While there’s plenty to fret about in the agriculture industry these days, you need only take one quick glance in our schools for a quick pick-me-up.
When someone says today’s kids are plugging into video games and shunning hard work, show them the hundreds of kids who work day and night to raise animals and practice showmanship skills.
When they say schools aren’t teaching kids about agriculture and where food comes from, tell them about the FFA chapters that are picking up the slack and opening young minds to the possibilities of a future in agriculture.
A future in ag doesn’t necessarily mean endless days outside in a field working with animals and crops (though that is labor of love worthy of the best men and women). What some people fail to realize is that the upcoming generations have options in their pursuit of a career in agriculture. There are paths that may mean less dirt under the nails and more time bent over microscopes. And while those jobs may not be as widely visible or appreciated when we #ThankAFarmer, they are just as crucial.
Agriculture is a field of growth, expanding through new technology and improved practices every day. To move forward, we need agricultural engineers, agronomists, food scientists, geneticists, chemists, breeders, ecological engineers, and so much more.
The future of agriculture isn’t strictly in the fields; it’s in the labs, the nurseries, the classrooms, academia, and the computer codes being written to improve harvest equipment.
JFK said it perfectly: “Children are the world’s most valuable resource and its best hope for the future.”
If you don’t see a bright future for farming, you’re looking for the wrong signs of growth.
This article is sponsored by Labor Solutions, and the opinions expressed herein may not reflect those of Central Florida Ag News or of its advertisers.BIO: Baxter Troutman is founder and chief executive officer of Labor Solutions, a staffing company with offices in Bartow, Winter Haven, Lake Wales, Arcadia, and Plant City. You also can visit his Dark Hammock Legacy Ranch online at www.DH-LR.com. A cattle rancher and citrus grower who served in the Florida House of Representatives, Troutman understands the challenges and concerns of today’s farmer.
