Progress 09/01/24 to 08/31/25
Outputs
Target Audience:Under this grant, we started the AgBiz Summer Fellows program at the University of Idaho. The program is designed to engage a diverse audience with an interest in agricultural markets and agribusiness careers. The primary target audience includes: Undergraduate students at the University of Idaho Undergraduate students from other universities across the country Commodity organizations and producer groups Agribusinesses and industry professionals in the Pacific Northwest Individuals seeking to deepen their understanding of agricultural commodity markets and supply chains Changes/Problems:While the core structure and objectives of the program remained consistent, we encountered several challenges during implementation that have informed necessary adjustments moving forward. Recruitment Challenges Due to Competing Opportunities:We faced difficulty in recruiting highly qualified undergraduate students, primarily due to competition from paid summer internships and other experiential programs. Despite active outreach and targeted recruitment, some students opted for opportunities that offered financial compensation or closer alignment with their career interests. In response, we are exploring earlier recruitment timelines, stronger promotion of the program's academic and networking value, and potential travel stipends to enhance competitiveness. Scheduling Conflicts for Students on the Quarter System:A significant number of interested applicants were enrolled at institutions operating on the quarter system. These students often faced conflicts with the early start date of our summer program, particularly during final exams or spring quarter coursework. This mismatch in academic calendars limited participation from an otherwise highly engaged applicant pool. To address this, we are evaluating whether a minor adjustment to the program timeline could accommodate a broader range of institutions or whether we can offer flexible participation for part of the program. Varied Academic Backgrounds Among Participants:Some students entered the program with limited prior exposure to agricultural economics, marketing, or data analysis. While we had designed the curriculum to be accessible, this gap in background knowledge made it more difficult for a few participants to fully engage with advanced material. As a result, instructors needed to slow the instructional pace or provide additional support. For future cohorts, we plan to offer pre-program preparatory materials and online modules to help level the playing field and ensure all participants are ready for the intensive coursework. Limited Dining Options in Early Summer in Moscow:During the first two weeks of the program--when students were based in Moscow, Idaho--we encountered logistical issues due to limited dining options on campus and in town, as many university dining services and local establishments were closed or operating on reduced summer hours. This created challenges in meal planning and group coordination. For future implementation, we intend to coordinate earlier with campus services and local vendors, explore catering options, and provide students with detailed dining guides and grocery resources. Compressed Field Visits Due to Delays:Several of our planned field stops, particularly during the Portland tour, had to be shortened due to unforeseen delays in travel and scheduling. While we were still able to visit all major sites, compressed timelines limited students' ability to engage fully with hosts or ask in-depth questions. In the future, we plan to build more buffer time into the itinerary, confirm appointments with greater flexibility, and consider prioritizing fewer--but deeper--site visits to enhance engagement. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project offered extensive training and professional development opportunities to both student participants and project personnel. These activities were designed to build technical competencies, research capacity, and professional readiness in agricultural commodity markets and supply chains. Ten undergraduate students from seven institutions participated in an intensive 8-week summer program, which included the following training components: Foundational Coursework (Weeks 1-2): Students engaged in in-person instruction covering commodity marketing, risk management, futures and options markets, and trade. Sessions were led by project PIs, co-PIs, and invited guest lecturers. Learning activities included data exercises, market simulations, and case-based modules with personalized feedback. Experiential Learning: Students visited farms, agribusinesses, and terminals in the Pacific Northwest, gaining firsthand exposure to infrastructure, risk factors, and supply chain dynamics. The group also spent one week in Portland, Oregon, visiting key facilities including the Wheat Marketing Center, canola processors, dams, logistics firms, U.S. Wheat Associates, USDA FSIS offices, and bakeries. These visits emphasized supply chain integration and risk across market nodes. Research and Mentored Projects (Weeks 4-8): Students worked under faculty supervision on projects involving hedging strategies, crop insurance, market analysis, and dairy risk management. Faculty provided regular guidance on research design, data analysis, and results interpretation. Presentation Training: Students received coaching on research presentation techniques and showcased their findings at a final project symposium. Two students also presented at the Idaho Conference on Undergraduate Research in July 2025. In addition to technical training, the program supported broader career and skill development: Career Panels: Students interacted with agricultural economists, policy experts, and industry professionals to learn about diverse career paths. Networking and Outreach: Visits and mentoring provided connections with faculty and professionals across sectors. Students were encouraged to follow up on internship and graduate study opportunities. Public Communication: Students practiced translating their research for non-academic audiences, with some writing summaries for UI Extension or trade publications. A graduate student was recruited to support the program. This individual contributed to program logisticsand served as a peer mentor to undergraduates. In doing so, the graduate student gained hands-on experience in project coordination, mentoring, and applied research. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Two undergraduate participants presented their research at the Idaho Conference on Undergraduate Research (ICUR) in July 2025. This venue provided visibility to a statewide academic audience, including students, faculty, and university administrators, and showcased the potential of undergraduate research in agricultural economics and marketing. At the conclusion of the program, all student participants presented their research in a capstone symposium hosted at the University of Idaho. Selected projects from the program will be submitted to publication for UI Extension or trade publications, which we anticipate reaching a broad group of audience. Additionally, we partnered with the University of Idaho's communication department to increase the program's visibility and reach a broader audience. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We received very positive feedback from this year's program participants. Building on this success, we plan to continue and expand our recruitment efforts next year, with the goal of attracting a broader pool of highly qualified students. We will also work to finalize selected student projects from this year for publication in Extension outlets, trade magazines, or academic venues. Additionally, we will refine the structure and content of our 8-week program to enhance its effectiveness and overall student experience.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
We developed a dedicated website for the program and created an application portal to facilitate student enrollment. Through active recruitment efforts, we successfully attracted 10 undergraduate students from 7 different institutions to participate in the program. A graduate student was recruited to help facilitate program activities. The program wasstructured to span 8 weeks during Summer 2025. The first two weeks focused on intensive training held in Moscow, Idaho. We designed a comprehensive educational curriculum for this phase, which was delivered by guest speakers, the project's principal investigator, and co-principal investigators. During these sessions, students gained a solid foundation in commodity marketing and a deeper understanding of agricultural commodities in the Pacific Northwest. They also participated in field visits to local farms, agribusinesses, and regional terminals. In the third week, students traveled to Portland, Oregon, where they explored various aspects of the agricultural supply chain and assessed the risks associated with different stages. Their visits included the Wheat Marketing Center, canola processing facilities, dams, logistics companies, U.S. Wheat Associates, USDA FSIS facilities, and local bakeries, among other stops. From weeks 4 through 8, students engaged in mentored research and outreach projects alongside individual faculty members. Their topics included hedging strategies, crop insurance participation, market overviews, and risk analysis in the dairy sector. Two students presented their findings at the Idaho Conference on Undergraduate Research in July 2025. The program concluded with a final showcase, where students presented their work and received feedback from their peers and faculty. Several of these projects are currently being refined for submission to magazines, University of Idaho Extension publications, and potential journal outlets. To evaluate the program's effectiveness, we developed instruments to solicit student feedback. Additionally, we partnered with the University of Idaho's communication department to increase the program's visibility and reach a broader audience.
Publications
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