Second Morrill Act 135th Anniversary Celebration
Baton Rouge, La. – August 30, 2025 marked the 135th anniversary of the signing of the Second Morrill Act of 1890. The Act, authored by Senator Justin Morrill of Vermont, established a land-grant university system of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in states where people of color were banned from accessing public higher education. Today, these institutions are known as the 1890 Land-grant Universities. Southern University is one of the nineteen1890 Universities.
A national celebration commemorating the 135th anniversary of the signing of the Second Morrill Act will be held in Washington, D.C. September 9 - 10, 2025. The celebration themed, “Celebrating Legacy, Growing Opportunities, Inspiring Innovation, and Uplifting Communities,” will include the following activities.
Launching the First HBCU-Led Cyber & AI Games in Agriculture
The first HBCU-Led Cyber and AI Games for Agriculture will be held on September 9, 2025. Hosted at the University of the District of Columbia, this groundbreaking event will challenge student teams to solve real-world agricultural cyber security scenarios.
Each 1890 university will send a team of five students and one faculty or staff coach. The competition will feature 25 food and agriculture-related challenges, snacks, awards, and potentially some notable guest appearances. Most importantly, it offers students hands-on exposure to the intersection of agriculture, artificial intelligence, and cyber defense.
Reception at the New Home of the National 4-H Council
A celebratory reception will be held at the new headquarters of the National 4-H Council. The reception will provide a space for attendees to connect, reflect, and celebrate the collective impact of 1890 institutions.
Amplifying the 1890 Story on Capitol Hill
The anniversary presents a timely opportunity to bring the 1890 story directly to members of Congress. University leaders will visit with their Capitol Hill delegations while in Washington, D.C.
19-Strong Legacy Pathway
A large-scale photography exhibit will tell the story of the 19-strong campuses’ impact on the following themes:
· Celebrating Legacy
· Growing Opportunities
· Inspiring Innovation
· Uplifting Communities
For additional information on the national celebration commemorating the 135thanniversary of the signing of the Second Morrill Act of 1890 visit the 1890 Foundation at, https://www.1890foundation.org.
