In recognition of the need for more agriculture education opportunities specifically geared toward Native students, the Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF) and the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) established the Tribal Agriculture Fellowship (TAF) with additional support provided by John Deere, Farmer Mac and the Farm Credit. TAF supports Native American, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian students pursuing technical, undergraduate and graduate degrees in agriculture.
The mission of TAF is to create opportunities for students to advance their education in agriculture, increase specialized knowledge and preserve and promote the legacy of agriculture in tribal communities. The program is designed to close the financial gap to allow Fellows to place their primary focus on their academic pursuits, while allowing Fellows to have the time and resources needed to participate in educational enrichment activities.
The program provides a generous benefits package that can include up to four years of fellowship status, with funding to earn agricultural degrees or technical certifications.