East Texas A&M University students are gaining hands-on research and leadership experience through the Experiential Learning Leadership Initiative (ELLI) at the Twin Oaks Farm for Experiential Learning.

The program, led by Dr. Grace Ogden and Dr. Maggie Salem in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, was launched with support from a $4000 Honors College grant to pilot the student-centered initiative for one year. Since funding began in June 2025, the program has engaged 12 students in research, professional development and community outreach activities at Twin Oaks.

Through ELLI, students design and conduct research projects related to agriculture, sustainability and community food systems while gaining practical experience in farming.

“Since ELLI began just seven months ago, we've trained 12 students at Twin Oaks,” Ogden said. “Training has ranged from regenerative farming practices, to operating equipment, to public speaking and community outreach methods. Our program equips students with not only knowledge, but the applied, hands-on skills needed for them graduate career ready and be leaders in the workplace.”

Several students are currently conducting independent research projects at Twin Oaks.

Student projects include:

• Cailan Long – Studying alternative fertilizers for green bean production, including “rabbit tea,” an organic fertilizer made from rabbit manure that is popular among small-scale organic growers.
• Viviane Tuttle – Designing floating gardens for small-grain production to explore ways of growing food in traditionally non-arable spaces while improving water quality.
• McKenzie Thummel and Zion Palmer – Evaluating methods to establish native species on reclaimed land at Twin Oaks, focusing on eastern gamagrass and green milkweed to prevent erosion and promote biodiversity.
• Mimi Do – Researching community perceptions of locally grown produce in Commerce while working with Goshen Gardens to develop a compost system that supports local food production.

“The Honors College Challenge Grant program was created to support faculty and students who are designing ambitious, hands-on learning experiences that connect ideas to real-world challenges,” said Dr. Erin Webster Garrett, dean of the Honors College. “Projects like the work at Twin Oaks Farm reflect the kind of transformative learning we want to foster at ETAMU—bringing students together across disciplines to explore complex problems like sustainable agriculture while developing the collaborative and problem-solving skills that will serve them long after graduation.“