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<p>University of Tennessee at Martin student Jordan Stringfield was selected as a member of the 2023 Agriculture Future of America Student Advisory team at the AFA Leaders Conference on Nov. 10-13. Only ten members were selected to serve on the advisory team out of 792 delegates that attended from 103 colleges.</p>
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<p>The AFA student advisory team helps plan and facilitate the AFA Leaders Conference and AFA Leader Institute. To be eligible for the team, students must be an undergraduate student majoring in agriculture, food or natural resources, have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0, be 17-25 years old, and have attended at least one track of AFA leaders conference.</p>
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<p>As a member of the AFA student advisory team, Stringfield will have the opportunity to travel to different locations for meetings and professional development. She will have a role in planning and facilitating the annual conference and other agriculturally-based institutes located across the country while working alongside her teammates, staff and students.</p>
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<p>Preparation for this moment began as early as Stringfield’s freshman year in high school when she chose to heavily pursue agriculture. Some four years later, she was chosen to represent UT Martin at the AFA Conference as a delegate. Stringfield loved this opportunity and with some help from her advisor, Dr. Ross Pruitt, professor of agriculture, geoscience, and natural resources, chose to apply for the advisory team.</p>
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<p>“After I submitted the application, it was reviewed, and the AFA staff reached out to me for an interview.&nbsp;I was nervous and doubted myself the entire time,” said Stringfield. “To my surprise, I received a call a few weeks later letting me know that I had been selected.&nbsp; I truly couldn't believe it.” &nbsp;</p>
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<p>Stringfield is a sophomore agriculture business major from McEwen. After graduation, she hopes to earn her master’s degree in agriculture communications and then pursue a career in that field.</p>
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<p>“Agriculture is an industry that people often forget the importance of, and I hope that I can do my part to make a difference,” said Stringfield. “I love everything about AFA and I am forever grateful and honored to have this opportunity.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
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<p>For more information about the AFA Leaders Conference or advisory teams, go to www.agfuture.org.</p>
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