MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2023. BY NUFFIELD INTERNATIONAL USA.
Dover, Delaware – The Nuffield International Farming Scholars USA board of directors is excited to announce that 5 U.S. producers and agri-professionals were selected to be part of the program’s 2023 cohort. This is a record number of Nuffield Scholars from the United States of America, marking a significant achievement for the USA arm of this international non-profit program.
Focused on capacity building for agricultural producers and professionals, the Nuffield International program provides global experiences that allow them to grow personally and professionally, often giving scholars new industry insight and best practices to bring back home.
The United States of America has been involved in the Nuffield International Farming Scholars program since 2015, selecting the first Nuffield International USA Scholar in 2017. With the 2023 group included there are now 16 Nuffield Scholars from the United States of America.
The 2023 Nuffield International USA Scholars are:
STEPHANIE BOLTON, PhD, CA, USA 
Dr. Stephanie Bolton will study global collaboration opportunities in viticulture. Leading Grower Research, Education, and Communications for the Lodi Winegrape Commission, Stephanie will explore how winegrowers and scientists internationally can best be connected around sustainable viticulture research. She is hopeful of creating a collaborative, international network to build energy and resiliency into her local agricultural community and beyond. Stephanie’s scholarship is funded by PSP Investments, California Cotton Alliance, Terra Nova Ranch, Mechanical Design, LLC., Stevens Farm, and Kee’s Creek Farm.
JESSICA GRAY, VA, USA 
Jessica Gray from Virginia will investigate the potential for a sheep-based economy in the USA. Jessica operates Kitchen Sink Farm with her family. They have a sheep flock rotationally grazed on solar fields, other livestock, and a ‘pick your own’ pumpkin patch. Virginia is an area with few sheep farmers and Jessica will assess how sheep farming can thrive in a warming and drying climate, vegetative structure, soil health, carbon sequestration, lamb market development, and incentive programs in countries outside the USA. Jessica’s scholarship is funded by Horizon Farm Credit, Delaware Department of Agriculture, Farm Credit Foundation for Agricultural Advancement, and Mountaire Farms.
LAURA KILIAN, NC, USA 
Laura Kilian will explore how agriculture issues are communicated and linked with policymakers. Laura is the Associate State Legislative Director of the NC Farm Bureau Federation. Duties include advocating for NC farmers at the state legislature and lobbying for policy initiatives passed by the Farm Bureau members at the grassroots level. Agriculture is NC’s number one industry and Laura says it is critical to continue to develop, maintain and protect the industry, and policymakers play a big role in this. Laura’s scholarship is funded by North Carolina State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, North Carolina Sweet Potato Association, Carolina Farm Credit, Griffin Farms, and Mrs. Dale Bone.
EASTON KUBOUSHEK, IA, USA 
Easton Kuboushek will study global aquaculture to support the United States in scaling sustainable seafood supply chains. Kuboushek currently serves as a Senior Account Executive with Amplify Association Management, a subsidiary of the Iowa Soybean Association. In this capacity, he leads multiple non-profit trade associations including the Soy Aquaculture Alliance, the National Chimney Sweep Guild, National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers, and supports the New York Corn and Soybean Growers Association. Easton’s scholarship is funded by Iowa Farm Bureau Foundation, The People’s Company, Iowa Pork Producers Association, and Iowa Soybean Association.
PATRICK WADE, TX, USA 
Patrick Wade will study the role of trade policy in achieving key sustainability outcomes in agriculture. Patrick is the Policy Director of Texas Grain Sorghum Producers, a not-for-profit trade association with 3,000 producer members. His role is to coordinate state, federal, and international legislative and regulatory strategies and advocate for issues across the media. He will explore the role that agricultural trade policies play in achieving sustainability and climate-change-related outcomes. Patrick is receiving a Nuffield International scholarship generously supported by Bayer.
The Nuffield Farming Scholars program is active in 14 countries: there are stand-alone Nuffield Farming Scholar programs in Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and Zimbabwe, with Chile, Germany, Japan, Poland, and the United States of America falling under the Nuffield International umbrella.
Each Nuffield International Scholar completes group and individual experiences, including an eight-day annual gathering of all Nuffield Scholars (the program’s Contemporary Scholars Conference); four weeks of small group global exploration (Global Focus Program); and a further seven weeks of individual travel. The culmination of the Nuffield experience is for each Scholar to complete a technical report on their selected study topic. This report serves as a benchmark for their global findings and often puts them onto the global stage as leading experts in that sector.
Nuffield International Farming Scholars inspire people to make a difference in the world of agriculture. With a history that dates back to 1947, this global scheme focuses on growing the most critical resource the agriculture industry has: people.
The Nuffield International Farming Scholars program is a unique global network of farmers and agri-professionals that puts an emphasis on:
– Personal capacity building
– Excellence in agricultural production, distribution, research, and management
– Local, national, and global thought leadership
To learn more, visit nuffieldinternational.org.
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