Agricultural policy in the United States is historically bipartisan; however, undergraduate students increasingly perceive policies impacting agriculture through partisan lenses shaped by social media, family upbringing, and limited agricultural literacy. This gap leads students to oversimplify the complex interplay between policy and the agricultural industry or aligning issues with broader political narratives. Understanding how to equip students with skills for meaningful civil discourse is essential for developing informed future leaders and advancing agricultural literacy. This study explores how undergraduate students in a contemporary agricultural issues course perceive the relationship between policy and the agricultural industry through dialogue, perspective-taking, fact-based presentations, and curated podcasts. Through pre- and post-assessments, we measured shifts in students' perceived knowledge, confidence, and attitudes following participation in discussions surrounding both agricultural topics and current hot topics being discussed broadly across society. Findings reveal that while students are passionate about agricultural issues, many initially lacked deeper understanding of how policies influence agriculture. Their beliefs are heavily shaped by social media, family values, and emotionally charged content. This class environment increased their knowledge surrounding agricultural issues and broadly enhanced their understanding of current issues, equipping them with skills to engage in meaningful civil discourse. Post-intervention results showed growth in students' competence and confidence to engage in dialogue with peers holding conflicting viewpoints and practice perspective-taking. Students demonstrated increased knowledge about how to engage in these conversations, understanding of agricultural issues, and ability to recognize mental models behind differing stances. Additionally, students reported improved ability to identify credible media sources and develop well-balanced approaches to formulating opinions. By examining factors influencing student perspectives and their evolving media literacy skills, this research provides insights for enhancing educational approaches that equip future agricultural leaders with critical thinking and communication skills necessary to navigate policy complexities and engage in meaningful, evidence-based discourse.