By Blake Jackson
Representatives from Lincoln University of Missouri (LU) joined agricultural leaders nationwide at the 2026 CARET/BAA Washington Conference, held February 22-25 in Washington, D.C.
Organized by the Council on Agricultural Research, Extension and Teaching (CARET) and the Board on Agriculture Assembly (BAA), the event brought together delegates, university officials and industry partners to strengthen advocacy, exchange ideas and build collaboration.
Sessions focused on federal funding priorities and the changing needs of agriculture and food systems, while also addressing organizational planning for the year ahead.
A key theme was the importance of continued federal investment in 1890 Extension Services and Evans-Allen Research programs, which support historically Black land-grant universities and their communities.
Anitha Chitturi, assistant professor and state extension specialist in integrated pest management (IPM), attended as an LU delegate. She shared insights on LU’s IPM programs, which help reduce costs, promote biodiversity and improve farm resilience.
“This was a proud personal milestone,” Chitturi said. “As a state Extension specialist in IPM, my work is rooted in directly helping farmers and growers in their fields. Being in Washington and walking the halls of Congress for the Hill visits to represent our work was meaningful.”
Chitturi added, “I came away with a much better understanding of how federal funding decisions are made and why it matters for Lincoln University to be part of those conversations, especially around fiscal year 2027 appropriations and the Farm Bill.” She emphasized, “Advocacy is not a one-time effort; it requires consistent presence, relationships and a clear voice at the federal level.”
“I learned capacity funding isn’t just ‘stable money’ it’s the foundation letting us leverage every other dollar, attract industry partners and keep our faculty and graduate students in place,” Marquan Martin, special assistant of operations to the dean in the College of Agriculture, Environmental and Human Sciences at LU said.
“I also picked up very practical advocacy tips: keep stories simple, make the ask early, and always tie everything back to local economic impact and workforce development.”
Photo Credit: lincoln-university-missouri
Categories: Missouri, Education, Government & Policy