Welcome to the College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Alumni Network! Founded in 1973, the AGNR Alumni Network remains a vital partner for the college in the advancement of its strategic initiatives. We work to enhance student experiences, build professional networks, serve in communities and advocate for the college.
Grown Maryland Box 2026
One of our favorite AGNR traditions returns for the fall. Grown Maryland boxes are now available for purchase. As always, items are provided by our alums and everything is locally sourced.
Purchase Your Grown Maryland Box
AGNR Alumni International Trip
Join the AGNR Alumni Network as we tour England with Edwin Remsberg and Rachel Rhodes May 17-26, 2027! Tour includes: RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Kew Garden, Richmond Castle, Kiplin and Richmond gardens and so much more!
International Trip Sign-Up Form
AGNR International Trip Details
What's Included?
Included:
Accommodations
Transportation
Activities/Garden Visits
Round-trip airfare from Dulles International Airport
Costs not included:
Cost of a valid U.S. passport
Meals
Travel insurance (highly recommended)
Alcoholic beverages and meals
Leisure activities on free days
Hotel charges for incidentals, including telephone calls, pay-per-view movies, mini bars, and snack trays, personal laundry, room service, and hotel penalties for smoking in hotel rooms.
Gratuities
Physical Activity: This tour is considered an active itinerary and requires participants to walk on a daily basis. Some sites include uneven terrain, stairs, and cobblestone streets. Please carefully consider these physical requirements before registering, as accommodations for limited mobility may not be available.
Itinerary
May 17- Depart BWI for London
May 18 -Day 1- Arrival in London, get checked in to your hotel, and either rest or come on a walking tour of iconic London tourist sites such as Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey, Tower Bridge, etc
May 19 -Day 2 - We will walk to the world-famous Museum of Natural History to learn about the work of great naturalists and botanists and see one of the greatest collections of specimens in the world. Many of the collections have great historical as well as scientific value, such as specimens collected by Charles Darwin. Sometimes dubbed a cathedral of nature, the museum is recognised as the pre-eminent centre of natural history and research of related fields in the world. If time allows, the Science Museum and Victoria and Albert Museums are right next door to explore as well
May 20 -Day 3 - Walk to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London, set on the banks of the River Thames, it is the world’s most famous flower show and aims to inspire, educate and excite visitors about horticulture.
May 21 -Day 4 - We will take the underground to Kew Gardens, the "largest and most diverse botanical and mycological collections in the world". Its living collections include some of the 27,000 taxa curated by Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, while the herbarium, one of the largest in the world, has over 8.5 million preserved plant and fungal specimens. The library contains more than 750,000 volumes, and the illustrations collection contains more than 175,000 prints and drawings of plants
May 22 -Day 5 - We will leave our hotel in London and travel by train to North Yorkshire and stay in the Village of Richmond. In the afternoon, we will tour Richmond Castle, built in 1071; it is the best-preserved early Norman castle in England. We will also visit some local home gardens and learn about the National Garden Scheme
May 23 -Day 6 - Bus tour of agriculture in the Yorkshire Dales with a visit to Hawes Creamery to sample Wensleydale Cheeses and enjoy tremendous views of countryside and sheep.
May 24 -Day 7 - We will visit the house and gardens at Kiplin Hall, the home of Lord Baltimore and the birthplace of Maryland.
May 25-Day 8 - Bus trip to Thirsk to visit the home and office of Legendary Veterinarian James Herriot, then complete our day with a tour of Black Sheep Brewery to learn about Beer brewing
May 26-Day 9 - Travel to the airport to depart for home
Alumni Spotlights
Across office parks, campuses and commercial properties, lawn mowers quietly trim grass with no one behind the wheel. For University of Maryland alumnus Brandon Writt '21, these autonomous mowers are integral to his daily work, demonstrating how precision agriculture is transforming the landscape industry.
Get to know Brandon
An Environmental Science & Technology grad, Jack Trimble '14 is an environmental consultant. While at UMD, he was involved in the Maryland Filmmaker’s Club and Alpha Gamma Rho.
Get to know Jack
AGNR Graduating Student Awards
Congratulations to our Outstanding Undergraduate and Graduate student winners!
See a full list of winners below.
AGNR Outstanding Graduating Students
Outstanding Certificate Student: Sergio Agustin-Joya
Outstanding Undergraduate Students
- Agricultural Resource Economics: Parker Miller
- Animal & Avian Sciences: Raven Herron
- Environmental Science & Policy: Alyssa Lee
- Environmental Science & Technology: Alexa Manzi
- Plant Science & Landscape Architecture: Meghan Shoger
- Fermentation Science: Kiara Andino
- Nutrition & Food Science: Kevin Lam
Outstanding Graduate Students
- Agricultural Resource & Economics: Xianru Han
- Animal & Avian Sciences: Akanksha Hada
- Environmental Science & Technology: Qianyao Si
- Plant Science & Landscape Architecture: Bhavit Chhabra
- Nutrition & Food Science: Aishwarya Rao
- veterinary Medicine: Anna Zimina
Outstanding Service to AGNR
- Academics: Katie Grow
- Community/Extension: Laura Jean Maher
- Research: Sarah Blackman
AGNR Outstanding Alumni Awards
Congratulations to our AGNR Outstanding Alumni Awards Winners! Lindsey Jacobs (Agriculture and Resource Economics), Agricultural Impact Award; Bret Bucci, (Animal Science), Rising Terp Award; Jessica Armacost (Agricultural Science & Technology), Distinguished Service Award; Meg Smoliski (Institute of Applied Agriculture), Community Engagement Award. We also recognized Liz O'Keefe-Markham her for 5 years as AGNR Alumni Network President!
AGNR Outstanding Alumni Award Winners
This year, we’re excited to recognize four outstanding alumni award recipients:
Meg Smoliski is the recipient of the 2024 Community Engagement Award! This award honors alumni who have made significant contributions to community service, civic engagement, and social responsibility, enriching the lives of individuals and communities through their dedicated efforts. Meg graduated with a certificate in Ornamental Horticulture in 2016 from the IAA and currently serves as the Outreach Coordinator for the UMD Arboretum. Since returning from parental leave in January 2020, she has developed the "Walk with an Arborist & Your Baby" program. This initiative encourages new parents to connect with each other and with nature in a supportive environment. Held at the Garden of Reflection & Remembrance at the Memorial Chapel, participants learn about trees and plants while enjoying the company of their newborns.
Lindsey Jacobs, a 2020 graduate in Agriculture and Resource Economics, is the 2024 Agricultural Impact Award recipient! This award recognizes alumni who have significantly advanced agricultural practices, innovation, or sustainability, making a notable impact on the agriculture industry and related communities. Lindsey is actively involved in various associations and serves on the board of the Maryland Hereford Association. She is also an active member of the AACo Fair Livestock Auction Committee and the current Ms. Agvocate USA Queen. Lindsey participates in the Howard County Fair, MD State Fair, and AACo Fair, and has represented the American Hereford Association Women at events like the Hereford Junior Nationals. She dedicates countless hours to supporting local 4-H youth and educating the public, all while managing her family farm, which has over 150 head of cattle.
Bret Bucci, a 2015 Animal Sciences alum, is the 2024 Rising Terp Award recipient! This award celebrates young alumni who have demonstrated exceptional achievement and leadership in their early careers, making significant contributions to their profession and community within the first ten years of graduation. Brett has built a robust career in the poultry industry, with experience spanning processing plants, live production, hatchery operations, and corporate planning. He also runs his own poultry farm, providing him with a unique perspective on the industry. In 2022, Brett was recognized by the International Production and Processing Expo (IPPE) as part of its Young Leaders "30 Under 30" program. In 2024, his family farm received a JumpStart Grant from Horizon Farm Credit, awarded to only 15 out of over 100 applicants to support young farmers. In his role as Live Production Planning Manager, Brett is responsible for coordinating the poultry supply chain and implementing innovative systems to improve operational efficiency.
Jessica Armacost, a 2008 Agricultural Science and Technology alum, is the 2024 Distinguished Service Award recipient! This award honors alumni who have shown exemplary service and leadership in their professional field, significantly contributing to the advancement of the agricultural, environmental, or related sectors. Jessica was hired as Baltimore County’s Agriculture Business Development Specialist in March 2023 and has since been instrumental in establishing the Baltimore County Office of Agriculture and the Baltimore County Agricultural Advisory Board. She has worked tirelessly with county leadership and stakeholders to provide essential agricultural business services and develop programs and services for the industry at the Baltimore County Agricultural Center. Jessica is a LEAD Maryland, Class XI fellow, and serves as the Baltimore County Agriculture Representative for numerous boards, committees, and groups.
Events
Check out our Events calendar for upcoming events!
Check In
Check in with us to share professional and personal accomplishments so we can highlight your successes! Shoutouts will be shared via social and print media.
Send your Shoutout
Meet the Alumni Network Board Members
Rebecka Tetter, Gabrielle Graham, Zach Jones, Jessica Armacost, Ryan McDonald, Katrina Stacey, Brian Glenn, Kerrin Massarueh, Ariel Bourne, and Doris Ihejirika.
Follow Us on Social Media
Make A Gift
Help further the college's strategic initiatives and fearless ideas through a gift to AGNR.
For information on how to become involved with the AGNR Alumni Network, please connect with Amanda Brown Clougherty, our alumni relations director, to make sure you stay connected to the college and are apprised of upcoming events and opportunities. She may be reached at akbrown@umd.edu