Experiential Scholars Program

Arkansas Discovery Farms (ARDF) Program includes 12 privately owned businesses on which water quality research is being conducted. ARDF has emerged as a unique, important educational platform that has been successful in addressing water quality, water use efficiency, and improving soil health. 

Scholars will learn to use state-of-the-art water quality monitoring systems installed at the C.A. Vines 4-H Center to document environmental impacts and to demonstrate the potential of Natural Resources Conversation Service (NRCS)-approved conservation practices. 

Activities:

• Conduct monitoring (infiltration, soil health, density, water quality, etc.) to assess the need for and effectiveness of conservation practices.
• Provide verification and documentation of nutrient and sediment loss reductions and water conservation in support of nutrient management planning and sound environmental land stewardship.
• Develop and deliver educational programs from data that will educate 4-H groups at the 4-H Center about important conservation efforts.

In addition, Scholars will work with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Stream Team to learn how advocacy impacts conservation of Arkansas water resources. 

This research focus area will be led by Dr. Mike Daniels, professor of crop, soil, and environmental science.

Scholars will complete the online food safety course, Serv Safe and attend training on how to conduct a food demonstration including nutrition education and food safety procedures. 

This training would cover how to do demonstrations in various situations including a live audience, a videoed presentation such as for a television spot, and virtual presentations such as Zoom and how to conduct demonstrations in various areas such as a space with no kitchen facilities and if a pop-up space is used. 

Activities:

• Learn technical skills related to demonstrating how to work with equipment and utensils to prepare and preserve food to ensure the safety of the food and extend the shelf life of their food.
• Use resources, such as home-grown foods, by participating in the “Grow Your Own Groceries” series.
• Deliver Extension programs in basic food safety principles.

Scholars will also participate in the Home Grown and Homemade video series funded by Arkansas Farm Bureau demonstrating safe food storage and recipes using locally grown food.

This research focus area will be led by a team of Family and Consumer Sciences mentors for a wide variety of training and experiences.

With a focus on Arkansas’ rural communities, students will learn and appropriately utilize participatory community building and asset-based community development (ABCD) as applied strategies for strengthening the capacity of individuals, communities, organizations, businesses, and institutions. Students will learn how to use ABCD, combined with participatory community building, as an approach that public servants, civic leader, community and economic developers (current and future) can use as they build upon the strengths, gifts, assets, skills, and talents of individuals to create vibrant, inclusive communities. Students will understand how to connect institutions and businesses with community members’ individuals, gifts, and strengths for sustainable change.

UADA Experiential Learning Scholars will be a part of the Center for Rural Resilience and Workforce Development, an Economic Development Administration University Center, with the mission is to equip Arkansans with sustainable, accessible research-based practices and expertise that create vibrant, self-reliant communities where businesses, organizations, and families thrive.

Scholars will be educated about information provided in the 2021 Rural Profile, a publication that describes important social, demographic, and economic trends, and additional data specific to Arkansas communities. This data may be useful in developing strategies to build strong communities and support entrepreneurship and broadband access, which will stabilize and reverse some of the negatives experienced by rural communities.

There will be four ongoing community-based projects in this focus area that students can participate in. These include:

1. EDA University Center specifically focused serving rural, Hispanic, and Marshallese communities across the state of Arkansas by strengthening, supporting, and sustaining the eight EDA-funded Development Districts.
2. Broadband Skills specifically Extension and the Center are working with the Arkansas State Broadband office and other partners throughout the state to help eliminate the digital divide with a focus on increasing digital skills in rural Arkansas.
3. Asset-Based Community Development with a focus on the Extension Health Ambassadors’ program focused on six rural counties.
4. Additionally, Scholars will assist with Capacity Building through Grant Writing trainings delivered in rural counties.

Activities:

• Increase knowledge of rural community development challenges and opportunities to foster local leadership and investment.
• Utilize the asset-based community development as a lens to community, workforce, and economic development program implementation.
• Deliver educational programming in support of rural development projects.
• Attend National Association of Community Development Extension Professional Conference (NACDEP), June 9-12, 2025 in Charleston, West Virginia. (All expenses paid.)

The research focus area will be led by Dr. Hunter Goodman, assistant professor, and Brandon L. Mathews, program associate, community, workforce, and economic development.

ESP will begin on May 19, 2025 with a three-day orientation at the C.A. Vines Arkansas 4-H Center in Little Rock, Ark. Participants will then work with their mentors in their focus areas for the duration of the program. One and a half hour virtual seminars in leadership development topics will be offered weekly. The program will culminate on July 18, 2025. 

See tentative schedule here. 

Who can apply?
Junior or senior-level undergraduate students who are citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. currently enrolled in any U.S. institution are eligible to apply. Priority will be given to students from traditionally underserved minorities, first-generation college students, and students from institutions with limited research opportunities.

Application Instructions

Complete online UADA application. Submit the following.

• Personal Essay ≤ 1-page (12-point font, 1-inch margins, single-spaced)
  Please address the following:
  • List Focus Area of interest
  • What is your background/life history (≤ 300 words)?
  • What are your long-term career goals (≤ 200 words)?
  • How does participating in this summer program and/or learning about focus area help address your career goals (≤ 300 words)?
• Letter of Reference (1)
• Resume
• Unofficial Transcript

We recommend that you carefully develop your personal essay. All documents should be provided as PDF files with your first and last name included in the file name.

Application Deadline
Applications are open until filled. 

Link to ESP job posting.

APPLY THROUGH UADA JOBS.

Participating Scholars, along with approximately 20 other undergraduate students, are invited to participate in the third annual Future Ag Leaders Tour. 
This one-week experience will enhance students’ leadership and employability skills, provide first-hand networking opportunities with potential employers, and highlight the vast resources, services, and careers available through Arkansas’ agriculture industry including Extension. 

Participants spend the first day engaged in team building exercises and learning about networking, resume writing, social media presence, professionalism, and interviewing in preparation for their whirlwind tour around the state. Participants can interact with farmers, producers, vendors, and many others including Extension agents that support the agricultural industry in Arkansas. 

The goal of this tour is to better prepare and inform new graduates. The tour helps participants discover jobs across the state, keeping homegrown talent in-state, and local. Participants are housed in local lodgings with all meals and transportation provided.