Professional News

UK Ag Economist Completes AAAS Fellowship

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 17, 2013) — Ani Katchova, an associate professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of Kentucky, recently completed a fellowship awarded by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). 

Through the  AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellowship, Katchova worked as an AAAS fellow and visiting scholar at the Economic Research Service at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C.

The AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships provide an opportunity for scientists to learn about policy making while contributing their knowledge and analytical skills to the federal government. The fellowship classes, now more than 250 fellows annually, are competitively selected based on their qualifications and interest in applying their technical knowledge at the intersection of science and policy. 

“The AAAS Fellowship provided by ERS allowed me to work on policy-relevant research addressing the needs of young and beginning farmers,” Katchova said. “I am grateful to ERS for hosting me and providing the opportunities to network and collaborate with colleagues at ERS and other agencies in Washington.”

Katchova’s research as an AAAS fellow concentrated on farm transitions, defined as transferring the farm business from one generation to the next, and changes over the farmer life cycle. Her findings inform policymakers about the strategies that young and beginning farmers use to start their businesses and expand them over time. Research was also conducted to determine the entry and exit rates into agriculture informing the public policy goal of bringing more farmers into agriculture. Her research has been presented as briefings and seminar presentations to various agencies and offices at USDA. 

Katchova participated in many professional development events organized by AAAS.  She was a member of the USDA’s Know Your Farmer Know Your Food Task Force. She also had the opportunity to attend seminars, network, and interact with the House and Senate Committees on Agriculture, PCAST and CEA, NSF, COPAFS, C-FARE, IFPRI and the Farm Foundation.

“The AAAS Fellowship was an educational and professionally fulfilling experience. I have been able to bring my Washington policy experience back to UK, and to the citizens of Kentucky," Katchova said.

MEDIA CONTACT:  Carl Nathe, 859-257-3200; carl.nathe@uky.edu.