Green Mountain students in agriculture class look to future

Since launching the program in August, Green Mountain Agriculture instructor Courtney Mayo has emphasized one point again and again to the more than 60 students in her classes: Not enough people are interested in agriculture.

“In the next five years there’s going to be around 60,000 jobs a year, but there are only 34,000 to 36,000 college graduates in agriculture programs,” she told her students on Dec. 17, the last day of the fall semester. “That means, for those who graduate with an agricultural degree, there will be two jobs waiting for you.”

To help her students take advantage of the wealth of opportunity and potential this situation creates, the semester’s final project required students to research agriculture careers or colleges and universities that offer a focus in agriculture or a related program.

“People think agriculture jobs are just cows, plows or sows, but that’s just not true,” Mayo said. “Most of the careers are in business or management and fields like that.”

The last day of class was an opportunity for students to hear all about the myriad choices ahead if they continue on the agriculture path.

Colleges that students examined ranged from local schools like Front Range Community College to nationwide options like University of Arizona, Harvard University and California Polytechnic State University. Students presented on all aspects of their schools, from history and fun facts to housing options, activities and program options. A special area of focus was cost and scholarship opportunities.

“As a community college, Front Range is open to everyone, and it offers a GED pathway for those who didn’t finish high school,” said Justin Walsh in his presentation. “I’m looking at getting an associate’s degree in welding, which is a good path for a good entry-level job.”

Possible career options included the expected and unexpected. Students presented on everything from machine operator, large animal veterinarian and veterinary technician to biosecurity specialist and environmental attorney. They covered potential careers from every possible angle, including educational requirements, salary ranges, benefits, challenges and transferrable skills.

Some commonalities across all careers included an educational background weighted toward science and math, teamwork, communication skills and decision-making. Some jobs were more hazardous than others, especially the ones that involve direct work with animals and chemicals.

“To be a veterinary technician, you need a variety of skills, including giving injections, and treating mental and physical problems in animals,” said Hannah Manzanares.

“You also need compassion,” added Isabella Smith, “because you need to be there for people when they’re going through something with their animal.”

Mayo hopes the projects give her students the chance to start planning ahead for a career in agriculture.

“I think they completely understand now that everything connects to agriculture,” she said. “Anything they want to do, they can find in agriculture. If we don’t take care of our agriculture, the whole world will be poorly run.”

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