In collaboration with the Philadelphia (PA) County Cooperative Extension Service 4-H Program, MANRA initiated the first formal Junior MANRRS program in 1991. The initial Junior MANRRS group was composed of about 25 middle school youth (13-15 years of age) from African American, Asian American and Hispanic/Latino American heritage. The program began as a Big Brother/Big Sister mentoring relationship which paired MANRA members (mentors) with Philadelphia inner-city youth (mentorees-Junior MANRRS). The geographic separation between Philadelphia and University Park, PA, where MANRA is located, meant that most communication and interaction between mentors and mentorees was by mail and/or phone. An annual Junior MANRRS Conference/weekend hosted by MANRA was initiated to facilitate face-to-face interactions between mentors and mentorees.
Objectives of the Junior MANRRS program include the following:
1. To provide positive role models for Junior MANRRS members.
2. To promote and encourage the pursuit of educational and career development
opportunities by Junior MANRRS members.
3. To promote awareness of opportunities in agricultural and related sciences
among Junior MANRRS.
In 1994, MANRA initiated an annual Junior MANRRS essay contest. Essay topics focus on historical and current contributions of people of color to agricultural and related sciences. Composers of the winning papers receive trophies and certificates. Additionally, MANRA makes contributions to the Junior MANRRS club in the winnerÕs name to help to pay the expenses for them to send a delegation to the MANRRS Annual Career Fair and Conference.
The 'senior' original Junior MANRRS member, a 7th grader when the program began,
is now an applicant to enroll in an agricultural science major at Penn State
Fall 1997. MANRA members who participate in the Junior MANRRS program are also
rewarded. They receive opportunities to reach out to their younger brothers
and sisters and, through them, to maintain contact with their own roots.