Economics Ph.D. candidate Annaliese Winton named Farm Foundation® 2023 Agricultural Scholar

Annaliese Winton, a fourth-year Ph.D. candidate in the John E. Walker Department of Economics, has been named 2023 Agricultural Scholar by Farm Foundation, an accelerator of practical solutions for agriculture.

“I am honored to have been selected as a 2023 Agricultural Scholar. I am thankful to the Farm Foundation and the United States Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service for providing this immersive opportunity,” Annaliese said.

This year-long program is offered in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Economic Research Service (ERS). Each year, up to 15 applied or agricultural economics graduate students are selected from across the nation as Agricultural Scholars. The program consists of a series of events and conferences in addition to mentorship from a senior analyst at the USDA’s ERD. Its purpose is to train and inspire future agricultural economists.

“Ag Scholars has become the flagship in our suite of NextGen programs, providing a wealth of transformative experiences for these promising agricultural economists,” said Martha King in a recent report from AGDAILY. Martha King is vice president of programs and projects at Farm Foundation. “We are grateful to ERS for their continued partnership in this effort and look forward to all this year’s cohort will do and achieve.”

Annaliese began her graduate studies at Clemson University after receiving a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Towson University. She is pursuing a Ph.D. in Economics, specializing in agricultural, environmental and natural resource economics. Topics of particular interest to Annaliese include sustainable agricultural intensification, climate adaptation and risk management.

Her research explores the role of information in climate adaptation through agricultural and environmental applications. These applications utilize distinct information channels to examine the regional drivers of irrigation adoption and the capitalization of hurricane risk in residential housing markets.

“The events scheduled throughout the year will enable me to connect with industry leaders, farmers, and agricultural economists throughout the nation and will give me extensive insight into the agricultural sector. The hands-on experiences offer a perspective that will complement my graduate education,” Annaliese said. “Additionally, the program pairs student scholars with Economists at the USDA who serve as mentors throughout the year. The mentorship I will receive from the USDA’s Economic Research Service will assist me in identifying and developing research ideas that address current and future issues in agriculture, particularly those related to climate change and water scarcity.”

Learn more about the Farm Foundation Agricultural Scholars Program.