Ag Leaders Say Youth Organizations Are Vital For Future of Industry

Youth Ag organizations such as 4-H are crucial in developing future Ag leaders and agro business operators.  Ohio State University Vice President for Ag, Kathy-Anne Cress said, efforts must increase to expose 4-H students to agro sciences and research.

“Make sure that we're putting those young people back in to direct contact with the research and with the exciting dynamic field that the food and agriculture and environmental sectors represent.”

Cress notes one way to do this is by having the land grant universities that oversee 4-H create and expand models of work force development.  She believes in addition to assuring 4-H members are workforce ready, such time intensive programs could lend themselves to college credit or other educational credentials for participants.

“It's also a great way to pull them in to the food and Ag industry,” Cress said.  “That also could be a great ticket for us to reach in to the urban and suburban areas to be able to do that.”

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