Kandola, who lives in Livingston and is planning a career in the agriculture field, was chosen from a nationwide field of entrants to participate in the forum that will be held February 18 and 19 in Arlington, Virginia. Participants were selected based on recommendations from their University and a one-page essay about agriculture as a career, an interest that Kandola said he has renewed since enrolling at CSU Stanislaus. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and other top agriculture officials and leaders are expected to participate in the forum.
“It’s exciting to have been selected because one of my career goals is to someday work for the USDA,” Kandola said. “It will be a great opportunity to find out a lot more about agricultural topics on a national level.”
Kandola, who is also taking agriculture classes at Merced College, is active on his family’s Livingston ranch where they grow sweet potatoes, peaches, and almonds.
The USDA’s student sponsorship program was created to increase present and future diversity of participation in the forum. Students will be briefed by the USDA Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) about scholarships, career opportunities, and internship programs.