NALC, NASDA announce inaugural Scott E. Fancher Agricultural Law Fellowship recipient
Feb. 2, 2026
By Ramie Parsons
University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
Fast Facts
- Paid Washington, D.C.-based fellowship for agricultural law students
- Agricultural and water policy in home state of California influenced inaugural recipient
- Honors legacy of ag lawyer and former FSA County Executive Director Scott E. Fancher
Download a photo of Madison Mills
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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The National Agricultural Law Center, in partnership with the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture and the NASDA Foundation, announced Madison Mills as the inaugural recipient of the Scott E. Fancher Agricultural Law Fellowship.
The fellowship, a paid Washington, D.C.-based program designed to develop future industry leaders in agricultural law and policy, was established through a Memorandum of Understanding signed at NASDA’s annual meeting in September 2025.
Raised in California’s Imperial Valley, Mills developed an interest in agricultural and water law after witnessing how legal and policy decisions directly affect farmers and rural communities.
“I am honored to receive the Scott E. Fancher Agricultural Law Fellowship,” Mills said. “This opportunity allows me to engage directly with agricultural policy while contributing research that supports state departments of agriculture and the producers they serve.”
Mills is a student at California Western School of Law and expects to graduate in May 2027. She earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural communications from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, in 2024.
Sustaining a legacy
The fellowship honors the late Scott E. Fancher, an agricultural lawyer, farmer, former Farm Service Agency County Executive Director, mentor and U.S. Marine.
“Scott was a dear friend and was instrumental in helping shape a vision for the National Agricultural Law Center,” said Harrison Pittman, director of the center. “This fellowship is a fitting tribute to his legacy and reflects our shared commitment with NASDA and NASDA Foundation to invest in the next generation of agricultural law professionals.”
The Fancher Fellowship places the selected law student at NASDA headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, where the fellow will conduct supervised legal research and writing, attend Congressional hearings and policy briefings, and work on agricultural and food law issues affecting state departments of agriculture.
“Hosting this fellowship at NASDA’s headquarters places the fellow at the intersection of state and federal agricultural policy, a place where NASDA members invest much of their time,” NASDA CEO Ted McKinney said. “This experience will give emerging agricultural law leaders a front-row seat to how that policy is shaped and implemented, helping strengthen the connection between state departments of agriculture and the next generation of professionals who will serve our industry.”
The NASDA Foundation, an educational and research organization that serves the nation’s state departments of agriculture, supported the creation of the fellowship as part of its mission to advance education, leadership development and policy engagement in agriculture.
Pittman says Mills is well-suited to launch the fellowship.
“Madison is outstanding, and we are thrilled with her selection as the inaugural Fancher Fellow,” Pittman said. “It is especially meaningful to see Scott’s legacy carried forward through this program.”
About the National Agricultural Law Center
Created by Congress in 1987, the National Agricultural Law Center serves as the nation’s leading source of agricultural and food law research and information. The NALC works with producers, agribusinesses, state and federal policymakers, lenders, Congressional staffers, attorneys, land grant universities, students, and many others to provide objective, nonpartisan agricultural and food law research and information to the nation’s agricultural community.
The NALC is a unit of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and works in close partnership with the National Agricultural Library, a subsidiary of the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service. For information about the NALC, visit nationalaglawcenter.org. The NALC is also on X, Facebook and LinkedIn as @nataglaw. Subscribe online to receive NALC Communications, including webinar announcements, the NALC’s Quarterly Newsletter, and The Feed.
About the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA)
NASDA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit association which represents the elected and appointed commissioners, secretaries and directors of the departments of agriculture in all 50 states and four U.S. territories. NASDA enhances American food and agricultural communities through policy, partnerships and public engagement. To learn more about NASDA, please visit www.nasda.org.
About the NASDA Foundation
The NASDA Foundation is the only educational and research organization that directly serves the nation’s state departments of agriculture. The NASDA Foundation’s mission is to enhance American food and agricultural communities through education, outreach and research. The NASDA Foundation works with states to nourish people and communities while serving as the stewards of the environment and public trust. To learn more about the NASDA Foundation, please visit nasda.org/nasda-foundation/.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land-grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three campuses.
Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.
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Media Contact:
Ramie Parsons
National Agricultural Law Center
rparsons@uark.edu
479-575-7646