COLLEGE STATION – David Salinas, a senior animal science major in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University, has been selected to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Student Diversity Program.
Salinas, a McAllen native, will participate in the USDA’s 2011 Agricultural Outlook Forum scheduled Feb. 24-25 in Arlington, Va., at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel.
Twenty-four juniors and seniors majoring in agriculture-related studies were selected based on their essays titled “Agriculture as a Career,” and recommendations from their deans.
David Salinas, a senior animal science major in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University, has been selected to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Student Diversity Program. (Texas A&M AgriLife Communications photo by Blair Fannin)
“We are extremely proud to have David selected to this prestigious program,” said Dr. Alan Sams, executive associate dean for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M. “David has exhibited exceptional leadership skills, and by participating in this program he will gain valuable experience that ultimately will help further his pursuit of a career in agriculture upon graduating from Texas A&M.”
Salinas grew up learning about cow-calf production on the family’s ranching operations in South Texas. After coming to Texas A&M, agricultural policy began to intrigue him, he said. He has interned in Washington through the college’s Agricultural Natural Resource Policy program. After that experience, he said he would like to return to the nation’s capitol some day for a professional career.
“I’d like to work in D.C. either for the U.S. Department of Agriculture or some other federal agency,” he said. “This will be a great opportunity to network with a lot people. I’m really grateful to be selected.”
Salinas is a member of the college’s student council organization, treasurer for the Saddle and Sirloin Club, and helped develop the college’s freshman leadership program.
The diversity program finalists include students from land-grant, Hispanic-serving institutions and American Association of State Colleges of Agriculture and Renewable Resources Institutions. The finalists are recipients of corporate and USDA sponsorship aimed at promoting the education of the next-generation agriculturalists.
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