This program prepares undergraduate students to respond to real-world agricultural and natural resource challenges through agribusiness practice, applied economic science, educator development, and community engagement. It is a leadership and engaged learning initiative in CSU’s Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics (DARE), for students pursuing business, industry, public service, education, or academic related careers.

Participants will get involved in an ongoing project that involves external partners and attend professional development events. Activities may include individual or group projects, technical training, applied data analysis and visualization, curriculum development, industry tours, and job shadows.

The program:

• Engages undergraduates in DARE’s agribusiness, environmental and natural resource, and education programs as “junior consultants” on real-world projects, shaped by input from industry and community partners
• Provides opportunities for businesses and organizations to meet and mentor students through business tours, career exploration, collaborative projects, job shadows and webinars
• Builds professional skills like teamwork, communication, networking, and time management to enhance their preparedness and competitiveness for internships, scholarships, and jobs
• Creates direct connections between businesses or other organizations and a pool of motivated, career-ready students in agribusiness, lending and finance, supply chain, resource management, and education fields

The goal each year is to work on longer-term projects that lead to signature outputs (e.g., stakeholder projects, extension reports, lesson plans, research papers) which students can add to their professional portfolio.

Students in their first or second year of study will typically contribute to the development of an agribusiness, economics, or education lesson plan for secondary students centered on agricultural, food, or natural resource topics. Students in their third or fourth year of college can get more involved and work as junior consultants in applied extension, outreach, or research projects.

Our usual meeting times are:

• First Tuesday of each month, 5:00-6:30pm
• Second Monday of each month, 5:00-6:30pm

There are credit, volunteer, and paid opportunities, with most paid opportunities set up in late Spring for the following Fall semester. Find our contact information below if you would like more information on specific meeting days and times, they may vary slightly by semester.

There are several benefits to students for participating in RAISE Scholars as a junior consultant:

• Build connections with peers and mentors
• Engage in collaborative projects and discussions with project partners
• Lead or contribute to a signature work for inclusion in your professional portfolios
• Shape solutions to agricultural challenges
• Develop professional networking and communication skills

• CSU Extension, CSU Agricultural Experiment Station, or other CSU Faculty-led projects
• Farm manager and rural appraisal associations, agricultural lenders, farm and ranch businesses
• State FFA education and career development events; Colorado agricultural teacher associations
• Public and non-profit agricultural and natural resource management organizations

We invite potential partners to support RAISE Scholars students by:

• Hosting – Offer a business tour, career exploration visit, or job shadow experience to a group of RAISE Scholars. These can be in person at your location, on the CSU campus, or virtual.
• Advising – Propose a RAISE Scholars project (identify project topics, provide feedback on project progress, interact with students while they present deliverables)
• Sponsoring – Provide financial support for student stipends, project travel, and/or networking activities.

There are several benefits to partners for supporting the RAISE Scholars program:

• Receive assistance from RAISE Scholar students on applied projects identified by, and beneficial to, your business or organization.
• Direct connections with talented students preparing for careers in agribusiness and related fields
• Opportunities to showcase your business or organization and mentor emerging professionals
• Recognition as a partner in CSU’s RAISE Scholars program

For more information about participating as a student or as a partner, contact: Daniel Mooney, Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics (DARE), 275 Nutiren Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1172, Email: daniel.mooney@colostate.edu