NCR-SARE is accepting applications for a seat on its Administrative Council (AC):
- An agribusiness representative who is interested in making agriculture more sustainable and who has some knowledge about sustainable agriculture.
The agribusiness representative should be involved in a for-profit agricultural enterprise other than farming/ranching, such as agricultural manufacturing or marketing, food processing, aggregation, distribution, agricultural sales or services, consulting, cooperatives, value-added agriculture enterprises, or other agricultural industry companies.
NCR-SARE Administrative Council members must live and work in one of the 12 states that make up the North Central SARE region. Those states are IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, OH, SD, and WI.
We particularly welcome applications from Iowa and Indiana. Those two North Central states are not currently represented on the NCR-SARE Administrative Council. However, full consideration will be given to applicants from any of the 12 North Central states.
NCR-SARE’s Administrative Council represents various agricultural sectors, states, and organizations. It sets program priorities and makes granting decisions for the region. A collection of farm and non-farm residents, the Administrative Council includes a diverse mix of agricultural stakeholders in our 12 states. Council members come from regional farms and ranches, university extension and research programs, and nonprofits. In addition, the Administrative Council includes regional representatives of the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, state agencies, and agribusinesses.
The term for this SARE Administrative Council slot is three years. Council members attend two yearly meetings, typically 2 to 3 days in July and February at various Midwest locations, and participate in a few conference calls each year (recent meetings have been virtual). Travel expenses are fully covered for travel to Administrative Council meetings.
Applicants should understand sustainable agriculture well and be comfortable reviewing grant proposals and participating in a group decision-making process. Members of the Administrative Council are not eligible to apply for SARE funding during their time on the Administrative Council. More information about NCR-SARE and the Administrative Council is online: https://northcentral.sare.org/about/ncr-sare-leadership-and-policies/.
To apply for a seat on the NCR-SARE Administrative Council, submit the following information by March 15, 2024 using our online form at: https://tinyurl.com/SAREACform.
Information we request (the first two items are collected through the online form):
- your areas of interest or focus in sustainable agriculture
- why you are interested in serving on the NCR-SARE Administrative Council
- a short bio or CV/resume covering your experience, affiliations, and/or qualifications
NCR-SARE is one of four regional offices that run the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, a nationwide grants and education program to advance sustainable innovation in American agriculture. Since 1988, NCR-SARE has awarded more than $100 million in competitive grants to farmers, ranchers, researchers, educators, public and private institutions, nonprofit groups, and others in 12 states. The SARE program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA).