University of Arizona Yuma expands program to grow future agricultural leaders
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - The University of Arizona Yuma is celebrating the success of its first graduating class from the Learning to Lead program while welcoming an expanded group of students aimed at strengthening the region's agricultural workforce.
The program, which launched in 2024 with just six to seven students, has grown to 27 participants and is designed to help develop future agricultural leaders in Yuma and Imperial counties.
Funded through a $9 million U.S. Department of Agriculture grant, awarded in partnership with Hartnell Community College, the initiative provides students with tuition assistance, paid internships, leadership training, and professional development opportunities.
University of Arizona Yuma receives a $1.7 million sub-award to support the local program.
Students selected for Learning to Lead can receive up to $30,000 in tuition scholarships over two years, along with a $5,200 stipend during summer internships.
Program leaders say the goal is to remove financial barriers while giving students the tools and experience needed to succeed in agriculture and related industries.
"It's all about career exploration," said Dr. Baleshka Brenes, director of agriculture programs at U of A Yuma. "Sometimes you don't know what you really want, but that's why these opportunities are so important, so that you can find your passion."
In addition to classroom instruction, students complete hands-on internships and leadership development activities.
Participants are required to track professional skills, networking experiences, and community involvement through a leadership passport program. They also complete community service hours and fieldwork designed to prepare them for careers after graduation.
At the Yuma Agricultural Center, students gain practical experience working alongside researchers and industry professionals, learning about irrigation systems, crop evaluation, harvest operations, and agricultural research.
University officials say the program is helping address workforce shortages by encouraging local students to pursue agricultural careers and remain in the region after graduation.
"We're growing our own workforce and staying in Yuma and Imperial and being those leaders," Brenes said. "It's super exciting and we're just excited for the future."
For graduating senior Emily Delgado of El Centro, California, the program opened doors she never expected.
Delgado said she initially had no plans to attend a four-year university until she discovered agriculture courses at Imperial Valley College and later learned about opportunities at U of A Yuma.
Through the program, she completed internships with Farm Smart, the Yuma Cooperative Extension, and a USDA entomologist, helping her explore career paths in agricultural economics, seed production, and trade logistics.
Incoming student Erick Barrios hopes to follow a similar path as he begins studying Agricultural Systems Management.
University leaders say the rapid growth of the Learning to Lead program demonstrates its impact on students and the community.
Current grant funding runs through 2028, and administrators plan to pursue additional grants and industry partnerships to ensure future students can continue benefiting from the program.
The university hopes the initiative will create a long-term pipeline of skilled agricultural professionals ready to support one of the region's most important industries for years to come.
