Purpose
The purpose of the Wisconsin Agriculture Youth Council is to encourage young people to engage with state government and increase their awareness of DATCP's interactions with Wisconsin's agriculture industry.
Goals
The four goals of the Wisconsin Agriculture Youth Council are:
Highlight the agricultural-related career opportunities available including those in government
Share the state tools available to support Wisconsin farmers
Provide insight on how to effectively engage in state agricultural policy development
Increase networking opportunities for participants across the agricultural industry
Current Membership
2023-2024 Membership
2024-2025 Wisconsin Agriculture Youth Council
Structure
The Wisconsin Agriculture Youth Council is comprised of up to 15 Wisconsin high school seniors, with the goal of at least one member from each of the nine Council districts. The remaining seats are filled with at-large members. Students serve a one-year term and receive a certificate at the completion of their year.
Wisconsin Agriculture Youth Council District Map
Application
Self-nominations were accepted through March 31, 2024. Students needed to complete an application form, which included sharing their experience and skills. Applicants also needed to submit a one-minute video.
Selection
Council members will be selected based on their submitted materials and plan to meet the determined goals. Members are representative of the state’s geographic and agricultural diversity.
Schedule
The eight virtual sessions are expected to be held on the third Thursday of each month, beginning in September 2024, from 7:00 - 8:30 a.m.. The date of the final May event is to be determined. A proposed schedule will be shared with members after selection.
Expectations
Council members are expected to attend eight monthly 90-minute virtual sessions and one final event involving the DATCP Board. Members must prepare at least one question prior to each session, and complete a survey after each session. All Council members will also complete a final written reflection about their experience.
Meeting assignments
For each session, members will rotate serving in four leadership roles. The schedule for the rotation will be determined at the first meeting. They are:
Chair: Introduce and thank the speakers
Vice Chair: Initiate the question and answer period and encourage others to ask questions
Secretary: Take notes to draft a monthly news article about the session
Social Media Manager: Submit two social media posts for the month about the session.