One of the standout experiences of the Annual NACTA Conference is always the lineup of local agricultural tours. This year we are excited to offer attendees five options to choose from on Thursday, June 25, during the NACTA Conference. All tours will have limited space and spots will be filled on a first-come first-served basis. To sign up for a tour during your registration, make sure to check "Yes, I will attend a tour" when asked "Will you be attending a tour on Thursday?"

Read about each of the five tours being offered at #NATA26 below!

#NACTA26 Tours Lineup

From Blues to Catfish: Discover the Mississippi Delta! (Full Day Tour, Begins at 8:00 AM CDT)
Get ready for a full-day adventure into the soul of Mississippi! We’ll start early and head west to the legendary Delta, where history, music, and culture come alive. Our journey begins at Dockery Farms, established in 1895 by Will Dockery. The expansive plantation grew from an original timber and sawmill operation into a massive cotton enterprise covering up to 25,600 acres. Dockery treated sharecroppers fairly, attracting a vibrant workforce whose agricultural labor and cultural life laid the foundations for the blues and was home to icons like Charley Patton and Robert Johnson.

From there, we’ll head to the B.B. King Museum in Indianola, where the life and legacy of the King of the Blues unfolds through immersive exhibits, personal artifacts, and powerful storytelling. After exploring the museum, we’ll make our way to Club Ebony, one of the South’s most storied juke joints, where generations of musicians, including B.B. King himself, kept the Delta blues tradition alive.

We’ll also visit the Bayer Scott Learning Center to see how agricultural innovation continues to transform this region. And when it’s time to eat, we will feast on authentic Delta cuisine featuring the star of the show, Mississippi farm-raised catfish. It’s an early start and a late return, but you’ll come back with a full belly, a head full of stories, and maybe even a little blues in your soul. Don’t miss this chance to experience the Mississippi Delta like never before!

This full‑day tour includes multiple stops and extended travel across the Mississippi Delta.

Make a Difference: Starkville Strong Service Project (Half-Day Morning Tour, approximately 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM CDT)
Give back during the conference with a half-day service project alongside Starkville Strong, a local nonprofit supporting families in need. Connect with fellow attendees, embrace the spirit of service, and leave a positive mark on the community hosting us. Come ready to roll up your sleeves!

Mississippi State University Agriculture Farm-to-Table Tours (Half-Day Morning, approximately 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM, or Afternoon Tour, approximately 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM CDT)
Experience MSU's world-class research and innovative food production across four farm-to-table tours:

• Dairy Science
• Poultry Science
• Meat Science
• Turf, Gardens, Blooms, and Bugs

Peanuts, Prairie, and Pints (Full Day Tour, approximately 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM CDT)
Celebrate Mississippi agriculture and local craft culture in one flavorful day! Start at Birdsong Peanuts for a behind-the-scenes look at the full peanut journey, then head to the Prairie Research Unit, a 2,400-acre station established in 1962. Cap the day at 1817 Brewery with a guided beer flight and great company. Come ready to learn, taste, and enjoy!

Soar into Innovation: Mississippi State's Raspet Research Center (Half-Day Morning Tour, approximately 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM CDT)
Take flight without leaving the ground! Get an insider's look at MSU's Raspet Flight Research Center, a national leader in aerospace research and unmanned aircraft systems. Explore cutting-edge facilities and discover how aviation and agriculture intersect. A must-see for the curious and the innovative!

Additional conference details and registration can be found at www.nactaconference.org.

The NACTA 2026 Annual Conference, June 22-25, 2026, in Starkville, Mississippi, USA, will be here before you know it! Don't miss out on this discount that is available for those who fly to the conference with Delta!

Delta Airlines is pleased to offer special discounts for the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA).

You may also call Conferences and Events® at 1.800.328.1111*
Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. (EST) and refer to Meeting Event Code NY4N9.

This code will work for travel into/out of the following airports between June 16, 2026 and July 1, 2026:

• Golden Triangle Regional Airport (GTR)
• Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN)
• Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM)

*Please note there is not a service fee for reservations booked and ticketed via our reservation 800 number.

For more information on the NACTA Conference, and to register, please visit www.NACTAconference.org.

We'll see you in Starkville!

Early Bird Deadline: April 25, 2026

As a reminder, we are pleased to announce that registration for the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) 2026 Conference, to be held June 22-26, 2026, at Mississippi State University in Starkville, Mississippi, USA, is now open! This year's conference theme is "Ringing in the Future: Innovations in Teaching & Learning for Agriculture."

The Annual NACTA Conference offers many opportunities for education and networking and brings agricultural education across the continuum together. This conference offers workshops, poster and oral presentations, Keynote and Blue Ribbon presentations, and many networking opportunities each day. At this annual conference of NACTA, you will be able to connect with and learn from others who share the same passion for the improvement of teaching and learning in agriculture, food and natural resources.

The Annual NACTA Conference will provide you with new teaching techniques, ideas and resources. It is also one of the best professional development activities for networking with other teaching professionals where the common discipline is "teaching."

Additional conference details, including speakers, presenters, schedule, hotel and tour information, awards, and more, along with registration can be found at www.nactaconference.org.

The Early Bird Deadline to register for the NACTA 2026 Annual Conference is April 25, 2026.

NACTA is excited to welcome Dr. Mark Keenum, of Mississippi State University, as the Keynote Speaker for the NACTA 2026 Conference, to be held June 22-25, 2026, at Mississippi State University in Starkville, Mississippi, USA! The 72nd Annual NACTA Conference will serve as a venue for faculty and graduate students in agricultural, environmental, natural, and life sciences to share their scholarship of teaching, innovative teaching and advising ideas, and other relevant teaching and learning information.

Below we look at the Keynote Presentation:

Lessons Learned and the
Future of Agriculture

Mark Keenum,
President,
Mississippi State University

Lessons Learned and the Future of Agriculture
Date and Time: Tuesday, June 23, 2026 from 8:15 AM - 9:15 AM CDT during the NACTA 2026 Conference.
Presenter:  Dr. Mark Keenum, President, Mississippi State University

Mississippi State University President Mark E. Keenum has devoted his professional life to agriculture and meeting the critical challenges and growing our world. Dr. Keenum's keynote will include highlights from his distinguished career as a leader in agricultural policy and higher education and important lessons he learned along the way—from the fields of the Mississippi Delta to the halls of the United States Capitol. He will also provide an assessment of the current state of affairs in food security, advanced technology, and the essential role of the modern land-grant university in solving complex problems and developing the future leaders we need.

For more information on the Keynote Presentation,  click here.

To read more about Dr. Mark Keenum,  click here.

The NACTA 2026 Annual Conference, held in Starkville, Mississippi, USA, will feature 18 unique and engaging workshops throughout the conference. Listed below are two of our featured workshops.

Bridging the Gap: Connecting Ag Classrooms to Food and Agriculture Career Readiness in the Age of AI
*Date and Time:  Monday, June 22, 2026, 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM CDT
Presenters:
Mark Russell - Purdue University
Donald Mulvaney - Auburn University
William Nelson - William J. Nelson, LLC
Allen Wysocki - University of Florida
Mark Gagnon - Pennsylvania State University
Cheryl Wachenheim - North Dakota State University

Bridging the Gap: Connecting Ag Classrooms to Renewable Natural Resources and the Environment Career Readiness in the Age of AI
*Date and Time:  Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM CDT
Presenters:
Mark Russell - Purdue University
Cheryl Wachenheim - North Dakota State University
Mark Gagnon - Pennsylvania State University
Allen Wysocki - University of Florida
William Nelson - William J. Nelson, LLC
Donald Mulvaney - Auburn University

*Schedule subject to change

In a rapidly evolving world shaped by technology and artificial intelligence, the future of agricultural careers demands more than technical know-how, it requires adaptable, communicative and resilient graduates ready to lead. Yet, despite a promising job outlook, employers continue to report a “career-readiness gap” between college graduates’ perceived abilities and the realities of professional success in agriculture, food, and natural resources.

This interactive workshop brings together leading agricultural industry recruiters, career development professionals, and academic leaders to unpack what employers truly prioritize when hiring the next generation of agriculture professionals. Through dynamic dialogue and real-world examples, participants will hear directly from those making hiring decisions about the traits, competencies and experiences that set candidates apart and how artificial intelligence is reshaping the recruiting and selection processes. Studies consistently reveal a disconnect between what students believe makes them employable and what employers actually prioritize. Panelists will share real-world hiring insights and review trends (e.g., NACE, APLU, and USDA). The literature regarding national employer studies consistently identifies conscientiousness, critical thinking, communication, professionalism, teamwork and digital literacy as the most valued competencies.

For more information, and to register for the NACTA 2026 Annual Conference, please visit www.NACTAconference.org.

We'll see you in Starkville!