By Rochelle “Ro” Li, ASU sustainable food systems graduate student
On January 30, 2026, the ASU Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems hosted its inaugural in-person Model USDA event at the ASU Tempe campus. This multi-day convening brought together more than 200 students and staff from 30 universities and colleges, representing 27 states, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Washington, D.C. Building on the structure of Model United Nations and Model Congress, Model USDA is an interactive simulation in which college students in the USDA NextGen program role-play as key stakeholders and federal food policy decision-makers. Each student was assigned a specific role and a timely policy scenario. The goal of the convening is to engage, educate, and inspire the next generation of food systems and agriculture policy leaders.
What does a day in the life of a Model USDA student participant look like? Follow along as Rochelle Li (aka “Reporter Ro”) takes you through her day as a Journalist.
Reporting to you from Tempe, Arizona: This is Reporter Ro—ASU graduate student in the Master of Sustainable Food Systems program and one of the journalists assigned to "Scenario B: Expanding nutrition education to schools nationwide."
In Scenario B, participants were tasked with developing a federal rule that the USDA would use to administer the Food and Nutrition Education in Schools Pilot Program. It was a rich and engaging day filled with collaboration and discussion aimed at moving the needle forward on school nutrition.
The day began with lively opening speeches from participants. We heard from a diverse group of stakeholders and decision-makers whose priorities ranged from providing culturally-relevant, regionally specific food and education programs for students, to implementing hydroponic growing systems and expanding beef- and dairy-based options in school meals programs. While some participants used their speeches to highlight their organization's area of focus or to criticize federal nutrition policy at large, others speeches highlighted common goals and looked for compromise.
Ruby Pokras and Yahir Garduño, two student participants respectively representing legislative directors of U.S. senators, emphasized that meaningful food and nutrition programs must go beyond funding to address equity, education, and long-term sustainability.
“It’s not about just giving students a meal—it’s about building a foundation of knowledge around food.”— Ruby Pokras, student role-playing as the Legislative Director for U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ)
“National programs only work if they’re culturally appropriate and shaped with the communities they’re meant to serve.”— Yahir Garduño, student role-playing as the Legislative Director for U.S. Representative Jahana Hayes (D-CT-5)
Continued dialogue among this diverse group of stakeholders helped to shape the outcomes of the final rule draft.
Participants in this scenario also learned firsthand from guest speaker Lyndsey Waugh, Executive Director of the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation. Inspired by her remarks, participants were eager to draft a rule that better addresses the food and nutrition needs of the next generation.
“Programs that truly move the needle build access, knowledge, confidence, and the desire to make healthy choices that last a lifetime. That positive connection kids build with food is something they carry with them for life.”— Lyndsey Waugh, Executive Director, Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation
When the USDA task force shared its initial proposal for the pilot program, it was clear that further negotiation and discussion were needed. Key concerns included alignment between stakeholder and task force priorities as well as a late-breaking update involving a foodborne illness outbreak at an elementary school, traced to contaminated produce from the school garden.
When the group reconvened the following day, there was renewed hope among many stakeholders. Even the student acting as the Secretary of Agriculture, the final decisionmaker for approving the proposal, offered some words of encouragement:
“It looks like [the Task Force] has a much more cohesive plan of what I'm expecting. I definitely like to see them collaborating more with the stakeholders. I think for the final rollout, I want to see a clear timeline. I want to see a clear budget. In order for me to accept this proposal, I need to see clear, distinct instructions on what's going to go on and how it's going to be imposed.” — Maggie Epperson, student role-playing as the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture
At the conclusion of the meeting, the task force finalized the proposed rule, which the Secretary of Agriculture student approved pending a few considerations. While some participants expressed disappointment that the ruling didn’t address specific agenda items, many shared excitement. Overall, there was a strong sense of contentment and optimism surrounding the future rollout of the Food and Nutrition Education in Schools Pilot Program.
All in all, this was a fruitful learning experience that left participants inspired and energized to stay engaged in complex food policy efforts within their local communities.
Signing off—this is Reporter Ro. Thank you.
This blog is part of a series written by Arizona State University (ASU) graduate students who role-played as journalists in Model USDA 2026, a multi-day simulation hosted by the Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems at ASU.