Pictured: Class of 2026 in a virtual session.
High school juniors across Wisconsin are being invited to trade their classrooms for a “backstage pass” to the world of state policy. The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection is officially accepting applications for the Wisconsin Agriculture Youth Council, with a looming deadline of March 31.
The program, designed for incoming high school seniors, offers a one-year term that connects students directly with industry experts, including the state veterinarian, extension agents, and even the governor. For many participants, the council serves as a bridge between their local FFA or 4-H chapters and professional careers in government or industry.
Former council member Mary Schrieber, a past National FFA Vice President, emphasizes that the program is invaluable for students regardless of their upbringing.
“I also didn’t grow up with an agriculture background,” she says. “So I knew that this experience would be the perfect way to learn a little bit more about how agriculture functions at a state level, while also learning more about the diversity of Wisconsin agriculture.”
The experience provides an in-depth look at how the DATCP protects both farmers and consumers through various departments, covering everything from food quality to weights and measures. For some, like former Wisconsin State FFA President Jescey Thompson, the council solidified a specific career path in rural policy.
“I maybe understood it at a 50,000 foot level, but we were going through the different departments within the Department of Ag,” Thompson explains. “I think that these type of connections really helped enrich what I was learning in the classroom.”
Both Schrieber and Thompson are now pursuing degrees at Texas A&M and Iowa State respectively, recently traveled to Washington, D.C., a connection facilitated by their time on the council.
To be eligible, students must be entering their senior year for the 2026-27 school year. The deadline is March 31: https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/About_Us/AgYouthCouncil.aspx
