That investment is coming through USDA’s NextGen program — which is supporting $252 million worth of projects at Land-Grant institutions to build awareness about career opportunities in food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences. The University of Guam received one of 33 NextGen grants and launched its project, COMPASS, in 2023.

Badajos and Cruz, both agriculture majors at UOG, are focusing their degrees on nutrition/food science and tropical agriculture production, respectively. The COMPASS program connected them with an internship opportunity working on fruit trees with UOG extension horticulturalist Dr. Bob Bevacqua. They were then nominated to attend USDA’s 100^th Annual Agricultural Outlook Forum — the department’s largest annual gathering — in D.C. This year’s assembly hosted more than 1,700 farmers and ranchers, food and agriculture industry representatives, policymakers, government officials, and non-governmental organizations along with NextGen interns from across the nation. 

Travelling with COMPASS co-director Rachel Jolley, Badajos and Cruz met with and heard from top USDA directors, including Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small and Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics Chavonda Jacobs-Young, and National Institute of Food & Agriculture Director Manjit Misra. These administrators shared their career paths and discussed ways that students could get experience in USDA in a variety of career paths.  

“It was inspiring to learn about the hardships many of the USDA leaders endured in their educational career since their determination ultimately led them to where they are today,” Badajos said.

The NextGen students also toured the National Agricultural Research Center and the National Agricultural Library in Beltsville, Md., learning about research instruments, library research tools, and potential career opportunities with USDA.

“As a nutrition major, visiting the Human Nutrition Research Center was one of the main highlights of my trip,” Badajos said. “[…] I discovered that they are facing challenges in obtaining nutritional data from the Pacific region. This could be a potential opportunity for UOG students interested in research to intern with USDA.”

For Cruz, who is originally from Palau, it was her first time travelling out of the region. She said the trip expanded her curiosity and increased her confidence in agriculture as her major and as her career path to serve her community.

“The leaders who sat in their seats in front of us did not know they would end up working in the USDA,” Cruz said. “Sanah Baig, deputy under secretary for research, education, and economics, shared that you must be your authentic self to enjoy your career and succeed. I feel that I belong in agriculture more than any major.”

Reflecting on the trip, Badajos said they learned about the many diverse avenues within agriculture. “I would love for other students to have similar experiences as we did,” she said.

COMPASS, the NextGen program at UOG, can provide similar opportunities to other students who might be interested in food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences careers. Students can reach out to career counselor Shaylin Salas at (671) 735-2130 or salass13788@triton.uog.edu.