National Agricultural Law Center announces inaugural Scott E. Fancher Agricultural Law Fellowship
Nov. 4, 2025
By Ramie Parsons
National Agricultural Law Center
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Nov. 4, 2025
Fast facts:
- D.C.-based Fellowship for agricultural law students
- Application deadline Jan. 5, 2026
- Position is paid
Download a photo of Scott E. Fancher
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The National Agricultural Law Center has partnered with two other national organizations to launch a first-of-its-kind fellowship focused on developing the next generation of attorneys to work in the agriculture industry.
As part of a Memorandum of Understanding signed at the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture annual meeting in September, the National Agricultural Law Center, NASDA and the NASDA Foundation have launched the Scott E. Fancher Agricultural Law Fellowship. The application period runs from Nov. 1 to Jan. 5, 2026, with the award to be announced by the end of January.
This fellowship honors Scott E. Fancher, who served the agriculture industry and country with distinction as an agricultural lawyer, a farmer, Farm Service Agency County Executive Director in multiple counties and as a U.S. Marine.
Harrison Pittman, director of the National Agricultural Law Center, said Fancher served as an inspiration for many in the field of agricultural law.
“Scott was a mentor to me and was instrumental in the early days — about 20 years ago — of helping develop a vision for what the National Agricultural Law Center could accomplish,” Pittman said. “Scott was a friend who really believed in others’ dreams and this fellowship is a great way to honor his legacy.”
The Fancher Fellowship will be a paid position located at the NASDA headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, from mid-May to early August. During the fellowship, the selected law student will conduct supervised legal research, write on key agricultural and food law issues, attend Congressional hearings and policy briefings and more.
“Student engagement was a key component of the recent Memorandum of Understanding our organization signed, and we are proud to not only see this program come to fruition but also to have the opportunity to host the selected law student in our office,” NASDA CEO Ted McKinney said. “Hosting this fellowship in our nation’s capital will allow the student to gain a deep understanding of agricultural law and regulations at the intersection of state agriculture and federal policy.”
“The Fancher Fellowship offers an unparalleled opportunity for law students interested in agricultural policy to gain firsthand experience in Washington, D.C.,” Pittman said. “It’s a fitting tribute to Scott Fancher’s legacy and commitment to serving agriculture through law and policy.”
Applications are open to second-year law students who have demonstrated strong legal research and writing skills and an eagerness to engage in agricultural law and policy. A minimum GPA of 3.25 is preferred. Learn more about the Fellowship and application process on the National Agricultural Law Center website.
Interested individuals may direct questions to nataglaw@uark.edu.
For more information about the National Agricultural Law Center and its programs, visit nationalaglawcenter.org.
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 National Agricultural Library, a subsidiary of the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu. Follow us on X at @AgInArk.
About the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA)
NASDA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit association which represents the elected and appointed commissioners, secretaries and directors of the departments of agriculture in all 50 states and four U.S. territories. NASDA enhances American food and agricultural communities through policy, partnerships and public engagement. To learn more about NASDA, please visit www.nasda.org.
About the NASDA Foundation
The NASDA Foundation is the only educational and research organization that directly serves the nation’s state departments of agriculture. The NASDA Foundation’s mission is to enhance American food and agricultural communities through education, outreach and research. The NASDA Foundation works with states to nourish people and communities while serving as the stewards of the environment and public trust. To learn more about the NASDA Foundation, please visit nasda.org/nasda-foundation/.
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. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land-grant education system.
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 three campuses.
Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.
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Media Contact: Ramie Parsons
National Agricultural Law Center
U of A System Division of Agriculture
rparsons@uark.edu
479-575-7646