Equity

Our nation's lands are vital to providing clean water, fish and wildlife habitat, sustainable wood, minerals, energy, jobs and places for Americans to enjoy the outdoors. USDA’s Forest Service is responsible for managing 193 million acres of grasslands and forests. For rural America to thrive, we recognize we must partner with land managers and landowners.

What kid doesn’t enjoy eating their favorite dish in the school cafeteria? As a kid, I was always excited when broccoli cheese soup was on my school lunch menu! But, what if the foods that kids eat at home and in their community aren’t served in school? This is a challenge that some children face across the country, especially in schools serving students from the Federally Recognized Tribes and/or Native Hawaiians.

When Lauren Hawkins graduated from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University in Tallahassee, she had a job waiting for her. Thanks to her participation in the USDA 1890 National Scholars Program, she was hired right away as an agricultural engineer with USDA Natural Resources Conservation Science (NRCS).

USDA has taken bold action to expand equitable access to our programs and services to improve customer experience (CX) for America’s farmers, ranchers and forest managers since President Joe Biden signed the Executive Order Transforming Federal Customer Experience and Service Delivery to Rebuild Trust in Government in December 2021.

National Milk Day is observed on January 11th each year to commemorate the day in 1878 when milk deliveries began in glass bottles sealed with waxed paper. It is also a time to appreciate the contributions of dairy farmers and serves as a reminder of the nutritional value and cultural significance of dairy in the lives of many Americans.

Kevin Poole, a recent graduate of Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU), can remember the exact moment when he first learned about the USDA 1890 National Scholars Program. It was during the spring semester of his junior year of high school. “A school administrator grabbed me at lunch and said she wanted to tell me about this opportunity,” Poole said. “It just kept getting better and better as she told me about the program.”

Happy New Year! At USDA, we are more committed than ever to providing employees and customers with the best experience possible in 2024.

As a fifth-generation farmer, Shari Rogge-Fidler sees the opportunity ahead for the future generation in agriculture and feels excitement for USDA’s engagement in the industry. It’s what encouraged her role in the Equity Commission on the Agriculture Subcommittee.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has implemented several customer experience (CX) improvements since President Joe Biden signed the Executive Order Transforming Federal Customer Experience and Service Delivery to Rebuild Trust in Government in December 2021. The executive order directed all federal agencies to improve the overall experience for customers accessing government services and benefits.

Zakiah Goodlow, an Alabama native and sophomore at Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University (A & M), credits the USDA 1890 National Scholar Program and USDA liaisons with helping her balance her many responsibilities. “[They] encourage me to enjoy the program,” she said. “They check in with me and make sure I’m doing okay.”