WHEN IT COMES to young people, you can’t teach them too much about agriculture and you can’t have too many of them getting into the business. Agriculture has so much to offer — rewarding careers; a good livelihood for families; personal fulfillment and enrichment; economic stimulation; and sustenance for our fellow man, both here and abroad.
This is why I applaud Warner University in Lake Wales for its recent investment in the agriculture industry through the launch of an agricultural program and establishment of a Bachelor of Arts degree in Agricultural Studies. A February 20 groundbreaking ceremony for the Warner Agriculture Complex was a very public and very positive development in the growth of this fledgling program.
It’s good to know that the students who pursue the Agriculture Studies major will learn about and gain experience in the business through field trips, internships, mentorships, special ag-related projects, and guest lectures by industry professionals.
We have so many great agriculture leaders in Central Florida. Combining their significant knowledge with high-quality classroom instruction at Warner will ensure that Polk County continues to produce the next generation of agricultural leaders.
The establishment of the Warner Agriculture Studies program is a great move for our county, for our state, and for the ag industry as a whole.
CREDIT
column by DON HARDEN
BIO: Donald Harden, the Relationship Manager for AgAmerica Lending, grew up in the cattle and citrus business, managing a family ranch of several thousand cattle and horses. He has more than 30 years of experience in the real estate business, and more than 20 years specializing in agricultural sales. Don has owned and operated farm and ranch supply stores, machinery auction companies, and farms. He has served as a director and on the board of the Cattlemen’s Association, as the manufacturer’s representative for ag equipment companies, and as a beef cattle specialist for a national feed company. He has traveled across the U.S. as a sales rep. conducting seminars and fostering long-lasting business relationships. Don enjoys his work at AgAmerica, as he has never met a stranger.
