No, a core part of attending an AFA experience is meeting new people and getting out of our comfort zone to expand our perspectives and connections. The roommate experience is a crucial part of this! 

A big part of the AFA experience is meeting new people and stepping out of your comfort zone. Having a roommate helps make this happen!  

The goal is to help students meet new people, expand perspectives, and build meaningful connections. 

Double-occupancy rooms also allow AFA to: 

• Keep the experience accessible: Lodging is covered by partners, and this approach helps manage financial and programmatic impacts responsibly. 

• Maximize participation: Sharing rooms allows AFA to welcome a greater number of students to the experience. 

• Provides built-in support: Roommates offer accountability and a friendly face throughout the experience. 

Over the years, this structure has sparked long-lasting friendships and ensures every student has at least one friendly face during the AFA Leaders Conference. Many students say their roommate becomes one of the most valuable connections from the AFA Leaders Conference. 

No. Students must remain in their assigned room. 

Room assignments help AFA maintain a safe and organized environment. For more information on this, please refer to the roommate policy.  

Unauthorized room changes will affect eligibility for future AFA programs. 

We separate our delegates into four tracks: freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors.  

The AFA Leaders Conference is designed for college freshmen through seniors, with programming tailored in the six core competency areas for each track developing professional success. 

• Track 1 (Freshmen): Builds core competencies for college and career success through curiosity and self-awareness. Students receive training in time management, goal setting, and career exploration in the agriculture and food industry 

• Track 2 (Sophomores): Explores interpersonal application of core competencies in teams and organizations. Students learn about communication, cultural awareness, relationship building, team leadership, and communicating personal values and strengths. 

• Track 3 (Juniors & Seniors): Prepares students for the global workplace. Focus areas include group collaboration, global leadership, systems thinking, personal financial management, cultural understanding, and transitioning to the workforce. 

• Track 4 (Seniors): A unique, interactive, participant-led experience that builds on previous tracks. Seniors focus on mastering core competencies and creating a plan for early career success, with discussion groups and participant-led facilitation adding depth to the experience. 

Students are selected through several pathways. 

• Approximately 150 students are pre-identified by leader and academic scholarship programs offered by AFA. 

• Remaining students are selected through an application process for corporate and university sponsorship applications through AFA and its partners. 

Have questions or need support with your application? Contact the AFA Program Team.

AFA has a responsibility to its partners that delegates will fully participate in the program to be the best stewards of their investment. Therefore, students who are unable to attend the entire AFA Leaders Conference may have to forego sponsorship or face repercussions such as loss of an academic scholarship.  

Students who cannot attend the full conference should contact AFA as soon as possible to discuss their options.

Each year, the AFA Leaders Conference brings together: 

• 850+ college students from across the country 

• 300+ industry leaders serving as speakers, exhibitors, guests, or discussion leaders 

Absolutely! AFA works to strengthen our relationship with more and more colleges and universities each year. 

AFA can support students by: 

• Providing an absence request letter 

• Contacting faculty when appropriate 

• Working with campus partners

  Students should reach out to the program team for assistance as soon as they become aware of a conflict. 

  As much as possible, we try to avoid a situation where a student has to forego the AFA opportunity (see the question on attendance) because of an academic conflict. 

Policies vary by institution. AFA has established relationships with many campuses, and the AFA Leaders Conference is often recognized as a sanctioned university event. 

AFA can provide an absence request letter for prior commitments, such as class or work; however, students are responsible for coordinating directly with their professors regarding attendance. 

Please email us here to request an absence request letter for the AFA Leaders Conference.

Your sponsorship does not include: 

• Transportation to/from the conference 

• Snacks or beverages outside scheduled meals

• Hotel gratuities 

• Other miscellaneous expenses 

AFA Leaders Conference registration, valued at $1,250, is covered by AFA partners and includes lodging, meals, internet, and all program costs for the 3½-day experience. 

Please visit our cancellation policy here. 

AFA Scholarship 
An academic scholarship that includes sponsorship to attend the AFA Leaders Conference. Recipients are selected through Community Partners or as AFA National Leaders and Academic Scholars. 

Conference Sponsorship 
Support is awarded to those who apply and are selected to attend the AFA Leaders Conference through any other avenues – corporations, colleges or universities, an intern employer, a local community donor, etc.