MDAR is proud to announce the creation of the Massachusetts Agriculture Youth Council (“Council”). This Council was created to cultivate and foster the next generation of leaders in the agriculture industry. The Council is be comprised of high school students in their junior and senior year and meets monthly to discuss agricultural issues, hear from guest speakers from the agriculture industry, learn about the legislative procedures and workforce development opportunities, attend special events and tours, and enhance professional skills.
Participating in the Council provides students with an opportunity to learn about the varied agricultural sectors in Massachusetts, emerging trends and innovation in farming, and deepen understanding of other states’ agricultural issues through connections with youth councils across the United States. Members of the Council also have the opportunity to share ideas, which may be used to help in the further development of MDAR programs and support of agriculture in Massachusetts.
This opportunity is open to rising high school juniors and seniors enrolled in any public or private high school in Massachusetts. Members will serve a 1 year term from June to May of their junior or senior year. MDAR will select 14 students to serve on the Council, with 1 student selected from each Massachusetts county.
MDAR intends to hold monthly meetings, with both in-person and virtual opportunities, on the third Wednesday of the month from 5:00pm - 6:30pm. In-person opportunities, including attendance at events and farm/industry tours, will be available on an optional basis. Transportation to and from events will not be provided by MDAR, but MDAR will make every effort to keep costs as minimal as possible. MDAR will also make every effort to have virtual options for all events whenever possible. Council members under the age of 18 will require parent or guardian permission to participate on the Council and any events hosted by MDAR in connection with the Council.
For 2026, we are pleased to announce the following students to the 3rd annual class of the Massachusetts Agricultural Youth Council:
- Hailie Campos - Bristol County Agricultural High School
- Sydney Dyke - Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School
- Elyse Hawkins - The Hartsbrook School
- Liam Holloway - Bristol County Agricultural High School
- Maryam Ismael - Lowell High School
- Adam Morrison - Waring School
- Rose O'Brien - Hopkinton High School
- Cayden Perez - The Hartsbrook School
- Gabriel Rettig - Joseph P. Keefe Regional Technical High School
- Sophia Salisbury - Bristol County Agricultural High School
- April Tavares - Bristol County Agricultural High School
- Grace Walsh - Norfolk County Agricultural High School