USDA Deputy Secretary Torres Small to lead next National Ag Law Center Webinar
The Oct. 2 webinar is an installment in the NALC's "Growing Careers" series
By Drew Viguet
National Agricultural Law Center
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Sept. 23, 2024
Fast facts:
- USDA’s Xochitl Torres Small will present Oct. 2 NALC webinar
- Webinar is part of the “Growing Careers” series for students
- Registration is free-of-charge online
(403 words)
(Editor's Note: Xochitl is pronounced "So-cheel")
Download related photos of Torres Small, official portrait
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Students, faculty and student mentors interested in agricultural
and food law can hear directly from an attorney who rose from a law office in Las
Cruces, New Mexico, to become second-in-command at the United States Department of
Agriculture.
Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Xochitl Torres Small will present the National Agricultural
Law Center’s upcoming free webinar on Wednesday, Oct. 2, “Growing Careers in Ag &
Food Law: USDA Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small.”
The webinar will also feature an opportunity for Q&A, as attendees can send in questions
during the presentation.
The webinar is part of the NALC’s Bridges Initiative, a student-focused, public-private partnership that offers professional development,
networking, and increased legal knowledge to pre-college, undergraduate, and law students
interested in agricultural and food law issues or careers.
“I’ve seen firsthand the deep passion that Deputy Secretary Torres Small has helping
bring young people into the ag industry,” NALC Director Harrison Pittman said. “She
travels seemingly nonstop, always taking time to meet one on one with students along
the way. She brings a unique perspective – she’s an attorney, has served at the highest
levels within USDA, and has even served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.”
Prior to taking on her role on July 11, 2023, Torres Small served as the department’s
under secretary for Rural Development. Before her time at USDA, Torres Small was a
U.S. Representative for the nation’s fifth-largest Congressional district, where she
was the first woman and first person of color elected to that district.
Registration for the “Growing Careers” webinar is free of charge and available online. The webinar will begin at 11 a.m. Central/Noon Eastern.
“We encourage pre-college, undergraduate, and law school students to attend this webinar,
as well as faculty and other mentors who work with students,” said Pittman.
“Investing in our students is key to the future of agriculture and an effort that
I am focused on as Deputy Secretary of Agriculture,” Torres Small said. “The NALC
is a tremendous partner to USDA in this, and I'm excited to connect with young people
who are interested in agricultural and food law careers.”
“Deputy Secretary Torres Small is a difference maker, especially when it comes to
focusing on bringing young people into the ag industry,” Pittman said. “She’s been
a great friend to the NALC and we’re honored that she’ll share her expertise to help
students interested in agricultural and food law.”
For information about the National Agricultural Law Center, visit nationalaglawcenter.org or follow @Nataglaw on X. The National Agricultural Law Center is also on Facebook and LinkedIn.
Subscribe online to receive NALC Communications, including webinar announcements, the NALC’s Quarterly
Newsletter, and The Feed.
About the National Agricultural Law Center
Created by Congress in 1987, the National Agricultural Law Center serves as the nation’s
leading source of agricultural and food law research and information. The NALC works
with producers, agribusinesses, state and federal policymakers, lenders, Congressional
staffers, attorneys, land grant universities, students, and many others to provide
objective, nonpartisan agricultural and food law research and information to the nation’s
agricultural community.
The NALC is a unit of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and
works in close partnership with the USDA Agricultural Research Service, National Agricultural
Library.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen
agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption
of best practices. The Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work
within the nation’s historic land grant education system through the Agricultural
Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas
System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is an equal opportunity/equal
access/affirmative action institution. If you require a reasonable accommodation to
participate or need materials in another format, please contact dviguet@uark.edu as
soon as possible. Dial 711 for Arkansas Relay.
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Media contact:
Drew Viguet
Communications & Special Projects Coordinator
National Agricultural Law Center
dviguet@uark.edu