Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS) is a national society that promotes the involvement of minorities in agriculture and related sciences, and is made up of a national office with chapters established at various colleges and universities throughout the United States. Membership is open to people of all racial and ethnic backgrounds who support the objective of full ethnic group participation and achievement in agricultural and related science careers. Current membership is made up of over 1,500 undergraduate students, graduate students, and professionals in 45 chapters, and includes men and women of African American, Hispanic, Asian American, Native American, and Caucasian backgrounds. Honorary and Supporting Memberships are bestowed on individuals, corporations, institutions, and agencies that have made significant contributions toward the support of MANRRS. 

If you would like to join MANRRS or for more detailed information, please contact Eric Stout, USDA Liaison Officer, at 502-597-6738 or email eric.stout@kysu.edu.

Kentucky State University Chapter Officers
President: Adrienne Fleming
   Email: Adrienne.Fleming@kysu.edu
Vice President: Jessica Cranfield
   Email: Jessica.Cranfield@kysu.edu
Secretary: Lauren Collins
   Email: Lauren.Collins@kysu.edu
Treasurer: Justin Haskins
   Email: Justin.Haskins@kysu.edu
Historian: Chamari Havard
   Email: Chamari.Havard@kysu.edu
Parliamentary: Deborah Byers
   Email: Deborah.Byers@kysu.edu

  
KSU MANRRS chapter (left to right): Deborah Byers, Adrienne Fleming,
Shawn Graves, Eric Stout (Advisor), Jewel Moore (MANRRS National President), Muhammad Al-Nurridin, Jessica Cranfield, Earlanna Goldsmith.

National MANRRS Conference

The MANRRS National Conference for the 2006-2007 school year will be held in Birmingham, Alabama in March 2007.  More detailed information will be available as this site is updated.

Attendance

The National MANRRS conference held each year during the spring has been the highlight of the organizations yearly activities.  This conference is usually attended by 600 - 800 members and provides opportunities for our graduate and undergraduate students to compete for individual and chapter awards.  There are many benefits of attending this conference such as:

1. The opportunity for professionals and students (graduate and undergraduate) to develop a network system, that can serve those participating in it to benefit a person's personal and professional growth.
2. The opportunity to participate in the Career Fair to obtain information about job/career opportunities and new technologies/developments in their field.
3. The opportunity for students and professionals to meet to discuss and understand the hurdles and challenges of being a person of color in an agricultural, natural resources, or related sciences field.
4. The development and recruitment of minority students and professionals for support systems for students in agricultural, natural resources, and related sciences at their respective institutions.
5. The opportunity for professionals and experienced members to serve as mentors and sponsors for students and beginning professionals.
6. Potential employers are given the opportunity to meet, greet, and identify prospective well-qualified employees who are members of a diverse ethnic and cultural group.

Attendance at the national conference provides our students with a great opportunity to display and enhance their leadership, organizational, and public speaking skills.  They are also able to experience professional critique of scholarly work they produce (research papers and projects) in a "user friendly" environment.

Competing for Awards

When attending the national conference, students have a chance to compete in eight contests plus the chapter of the year award.  The contests include:

• Conference Theme Contest
• Chapter of the Year (COYA)
• Undergraduate and Graduate Oral Research Contest  
• Undergraduate and Graduate Poster Research Contest 
• Undergraduate Student Essay Contest   
• Undergraduate Student Public Speaking Contest 
• Research Discussion   Contest (both undergraduates and graduates compete together) 
• Impromptu Speaking (The contest is open to all student members of MANRRS)