This spring marked an exciting milestone for Haskell Indian Nations University as students and staff attended the MANRRS Conference for the very first time. MANRRS, short for Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences, is a national organization with both collegiate and pre-collegiate chapters across the country. The national conference, held in Memphis, Tennessee, brought together universities from all over the country to connect, learn, and grow as emerging leaders in agriculture and related sciences. For Haskell, it was a meaningful step forward. For everyone who went, it was an experience they won’t soon forget.
For Kanyon Alexander, a recent graduate and the President of Haskell-MANRRS, representing Haskell on this national stage carried a sense of pride and purpose:
“Attending the MANRRS conference was such a great experience. As the first representative, not only from Haskell but from any Tribal College or University at this national gathering, I felt a deep sense of responsibility as the inaugural President of Haskell-MANRRS. Establishing our presence was essential. The conference offered diverse opportunities for engagement, from thoughtful jam sessions both indoors and outdoors to substantive workshops that stimulated intellectual growth and professional development. Each component provided valuable insights.
Though my time at Haskell is coming to a close, my commitment to our MANRRS chapter remains strong. I look forward to seeing our members participate in conference competitions in the years ahead. As original stewards of the earth, it’s imperative that we occupy these spaces to demonstrate our presence, belonging, intelligence, and leadership capabilities.”
For other students, the conference opened doors to new ideas. Angelina Giago, Vice President of Haskell-MANRRS, reflected on how the experience broadened her perspective:
“This year was my first time hearing about the MANRRS program, and I’m so glad I joined. Attending the conference in Memphis was truly inspiring and showed me so many new opportunities. Being surrounded by passionate, driven students reminded me why spaces like this matter. The MANRRS slogan, ‘I am, Because you are,’ really stuck with me… it reminded me that we succeed because we support each other. After the conference, we connected with the Douglas County Food Policy Council and even hosted an event on campus, which gave us a fresh perspective on agriculture and partnerships. I highly encourage my peers to take advantage of opportunities like this!”
The energy and connections made at MANRRS didn’t just inspire the students; they left an impression on the chapter’s sponsor, Mackie Moore, too. He shared how the experience sparked fresh ideas for the future of the program:
“With 2024 – 2025 being our first year to have a MANRRS chapter program, this was my first time to attend the National MANRRS meeting. The conference was located in Memphis, TN, which I thought was a great location, so much history and culture reside in Memphis. The conference itself was really good; I honestly loved the energy from the first night. They had a local marching band and step team come in, and they got things poppin’ right off the bat. That energy set the tone for the whole conference for me. I got to attend some great breakout sessions that focused on research and industry product development, and I got a new perspective on the agriculture industry. It is much more diverse and reaches into many areas I didn’t think about. The technology being used just blew me away, from drones and programs to AI in agriculture, it was fascinating. Meeting many new people from diverse backgrounds and being able to speak to them about HINU was a lot of fun. I was really proud of our students and being recognized as the first and only TCU chapter within MANRRS. I can’t wait to see it grow and what we can accomplish through our MANRRS chapter at HINU.”
For Haskell, this first trip to MANRRS was just the beginning. The conference sparked new connections, opened doors for community partnerships, and gave students a glimpse of the many places their ideas and leadership can take them. Whether they were meeting peers, brainstorming late into the night, or imagining how to bring what they learned back to campus, each moment reflected the powerful truth of the MANRRS message: “I am, because you are.”
Be sure to check them out during the FALL 2025 Highlight night to join.
