ABAC NAMA team ranks fourth in U.S. and Canada

Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College students earned national recognition earlier this year as the ABAC National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) team placed fourth overall in the NAMA Collegiate Marketing Plan Competition, competing against top collegiate programs from across the United States and Canada.

The event was held during the 2026 Agri-Marketing Conference, April 15-17, in St. Louis, Mo. The NAMA Collegiate Marketing Plan Competition is designed to prepare students for careers in agribusiness by providing a realistic marketing experience that mirrors the projects they will encounter in the profession.

For the Marketing Plan competition, the ABAC team developed MelonMulch, a hypothetical, biodegradable and bio-based mulch film made from unmarketable watermelon rinds. Designed to meet the National Organic Program's requirements for organic fruit and vegetable production, MelonMulch offers growers an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional plastic mulch while creating value from agricultural byproducts that would otherwise go to waste.

The project challenged students to develop a comprehensive marketing strategy, demonstrating both their business acumen and their understanding of the agriculture industry's evolving sustainability needs. See a summary of the team’s marketing plan at link.abac.edu/melonmulch.

“The ABAC NAMA team continues to impress me with their accomplishments,” said Jennifer Culpepper, lecturer and advisor for the ABAC Agripreneurs student organization. “The countless hours dedicated to the MelonMulch project proved fruitful when the team seamlessly executed their preliminary, semi-final, and final rounds of the competition. Proud is an understatement!”

The National Agri-Marketing Association is the premier professional organization for agricultural marketing professionals, serving more than 3,500 collegiate and industry members throughout the food and fiber sector. For more than 60 years, NAMA has provided educational opportunities and professional development that prepare students and professionals for successful careers in agribusiness.

“The NAMA competition represents one of the closest simulations to real-world agribusiness decision-making that students can experience. Our team’s performance demonstrates that ABAC students are not only prepared academically but are ready to step into the agricultural industry with the technical knowledge and professional skill sets needed to lead,” said Dr. Andrew Thoron, dean of ABAC's School of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Thoron said the national recognition reflects the strength of the college's agriculture programs and its commitment to preparing graduates for careers in the industry.

“This accomplishment sets a new standard for the School of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Competing and finishing fourth nationally at NAMA demonstrates that our programs are relevant and leading. It reinforces our commitment to academic excellence and positions ABAC as the premier destination where all agriculture roads lead,” Thoron said.

The ABAC students who competed in the 2026 NAMA Collegiate Marketing Competition and their area(s) of study are included below:

• Alex Callejas of Ashburn, Ga., Agribusiness
• Bailey Ellison of Eufaula, Ala., Agribusiness & Agricultural Technology Management
• Breanna Harris of Guyton, Ga., Agriculture Education
• Chloe Boatright of Baxley, Ga., Agribusiness & General Agriculture
• Emily Butler of Pembroke, Ga., Agribusiness & Agriculture - Livestock Production
• Hilton White of Moultrie, Ga., Agribusiness
• Lilly Canevari of Lake Placid, Fla., Agribusiness
• Rachel Wood of Rutledge, Ga., Agribusiness & Agricultural Communications
• Rachel Hughes of Baxley, Ga., Agribusiness
• William “Wheeler” Mitchell of Monroe, Ga., Agribusiness

The ABAC NAMA team is part of the School of Agriculture and Natural Resources and provides students with opportunities to develop professional skills, network with agribusiness leaders and apply classroom knowledge through national competitions and industry experiences.