"Overall, students walked away with valuable lessons in coalition building, negotiation, and compromise, as well as a broader understanding of the complex structures that are at the foundation of the rulemaking process."

"The room was not fractured over whether urban agriculture matters, but rather who governs it, how it’s funded and who bears responsibility when tradeoffs arise."

"Model USDA is designed to test students’ ability to navigate competing interests under political and scientific uncertainty. Scenario A did exactly that."

"As a journalist, I realized the key role I could play in sharing information, whether that information sowed discontent or pleasure was not necessarily my responsibility. We asked probing questions, informed stakeholders of their opposition's opinions, and wrote think pieces on the state of affairs."

"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."

"For me, one of the biggest takeaways was that rural communities do not lack ideas or commitment. What they often lack is sustained access to power."

"Prescribed fire has many layers that are often overlooked. If we truly want healthier forests, we must also confront the political dynamics that shape how fire policy is implemented."

"The weekend was a masterclass in the sheer scale of federal policymaking. To mirror real-world processes, the students were organized into a multi-faceted web of stakeholders."

"The Model USDA conference in Tempe, Arizona concluded with a new sense of purpose to commit to food policy reforms. I had the honor of role-playing as a journalists for Scenario E: Food Safety and Inspection Services (FSIS) food label guidance for voluntary claims."

"From a personal perspective, Model USDA fills a critical gap between academic theory and applied governance. Traditional coursework can explain the policymaking process; Model USDA allows students to experience it."

"At Model USDA 2026, the urban agriculture scenario brought together a plethora of stakeholders with differing priorities, such as real estate developers pursuing expansion and nonprofit and university leaders working toward equitable, food-centered community development."

"Model USDA gives students the freedom to ask questions, work together, and really dive into the process. It reminded me how much I’ve grown since starting my Master of Science in sustainable food systems and why hands-on, collaborative learning matters."