Daniel Helsham, a 2022 master’s graduate of Texas Tech University’s Department of Agricultural Education & Communications, has been recognized as a Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE) Fellow. 

An Agriculture, Community & Natural Resources (ACNR) Division’s Media Specialist with American Samoa Community College (ASCC), Helsham will represent the organization’s Western region from 2024-2026. He is the first Samoan/ Pacific Islander SARE fellow and the first to be selected from any of the U.S. Pacific territories. American Samoa is a U.S. territory covering seven islands and atolls located in the South Pacific Ocean.

“Daniel is an incredibly driven and creative communicator,” said Erica Irlbeck, Davis College Associate Dean for Outreach & Engagement and Helsham’s master’s degree adviser. “He worked so hard while he was completing his master’s degree coursework, which he did completely from his home in American Samoa.”

SARE supports farmers, ranchers, researchers and educators who are improving the sustainability of U.S. agriculture, according to the SARE website. SARE Fellows is a two-year professional development experience that helps agricultural educators enhance their understanding of sustainable agriculture and build relationships with farmers and their communities. Participants learn through a series of training and networking opportunities that feature diverse sustainable farming and ranching operations nationwide.

“I am extremely honored and thankful for this opportunity to help our people by learning from the other program fellows and the sustainable agriculture experts in the different SARE regions,” noted Helsham on the Samoa News website. “Through this program, I believe we can gain valuable insights to help us address the critical food security issues faced by American Samoa, such as improving local food production and decreasing the territory’s heavy reliance on imported and processed food.”

Helsham’s work as an ASCC-ACNR Media Specialist involves developing media content and communications strategies to increase awareness and promote the importance of agriculture and natural resources within the community, reported the ASCC Press Office. He received a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from Chaminade University- Honolulu, and his master’s degree in agricultural communications from Texas Tech.

“We are excited to welcome these talented and dedicated individuals to the SARE Fellows program,” said SARE Associate Director Kristy Borrelli in a press release.  “They understand the current demands facing sustainable agriculture, and we are confident that they will make a significant impact on the field.”

CONTACT: Scott Burris, Chair, Department of Agricultural Education & Communications, Texas Tech University at (806) 834-8689 or scott.burris@ttu.edu

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