AgWired

One topic that has been top of mind this year during AgCareers.com Food & Ag HR Roundtable – how to recruit and retain top notch talent into the ag industry. The “Finding Tomorrow’s Leaders session focused on how and when to begin working with youth and students to introduce both agriculture, but also introduce your company to them. Another untapped market: veterans.

The panel was moderated by Ashley Collins, AgCareers.com. She manages student outreach initiatives including student professional development in the workplace as well as corporate initiatives to help companies develop stronger student recruitment programs.

She was joined by Rod Hamilton, Christensen Farms; Dr. Constance Hargrave, Iowa State University who is the director of the SCIENCE BOUND program aimed at encouraging pre-college minority students to pursue degrees in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture and Math); and Dr. Pamala Morris with Purdue University.

Dr. Morris focuses on reaching out to youth and adults, especially minorities and those living in urban environments. She noted that it’s hard to sell “ag” but if you introduce the industry in another, hip way, such as through the environment, youth are not only open to learning about the industry, but excited about it. She is working on a pilot program called the “Environmental Revolution” that she hopes to launch throughout Indiana aimed at middle-school aged kids.

Hamilton stressed that states need to commit to keeping and adding ag classes and in Minnesota, they can now be used to fulfill science requirements.

One thing that all the panelists agreed upon: the industry really needs to step up its sizzle and showcase to youth why ag is hip.

Visit the AgCareers.com Ag & Food HR Roundtable photo album.

The agriculture industry would probably agree that they are a noble profession. But many on the outside don’t see it that way, especially students getting ready to emerge from college and have started their job search. Yet according to Dr. Scott Vernon, a professor in the Agricultural Education and Communication Department at Cal Poly State University in San Luis Obispo, California, the image of agriculture held by outsiders must change if the shortage of skilled candidates is going to be reversed.

Dr. Vernon spoke at AgCareers.com Ag & Food HR Roundtable, the largest event to date. He is the founder of “I Love Farmers, They Feed My Soul” movement, whose mission is to bring agriculture to youth living in urban areas. The industry, says Vernon, needs to begin engaging kids when they are young and continue the outreach through middle school, high school and into college. Kids who participate in these types of programs when they are young get hooked on ag and head to college to study in areas that will allow them to have a challenging and fun career in the industry.

Dr. Vernon says we need to show students the diversity within the industry. “We need to help them understand how they can take their talent or skill or love and passion and find a place in agriculture that we can use that talent, love and passion.” He also notes that in college, he finds that students are coming into the industry via their love of food, environment and business.

He said that while ag is a global industry and very complex, when you get down to it, it’s a people business. It’s all about people and the things they value and the connection to family. Dr. Vernon said that from an HR perspective, they need to understand how to tap into a student’s value system. He stresses if the industry “sells the sizzle,” they will come.

Listen to my interview with Dr. Scott Vernon here: Why Ag is a Noble Profession

Visit the AgCareers.com Ag & Food HR Roundtable photo album.