SPARK Program Helping Excite Youth About Ag

As the ag industry looks for the next generation of farmers, and to fill the many vacancies in the industry, WSU is hoping a new program can help.

Kari Sampson heads the Spark program and said it was created out of a meeting with the Washington State Tree Fruit Association.

“We just kept hearing a common theme about how many available positions were open within many of their companies and they had a desire to get the word out to not only local students but beyond.”

The Spark program was designed to showcase the wide variety and lucrative opportunities that exist in agriculture and that it’s much more than plowing fields or herding livestock.

The program works with students who grew up in agriculture to expand their vision, or those have never seen a farm and Sampson said their post-event surveys show it’s working.

“The students’ perception only turned more positive towards agriculture as well as towards pursuing potentially a four-year degree.”

Sampson said they are very open to working with more businesses and farms within the industry for the Spark program and to reach out to her through WSU’s CAHNRs school if you’re interested.

If you have a story idea for the Washington Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail krounce@cherrycreekradio.com.