University of Maryland Eastern Shore alums, HBCU alums and strong Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences supporters filled the roster of guest speakers for the Junior MANRRS Institute held October 4 and 5 on the UMES Campus.
Some 170 attendees were benefited by messages from guests such as Bryan Perry, director of U.S. Crop East, BASF, the “Innovation Luncheon” keynote speaker on Friday, October 4. Perry’s speech covered innovation in agriculture. Maryland Secretary of Natural Resources Jeannie H. Riccio gave the opening remarks for the luncheon. Students had the opportunity to meet with representatives from Perdue Farms, Smithfield Foods, USDA/NRCS, USDA/ARS, the Midatlantic Farm Credit, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Land O’Lakes and BASF at an Opportunity Fair in the afternoon.
Saturday kicked off with a Women and Men’s Leadership Series breakfast event. Speakers were: Jessica Jones, talent acquisition, Smithfield Foods; Kristen Walker, biologist, USDA Agricultural Research Service, and UMES alum; Bel Holden, human resources complex manager, Perdue Farms, and UMES alum; Nisha Antoine, deputy director of food safety equivalence staff, USDA-Food Safety Inspection Service, and a UMES alum; Darryl Blakey, manager of legislative affairs, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association; Stuart Cooper, senior vice president of lending, Midatlantic Farm Credit; Kirt Durand, senior chemist, Syngenta; and John Plummer, director of manufacturing, Land O’Lakes, and UMES alum.
Following breakfast, sustainable development group leaders and speakers presented information on zero hunger; quality education; and innovation, infrastructure and sustainability. Luncheon speakers were Courtney White, head of human resources, North America, BASF; Cheryl Steinbacher, senior vice president of human resources, Midatlantic Farm Credit; Terry Baker, CEO, Society of American Foresters; and Tiffany Atwell, leader of Global Government and Industry Affairs, Corteva Agriscience.
An award dinner culminated the activities. Commander Nisha Antoine, USDA Food Safety Inspection Service was awarded the MANRRS Alumni Achievement Award. Honorary Membership Awards were presented to Kevin Dennis, Perdue Farms; Sonya Whited, Perdue Farms; Cheryl Steinbacher, Midatlantic Farm Credit; and Ryan Locke, Midatlantic Farm Credit.
