Wisconsin Agricultural Education and Workforce Development Council Plants Seeds for Rewarding Careers
In partnership with: Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
Like many industries, agriculture is facing its share of worker shortages. To address this challenge head-on, in 2020 Gov. Tony Evers revived the Wisconsin Agricultural Education and Workforce Development Council, originally formed in 2007 to support what is now a $104.8 billion industry.
“At the heart of it all, the Council is focused on educating students from all backgrounds as to the many career opportunities available in agriculture, preparing those students with the education and training they need to succeed, and helping agricultural employers find, recruit and retain high-quality and hard-working employees,” says Council Chair Sara Schoenborn.
A joint project of the Wisconsin Departments of Workforce Development and Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, the revitalized Council brings together a diverse cross-section of experts, from nursery owners and food manufacturers to educators and journalists, to brainstorm and implement fresh ideas on how to get more young people interested in agriculture and open new pathways for training. “This group is dedicated to showing students, who arguably have more opportunities today than ever before, how special and rewarding it is to work in the agriculture industry,” Schoenborn says. “I believe the passion and commitment of the members of the Council is unparalleled. They are driving positive, lasting change.”
The Sky’s The Limit
The job possibilities are endless, Council members point out. “The sky’s the limit as far as opportunities go for young people who are looking for a career in agriculture in Wisconsin,” says Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Secretary Randy Romanski. “A career in agriculture could mean a lot of different things. It could be a farmer, an agronomist or somebody in transportation. There are so many ways to enter into the world of agriculture, so many different jobs that we need to be really clear what those opportunities are.”
Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Secretary Amy Pechacek agrees. “Agricultural jobs are very diverse,” Pechacek says. “Annually, about one in nine people working in Wisconsin hold a job related to agriculture. There are agricultural career opportunities across the supply chain, from production and transportation to processing and distribution.”
In early 2022, Evers announced a $5 million investment to attract students to meat processing training and careers. While the program didn’t originate with the new Council, Romanski says, “This initiative is one that could be replicated across the industry in various fields to develop education, connect employers with employees and support the long-term viability of Wisconsin agriculture.
“This Council makes a difference to students, employers and the agricultural community,” he adds. “I look at the Council as an advocate for employers and potential employees, using the educational and training programs as a way to connect potential employees and their future employers.”
See more: Wisconsin Community Kitchens Help Entrepreneurs Grow Food Businesses
Telling the Story
One major task of the restructured Council is to get the word out about available training, jobs and career opportunities students might not know about. It also hopes to appeal not only to students who grew up on farms but to those from nontraditional backgrounds.
“There are any number of stereotypes or assumptions about the agriculture industry, and we hope to break down each one,” Schoenborn says. “From farmers to agriculture businesses, we provide the world with food, fiber and fuel. And that is the story we need to tell.”
Council Goals
- Support agricultural education instructors and find effective ways to reach every student to highlight the opportunities available in agriculture in a positive, purposeful way.
- Partner with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to embrace and promote the development of a statewide agriculture pathway.
- Research current trends, evaluate established perspectives and develop a branding, marketing and public outreach plan for careers in agriculture.