Despite the gloomy weather at the Genesee County Fairgrounds, the bright futures of over 1,000 high school students from 30 school districts shone through during the GLOW With Your Hands Career Exploration event on September 24th. With over 70 businesses showcasing various trades, students from Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, and Wyoming Counties had the opportunity to explore many promising career paths. Cornell Cooperative Extension educators from the four-county region, and staff from Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development were on hand to make sure attendees know that agriculture has a place for all career interests.
And let them pet day-old calves…
Students soaking up career ‘moo’-tivation. Thank you to Stein Farms, LLC for loaning us their babies for the event.
“GLOW with your hands was a great way for us to bring awareness to Agriculture careers! We were able to talk with students in small groups to learn their interests and talk to them about career opportunities in agriculture. It’s opportunities like this that are critical to the future of agriculture”, Jennifer Schwab, 4-H & Ag in the Classroom Educator, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Livingston County.
Confident operators getting ready to plow into their future. Thank you to Monroe Tractor of Batavia for tractor demonstration.
From engineering and biotechnology to marketing and supply chain management, the diverse array of careers related to agriculture took center stage at the event. Students discovered that agricultural production relies on a skilled workforce across various trades to successfully bring products from concept to consumer. Topics like welding, animal health care, and data management sparked discussions, showcasing the multifaceted nature of the industry. Attendees learned how each of these roles plays a crucial part in the agricultural process—whether it’s ensuring the health and well-being of livestock, developing innovative technologies for crop production, or optimizing supply chains to deliver fresh products to market.
Participants getting fired up about welding a career in agriculture.
Promoting careers in agriculture to high school students is crucial for addressing the industry’s workforce needs and ensuring a sustainable future for food production. Many students are unaware of the diverse and rewarding opportunities that exist within agriculture, from cutting-edge technology roles to sustainable farming practices. By highlighting these career paths, we can inspire the next generation to consider agriculture as a viable and impactful career choice. As educators and agricultural professionals, it is our responsibility to share the compelling stories of innovation, environmental stewardship, and economic growth. By doing so, we can inspire students’ interests and passions, and guide them toward fulfilling careers in agriculture that not only benefit them personally but also contribute to the well-being of society as a whole.
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By Jay Canzonier, Cornell University. Permission granted to repost, quote, and reprint with author attribution.
The post Hands-on-Calf Event Showcases Careers In Agriculture appeared in The Ag Workforce Journal.
