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YOUTH 

Tailoring outreach, engagement, and development to support upcoming leaders is part of IAC's commitment to see beyond what we need right now to ensure the health and prosperity of future generations. Our youth programs equip Native youth with employable skills, higher education resources, immersive learning experiences and virtual engagement opportunities nationwide. 

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MISSION

In response to the growing age gap in the agriculture industry, IAC prioritizes youth and young adult programs. We wholeheartedly believe that youth are the future and deserve a head start.

The Youth program offers leadership development opportunities such as internships, fellowships and apprenticeships, plus technical assistance to support youth agricultural endeavors.

EDUCATE & EMPOWER NATIVE YOUTH

2025 Bob Miller Memorial Scholarship

PROJECT LEAP

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Wth support from Newman’s Own Foundation and our expansive network of partners, IAC is  encouraging youth to LEAP into the world of agriculture.

Project LEAP provides resources to support Native youth investments in their professional development across agriculture. For projects and opportunities related to agriculture, natural resources, and food systems, a maximum of $500 may be awarded. Awards will be granted on a rolling basis until all funds have been distributed.

  • What is NIFBC’s Business Builder subaward?
    NIFBC’s Business Builder subaward is a non-competitive grant, and through this grant up to $100,000 total can be awarded to an eligible entity over the course of the 5-year program. Since it is non-competitive, what this means is Technical Assistance (TA) tracks, or training, must be provided before an entity is eligible for funding.
  • Can I receive more than $100,000?
    Your total awarded amount cannot exceed $100,000 over the 5-year course of the program. This maximum amount of $100,000 remains true whether it comes from the NIFBC, your RFBC, or a combination of the two Centers, and does not reset to allow you to receive additional funding at any time.
  • Where can I find the application for NIFBC funding?
    Applications will be filled out via invitation to apply. We are currently reviewing our list of pilot participants from our first round of TA tracks for eligibility and then invitations will be sent out accordingly.
  • What exactly do you mean by Technical Assistance?
    Our Technical Assistance tracks involve practical application and ongoing engagement. This may include networking opportunities, sustained mentorship, tours, hands-on demonstrations of tools and applications, pre/post surveys, online learning modules or platforms with verified content, documentation of TA concept application, post-event engagement with IAC staff, and/or follow-up consultations.
  • What types of information will NIFBC Technical Assistance tracks be providing?
    We plan to provide a broad spectrum of Technical Assistance tracks potentially covering (but not limited to) the following topics: Legal considerations Tax planning Access to Capital Short-Term Capital Loan Processes Risk Mitigation Strategies Land classifications, land fractionation, estate planning Recovery and Stewardship of Tribal Homelands: Learning about the restoration of American Indian Nations' and People's control over their rightful lands. Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) Meat and Poultry Processing Additional topics and areas for Technical Assistance (TA) include but are not limited to business planning, export training, trade show/product development, and regenerative business practices.
  • How many hours of Technical Assistance do I need to complete to be eligible for funding?
    Technical Assistance must be five hours or longer to ensure depth and effectiveness and to be eligible for a subaward. *Note: In order to qualify for application an entity will need to receive their own TA hours.
  • What type of business is eligible for NIFBC funding?
    Eligible entities include both for-profit and non-profit organizations that qualify as small to mid-sized entities within the local food value chain (including Producers (e.g., commodities, fruits, and vegetables, or livestock), Aggregators, Distributors, or Food Access Points (e.g., food co-ops, farmers markets)). Our process for determining and documenting sub-awardee eligibility is designed to emphasize investment in food businesses within and in service to Indian Country. In order for an entity to qualify for a subaward they must meet one of the following criteria: The applicant’s defined location is on federally designated land; The applicant’s defined location is on tribal boundaries; The applicant’s product distribution prioritizes Tribal Members or Communities and their economies either through services and sales, or revenue.
  • What qualifies as a “small to mid-sized”?
    Businesses with fewer than 50 employees and less than $3 million in Gross Annual Revenues.
  • What kind of projects will be eligible for funding?
    The NIFBC’s allowable costs and activities include the following categories: Staff time (labor and training) Business planning activities Software implementation Value-chain and supply-chain coordination and innovation Product development Marketing and outreach Storage and distribution Supply-chain analysis and strategy development to identify supply-chain gaps and specialization opportunities Special purpose equipment that increases business capacity, as identified in the TA Track (this can include vehicles) Minor facility improvements on pre-existing structures that neither adds to the permanent value of the facility, or appreciably prolongs its intended life, but keeps it in an efficient operating condition and improves business profitability
  • Where can I sign up to receive updates on NIFBC?
    Please stay tuned to the NIFBC’s website, Indianag.org/intertribalfbc, for ongoing updates, in addition to the IAC newsletter. If you are not signed up for IAC’s newsletter, you can do so at this link: Signup Form (constantcontactpages.com).
  • I’m not qualified for NIFBC funds, is there other funding available?
    If you do not qualify to receive funding from NIFBC funds, the Regional Food Business Center in your region will have funding opportunities available to you. Each Center has their own set of standards and eligibility criteria for awarding their Business Builder grants so you can expect the application process will look different than ours. Here is a link to find out which Center is supporting your region: https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/local-regional/rfbcp.
2025 Bob Miller Memorial Scholarship

2025 BOB MILLER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

Preference will be given to full-time (12 credit hours or more) undergraduate students pursuing a degree in Agriculture, Agriculture Business, Agriculture Education, Agriculture Engineering, Animal Science, Environmental Management, Horticulture, Natural Resource Management, Range Management, Soil Science, Veterinary Medicine, or other related fields of food or agricultural study. Part-time and/or graduate students will be considered after full-time undergraduate students.

 

Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.25.

 

If you have any questions about the application, please contact Sunshine Tso at sunshine@indianag.org.

 

Application Deadline: March 31st, 2025 at 11:59 PM (PST)

If the application deadline is extended, it will be a first come, first serve basis.​

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NATIONAL YOUTH
ADVISORY COUNCIL

The IAC National Youth Advisory Council serves as the advising body for the IAC Youth program, ensuring the needs of youth in Indian Country are properly met within IAC programs.

Applications for 2024 will be accepted on a rolling basis until positions have been filled. Eligible applicants must be 18-27 years of age. Successful NYAC applicants will serve in shaping the leadership roles that this body will carry forward.

 

The following regions have open council positions: Eastern, Northwest, Rocky Mountain, Southeast, and Southern Plains.

NYAC MEMBES

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Native Youth Advisory Council

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Native Youth Advisory Council

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Native Youth Advisory Council

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Native Youth Advisory Council

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Thomas Peters
Great Lakes 

Native Youth Advisory Council

Marcellus McDonald
Western

Native Youth Advisory Council

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Native Youth Advisory Council

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Native Youth Advisory Council

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Native Youth Advisory Council

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Thank you to the youth who attended the 2024 IAC Youth Conference. What a treat to hear insightful young voices share ideas on the future of agriculture in Indian Country through the Youth Essay Contest. Check out the 2024 agenda below!

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TEAM

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Youth Program Director

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Youth Program Specialist

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Youth Program Specialist

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Youth Program Specialist

UPCOMING EVENTS

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Intertribal Agriculture Council

PO Box 958, Billings, MT 59103

Tel: (406) 259-3525 

Fax: (888) 245-9694 

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© 2025 Intertribal Agriculture Council

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