Model United States Department of Agriculture: A reflection on the inaugural event
Model United States Department of Agriculture
A reflection on the inaugural event
Held over three days, the inaugural Model USDA surpassed expectations, equipping students with unforgettable insights into the complexities of federal policymaking. This dynamic, role-playing simulation is empowering the next generation of food systems leaders and inspiring bold ideas for the future of food.
“Model USDA profoundly impacted my career aspirations.”
- Tara McDaniel Arizona State University student
“Model USDA [taught us] how to interact with each other, not just in a formal and professional setting, but in a political setting.”
- Adam Militello University of Alaska Fairbanks student
“[Model USDA gives] you an experience that you just can’t get by watching or reading about in a book.”
- Ava Valenzuela Hawaiʻi Pacific University student
Experiential learning programs like Model Congress and Model United Nations have long been recognized for their ability to enhance education, sharpen collaboration skills, and inspire students to engage with real-world policy issues Building on this proven framework, Model USDA was envisioned by Kathleen Merrigan, former USDA Deputy Secretary and current Executive Director of the ASU Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems, as a way to introduce students to the inner workings of food and agricultural federal policy through an unprecedented simulation Beyond policy knowledge, the event is also designed to cultivate character and ethical leadership by preparing future policymakers to navigate complex challenges with integrity and purpose.
Born out of a partnership between Arizona State University, University of Guam, Hawai
Pacific University, University of Alaska Fairbanks, and FoodCorps, Model USDA is a key element of the USDA NextGen program a comprehensive initiative to prepare young professionals for successful future careers in the food and agriculture sector.
In 2025, its inaugural year, Model USDA was conducted virtually as participants logged onto Zoom and stepped into key USDA roles such as Secretary of Agriculture, senior advisor, administrator, and chief of staff. Other students played the parts of various outside influencers who wanted to make sure their interests were taken into account
Students were divided into four scenarios to engage with timely policy challenges:
Healthy and sustainable Dietary Guidelines for Americans
Investing in rural America
Expanding nutrition education to schools nationwide
Growing urban agriculture
Healthy and sustainable Dietary Guidelines for Americans
In this Model USDA scenario, students were tasked with determining if environmental sustainability and an ultra-processed food ban should be incorporated into the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs) This has long been a point of debate in nutrition and agriculture circles By the end of the simulation, the students aimed to gain approval of their recommendation from two of their peers role-playing as Secretaries of the USDA and Health and Human Services
Outcomes
After rigorous debate, students ultimately rejected inclusion of sustainability criteria and ultra-processed food standards in the DGAs. Discussions mirrored real-world events, occurring at the same time USDA was seeking public comment through the Federal Register on the Scientific Report of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Students walked away with valuable firsthand experience in the nuanced decisionmaking processes that shape our food systems.
94.7% of students in this scenario reported they learned “a great deal” or “quite a bit” about how dietary guidelines are developed
86% of students in this scenario reported they learned “a great deal” or “quite a bit” about how the inclusion of environmental sustainability considerations would impact dietary guidelines
“...this experience helped us see different perspectives, even when playing roles that conflicted with our own views.”
- Susan Kiskis, student roleplaying as a journalist
Expanding nutrition education ationwide
gines that Congress passed into law the “Food ols Act of 2021.” This legislation would direct to local education agencies nationwide by ion Education in Schools Pilot Program ated version of the rule-making process to m should be implemented, with the end goal of nal day of the simulation.
Graduate student Jessica Greensides, who took on the role of a journalist in this scenario, reflected on the experience with a powerful takeaway:
“At the conclusion of the simulation, the group reached a consensus on an implementation strategy. However, the greatest success wasn’t just the policy outcome it was witnessing a group of young minds come together to tackle a pressing national issue.
Their ability to step into unfamiliar roles, articulate opposing viewpoints, and engage in constructive dialogue showcased the kind of leadership that will soon be entering the workforce to help create a sustainable food system.”
73.9% of students in this scenario reported they learned “a great deal” or “quite a bit” about current nutrition education programs in schools
69.6% of students in this scenario reported they learned “a great deal” or “quite a bit” about the federal rule-making process
Growing urban agriculture
In this Model USDA scenario, students were tasked with developing a strategy to engage new and beginning farmers in urban areas nationwide In the final day of the simulation, the Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Advisory Committee provided detailed recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture.
Outcomes
Adaptation and flexibility emerged as key themes throughout this scenario The students crafted thoughtful recommendations that integrated existing USDA programs with new innovative initiatives. While the student role-playing as Secretary of Agriculture supported the overall strategy, she challenged the group with additional improvements, which required last-minute revisions to achieve the final stamp of approval
79.3% of students in this scenario reported they learned “a great deal” or “quite a bit” about how stakeholders with competing points of view inform and influence USDA strategy and policy
75.9% of students in this scenario reported they learned “a great deal” or “quite a bit” about the challenges and barriers faced by urban farmers
“This simulation was more than just a policy exercise; it was an invaluable crash course in the art of negotiation, coalition-building, and adaptive leadership.”
- Maria Ridoutt Orozco, student role-playing as a journalist
Investing in rural America
Outcomes
In this scenario, the Secretary of Agriculture intends to fund rural development projects nationwide by using $250 million each year from the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), with $1.25 billion total to be distributed over the course of five years. By the end of the simulation, the collective goal of the students was to secure approval from the Secretary of Agriculture on a five-year strategy to spend this funding in a way that best supports rural areas across the country
With differing priorities and competing needs, students role-playing in this simulation encountered challenges with finding common ground. Nonetheless, the group successfully made compromises and presented a five-year budget that received approval from the student in the Secretary of Agriculture role.
In her reflections as a journalist, student Hayley Hunter noted that participants “learned how essential collaboration is to creating solutions that can address the complex, intricate issues facing rural communities.”
87.1% of students in this scenario reported they learned “a great deal” or “quite a bit” about how the USDA strategizes to improve the economy and quality of life in rural America
80.6% of students in this scenario reported they learned “a great deal” or “quite a bit” about how Congress and federal agencies define what is "rural"
O v e r a l l i m p a c t b y t h e n u m b e r s
66.9% of students reported that their leadership skills improved
69.9% of students reported that their negotiation skills improved
76.3% of students reported that their public speaking abilities improved
80.6% of students reported that their ability to research food and agricultural issues improved 77.7% of students reported that their problem-solving skills improved
86.2% of students reported that their collaboration/teamwork skills improved
88.4% of students reported that they gained a better understanding of how the USDA works
95.7% of students reported that they thought Model USDA was a good learning experience 100% of students achieved the end goal of their scenario
Future plans
Building on the success of the inaugural event, we plan to establish Model USDA as an annual experience with a mix of in-person and virtual formats. Hosting the simulation in-person will allow for even deeper engagement, hands-on collaboration, and networking opportunities Through varied learning environments, we aim to further inspire and equip the next generation of food systems leaders with skills to engage diverse perspectives, design creative solutions, and utilize decision-making driven by values.
As Model USDA continues to grow, we will remain committed to expanding its impact and cultivating a flourishing community of young professionals dedicated to building a more sustainable and equitable food system.
Acknowledgements
We would like to give a special thank you to our Model USDA guest speakers who graciously shared their expert insights with our students:
Ann Cooper, Founder and President of Chef Ann Foundation
Curt Ellis, Co-founder and CEO of FoodCorps
Andy Fisher, Author of Big Hunger and Co-founder of Community Food Security Coalition
Chavonda Jacobs-Young, former USDA Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics and Chief Scientist
Michael Kotutwa Johnson, Assistant Professor of Indigenous Resilience at the University of Arizona
Danielle Nierenberg, President of FoodTank
Lorette Picciano, Executive Director of Rural Coalition
Angie Tagtow, former Executive Director of the USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion
Malik Yakini, Co-founder of National Black Food & Justice Alliance
Thank you to our valued Model USDA partners and the ASU graduate students who assisted in developing the Model USDA scenarios Images of people featured in this report were captured during the inaugural Model USDA event and the annual ASU Applied Food Policy Immersion course in Washington, D C
The Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems is a unit of the ASU School of Sustainability and the Global Futures Laboratory. Model USDA is supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture as part of the USDA NextGen program.
