Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan listens to and answers questions from seniors from Calvert High School Calvert, Texas Jamarion Ramirez, Andre Ross, Telisa Grimes, LaKendra Crowley Ja’Marcus Ashley, Blair Burns and Shameka Grimes.
It wasn’t supposed to happen.
There wasn’t supposed to be an agriculture curriculum. There wasn’t supposed to be an instructor. And there definitely wasn’t any money to send seven African-American students from one of the smallest and lowest income towns in Texas to Washington, D.C., to speak with high-level USDA officials.
But it happened.
High school seniors from the Calvert Independent School District received an all-expense paid senior trip — compliments of a local bank — to the Nation’s Capital where they met with USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan, ate lunch with Farm and Foreign Agriculture Acting Under Secretary Michael Scuse and discussed opportunities in agriculture with USDA employees. Read more (USDA blog).
