Collegiate Network
Campus chapters where LGBTQ+ agriculture students build community, run programming, and connect with potential employers.
A network on your campus.
A chapter is a group of LGBTQ+ food and agriculture students at one school, led by student officers and a faculty advisor. Chapters host panels, socials, info sessions and employer nights with companies that come to meet you.
No chapter at your school? Start one.
It takes about a semester. Talk to us first, before you do anything formal.
What you need: a president, vice president and treasurer, plus a faculty or staff advisor from your college of agriculture. You’ll register as a student organization with your university, open a bank account under its rules and sign an agreement with us.
What we provide: a chapter handbook, logo files, letters of support while your application is processed, and contact with other chapters. Most applications are approved within a month.
Being a Chapter
What chapters do.
Most chapters hold a welcome social each fall, host a panel or two with people working in the field, volunteer with other campus groups and send students to the Annual Conference to present, attend workshops and meet employers. Chapters stay in touch year-round, so no one starts from scratch.
Who’s Welcome Here
Chapters are open to everyone. They do not discriminate on the basis of gender, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, race, color, ethnicity, citizenship, cultural background, socioeconomic status, age, disability, religion or veteran status, and they do not tolerate harassment that interferes with anyone’s education.
FAQ
Is there an LGBTQ+ student group for agriculture majors?
Yes. The Open Fields Alliance Collegiate Network has student-led chapters at universities with food and agriculture programs. They’re free and open to anyone studying agriculture, food systems or natural resources. If your school doesn’t have one, you can start one.
Is agriculture LGBTQ+ friendly?
It depends on the employer and the region, like any industry. LGBTQ+ people work in every part of agriculture, and there are affirming workplaces and communities. We help you find them.
How do I start a chapter at my university?
Contact us, then recruit three officers and a faculty advisor from your college of agriculture. Register as a student organization, open a bank account and sign an agreement with Open Fields Alliance. The process takes about a semester.
Will my name be public if I join?
No. We don’t keep a chapter directory, and we never share student information with sponsors or anyone else.