinar series offers content designed for pre-college, undergraduate, and law students, presented by ag professionals from across the industry. The webinars are free of charge and give students the opportunity to engage with ag professionals and ask them questions.
“It’s a great way for students to learn from and interact directly with professionals who are using their legal and policy background,” Pittman said. “For instance, one of our recent ‘Growing Careers’ webinars featured USDA Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small. Other webinars have featured speakers involved with the American Agricultural Law Association, such as Caitlin Klingenberg and Austin Vincent, who are co-chairs of AALA’s Students and Young Professionals Outreach Committee.”
A recording of the Torres Small webinar, as well as all other webinars in the “Growing Careers” series, is available on the NALC Webinar Series page.
The NALC regularly partners with other student-focused organizations, such as AALA, 4-H and the NASDA Foundation, on “Growing Careers” webinars and other presentations.
“There’s strength in these partnerships, which are strategically designed to reach a wide variety of students,” Pittman said.
To read the full news release, click here.