NASDA Next-Gen valuable to new attorneys
Making connections and hearing perspectives from different states and facets of agriculture are among the most valuable takeaways from the annual Next Generation program hosted by the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture Foundation, say two attendees from the National Agricultural Law Center.
Oct. 28, 2026
By Mary Hightower
University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture
Fast Facts
- Next-Generation program connects new attorneys, law students to industry pros, issues
- NALC fellow, staffer value networking opportunities
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DOWNLOAD related art of Mills, Eichenberger
UNDATED — Making connections and hearing perspectives from different states and facets of agriculture are among the most valuable takeaways from the annual Next Generation program hosted by the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture Foundation, say two attendees from the National Agricultural Law Center.
Madison Mills, the inaugural Scott E. Fancher Agricultural Law Fellowship recipient at NALC, attended this year’s event, while Mary Eichenberger, now a staff attorney at NALC, attended the event in 2025.
The 2026 Next Generation program was held during the NASDA annual meeting Sept. 13-16 at Portland, Maine. This program is designed to engage college students with leaders in agricultural policy and industry, fostering professional connections and promoting exposure to state and federal policy discussions.
“As agriculture continues to evolve in the face of new challenges and opportunities, investing in the next generation of agricultural leaders is more important than ever,” NASDA Foundation Senior Director Chris Jones said.
Making connections
Mills, of El Centro, California, grew up in a family whose agriculture connections go back generations. She is in her third year at the California Western School of Law.
“Attending Next-Gen was extremely valuable to me because it gave me the opportunity to learn not only about issues facing California agriculture, but also about challenges affecting agriculture across the country,” Mills said. “It was especially valuable to hear directly from state agricultural leaders and other professionals working on these issues.”
Mills said one of the highlights was meeting California Secretary of Food and Agriculture Karen Ross.
“That is an opportunity I likely would not have had without Next-Gen, NASDA, and the National Agricultural Law Center,” Mills said. “I am extremely grateful to have been selected for the program and to have had the opportunity to build connections with people working throughout the agricultural industry.”
Mills took part in 4-H and FFA, then majoring in agricultural communications as an undergrad.
“Through those experiences, I always knew that I wanted my career to serve the agricultural industry in some capacity,” she said.
“Within agricultural law, I am particularly interested in water and environmental law,” Mills said. “Water scarcity, allocation and quality are critical issues facing both California agriculture and communities throughout the state, and I am especially interested in how the law can help address those challenges.”
Eichenberger, who joined NALC as a staff attorney, attended Next Generation last year, when the NASDA annual meeting was held in Rogers.
“It's a great opportunity to learn, but it's also a great opportunity to network with people, to learn more about their careers, how they got where they are, and just start building those connections that you need for a really successful career,” she said. “The agricultural community is small and relationships are very important.”
With Next Generation and work as a research fellow for NALC, “I’ve been able to just build on those experiences, build my professional network and build on my personal ag law interests,” Eichenberger said. “I’m so grateful I had the opportunities.”
Like Mills, Eichenberger came from an ag background.
“I grew up on a farm in Clarksville, Arkansas, and my family, has a small cow-calf operation,” Eichenberger said. “I grew up very involved in the day-to-day operation of that farm.
“Going into college, I knew I wanted to do something in agriculture,” she said. “I knew that was my passion. But at the same time, I also really enjoyed politics and government and law. So, I chose ag business, because at the time, there wasn't really a dedicated major or minor for ag law.
“I was able to do ag business with a pre-law concentration,” Eichenberger said. “I went into law school in 2023, knowing exactly what I wanted to do.”
Find some of Eichenberger’s work in The Feed and other NALC publications.
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 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 UADA
The University of Arkansas 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, UADA conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
UADA is one of 22 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three university campuses.
Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, UADA 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:
Phillip Powell
ppowell1@uark.edu