Exploring Agriculture Education Career Paths

At some point in your life, chances are someone has asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” With all kinds of possibilities available, it’s OK if answering (or even thinking about) this question is overwhelming. However, determining your next step doesn’t have to be difficult. Start by identifying where your passions and interests lie. A career in agricultural education may be right for you. Agriculture educators teach students about agriculture, food and natural resources. These subjects help students develop a wide variety of skills, including science, math, communications, leadership, management and technology. This article explores the diverse and rewarding career paths available through agricultural education, providing insights for students, recent graduates, and anyone interested in shaping the future of the agricultural industry.

The Importance of Agricultural Education

Agriculture Career Cluster concentrates on scientific advancement of agriscience, cultivation, processing, and distribution of agricultural products, employing advanced technologies and sustainable practices to optimize global food systems. This Cluster also supports other plant- and animal-based industries including regenerative agriculture, sustainable logging, and fisheries. This Cluster has meaningful connections with the Energy and Natural Resources Cluster, highlighting a symbiotic relationship that emphasizes stewardship and resilient communities.

Agriculture education is vital for several reasons:

Addressing the National Shortage: A national shortage of agriculture educators exists at the secondary level. It is estimated that there will be hundreds of unfilled positions across the United States each year, simply because not enough students are choosing to be agriculture educators.
Developing Essential Skills: Agriculture education helps students develop a wide variety of skills, including science, math, communications, leadership, management and technology.
Shaping the Future of Agriculture: By educating students about agriculture, food, and natural resources, agricultural educators play a crucial role in shaping the future of the agricultural industry.

Career Paths in Agricultural Education

Agricultural Education graduates are the leaders, teachers, and communicators for the agricultural industry. Our students combine their passion for agriculture and their talents working with people to lead and teach the next generation of agriculturalists.

Teaching Positions

While most graduates will pursue school-based Agricultural Education teaching positions in Minnesota or surrounding states, some may pursue related career paths. All graduates in Agricultural Education will complete a 12-week teaching internship to qualify for a Minnesota teaching license in grades 5-12 Agricultural Education and Coordinator of Work-Based Learning. Graduates leave the University of Minnesota prepared to teach agriscience, agribusiness, animal science, horticulture, food science, agricultural mechanics, and natural resource science.

Agricultural Teacher/FFA Advisor: Many of our graduates live in work in rural Missouri communities as the Agriculture teacher/FFA Advisor.

Related Career Paths

Graduates of Agricultural Education are hired for a variety of careers, as employers seek our graduates for their broad-based knowledge of agriculture and their ability to develop/work with people. Agricultural Communications and Leadership graduates find careers in agricultural businesses, agricultural communications and marketing firms, commodity organizations, governmental agriculture organizations, and University of Missouri Extension. Popular careers include Public Relations Specialist, Strategic Communications Specialist, Sales manager, Workforce Development trainer, commodity organization representative, governmental agriculture specialist, and Youth Specialist.

Educational Requirements and Licensure

In order to be recommended for your Minnesota 5-12 agricultural education and coordinator of work based learning teaching licenses, you must successfully complete these licensure requirements (Google Document). This major is designed to prepare students for Agricultural Education careers. Students may graduate from this program with a minimum 2.00 overall GPA, but a minimum 2.50 overall GPA is required for recommendation for Minnesota teaching licensure. All required courses in the major must be taken A-F with grades of C- or better; students who receive a grade below C- in a major course must repeat the course. Major course work is defined as all required courses listed in each major program including specialization courses, track courses, concentration courses, professional courses, and writing courses. The only courses not included in this policy are free electives and courses taken beyond those in the major coursework to satisfy liberal education requirements.The major requires a broad study of agriculture, including plant science (horticulture, agronomy, plant pathology, and entomology), animal science, natural resources, soils, economics and agribusiness, agricultural mechanization, food science, foundations of education, foundations of agricultural education, and two semesters of field experience. Program requirements for Ag Ed can be found here.

Undergraduate: Apply and teach agricultural, food, and natural resource sciences during field experiences in schools. Develop communication, critical thinking, and interpersonal skills. Help meet the demand for school-based agricultural education teachers that is expected to increase in the future, both in Minnesota and across the United States.
Master of Science: Graduate with an undergraduate degree such as agricultural communication & marketing, animal science, or natural resources, and complete this program to become licensed to teach agricultural education.

Opportunities for Students and Recent Graduates

USDA offers employment opportunities for students and recent graduates to work in the agricultural, science, technology, math, environmental, management, business, and other fields.

USDA Pathways Program

The USDA offers federal internship and employment opportunities for current students, recent graduates, recent veterans, and those with advanced degrees. There are three pathway opportunities. The Pathways Internship Program provides year-round paid work experiences for current degree-seeking high-school, undergraduate, and graduate students. Interns may work during the summer, fall, spring or year-round and are eligible for non-competitive conversion upon program completion. The Pathways Recent Graduates Program is for graduates within two years of degree or certificate completion, and for veterans within 6 years of obtaining a degree. Fellows are placed in a one-year career development program that may be non-competitively converted upon completion of program requirements. The Presidential Management Fellows Program is the flagship leadership development program for advanced degree candidates. In addition to salary and benefits, fellows earn a two-year appointment that may be converted to a permanent appointment.

USDA Scholarship Programs

1890 National Scholars Program: As a partnership between USDA and the 1890 historically black land-grant colleges and universities, the USDA 1890 National Scholars Program provides full tuition, fees, books, room and board to selected students pursuing a bachelors degree in agriculture, food, natural resource sciences, or related academic disciplines at one of 19 designated 1890s land-grant universities. When the student has completed the academic and summer work requirements of the scholarship, USDA may at its discretion convert the student to a permanent employee without further competition.
1994 Tribal Scholars Program: The USDA 1994 Tribal Scholars Program seeks to increase the number of American Indian and Alaska Native students studying agriculture, food, natural resource sciences, and related disciplines. Eligible students are those that plan to attend and are enrolled, currently attend, or recently graduated from a Tribal College or University. The program provides full tuition, employment, housing or a living stipend, employee benefits, fees, and books each year for up to 4 years to selected students at one of 35 federally recognized Tribal Colleges and Universities and continuing at other higher education institutions.

USDA Youth and Volunteer Programs

American Climate Corps: As part of historic efforts to combat climate change, advance environmental justice, and build the clean energy economy, USDA is excited to announce its participation in the American Climate Corps. The American Climate Corps (ACC), is a groundbreaking, workforce training and service initiative that will prepare tens of thousands of young people for good-paying jobs in the clean economy and for climate resilience. In year one, American Climate Corps will put more than 20,000 young people on career pathways in the growing fields of clean energy, conservation and climate resilience.
Forest Service Job Corps: The Forest Service Job Corps is a residential career training program for young people ages 16 to 24 to conserve the nation’s natural resources while helping them complete their high school education, train them for meaningful careers, and assist them with obtaining employment.
Indian Youth Service Corps: The Indian Youth Service Corps (IYSC) is a Department of the Interior (DOI) initiative designed to engage Native youth in meaningful public service projects on federal and Tribal lands for the benefit of Native communities. Participants engage in projects related to natural resources; parks and recreation; environmental conservation and restoration; infrastructure and construction; energy; and a broad range of cultural, historic, and archaeological resources. These projects provide education, employment, and training to Native American and Alaska Native individuals ages 16-30 (or veterans up to the age of 35) and can serve as an invaluable community resource and hiring pipeline to careers in several critical fields.
Public Lands Corps: The Public Lands Corps provides meaningful, paid work experience for young adults between 16 and 30 to advance conservation and stewardship of public lands through wildfire risk reduction, trails and recreation management, habitat restoration, research, visitor services, and more, developing skills necessary to join the next generation of conservation leaders.
Resource Assistants Program: The Resource Assistants Program (RAP) is a rigorous, immersive, paid internship for individuals 17 years and older who are interested in natural and cultural resources careers. Forest Service staff to complete mission-critical projects that develop leadership, critical thinking, and strategic communication skills.
Youth Conservation Corps: Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) is a summer youth employment program that engages young people, ages 15 to 18, in meaningful work experiences in national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, and fish hatcheries. Youth are engaged in fun, exciting work projects designed to develop an ethic of environmental stewardship and civic responsibility. Projects include building and repairing trails; preserving and repairing historic buildings; removing invasive species; helping with wildlife and land research; and leading environmental education.
Conservation Corps: Forest Service, diverse teams of 18-26 year-olds work under the direction of one team leader and complete the service term living and serving together. Participants perform direct, hands-on service in the areas of wildfire risk mitigation, reforestation, environmental conservation, and resource management. Forest Service to prepare for the service projects, taking on leadership roles and specialized assignments along the way. Learn and grow with a team of your peers and get a foot in the door to work environmental conservation as a career.

Third-Party Internship Programs

USDA partners with a wide variety of organizations to provide students the opportunity to work with our 29 agencies and offices and gain practical experience in different fields. Each of these programs provide differing benefits for students. Recruitment and selection are completed by the host programs.

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HEP/CAMP Internship Program: USDA offers a paid 10-week internship program for students from migrant and farmworker backgrounds. Interns will gain work experience and learn about career opportunities available within USDA while working at USDA headquarters in Washington, D.C. The program is run in partnership with the National HEP/CAMP Association, comprised of universities, colleges, and nonprofit organizations that administer a High School Equivalency Program (HEP) and/or a College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP). Participating interns will be current or former participants of HEP and/or CAMP programs at their respective institutions. This internship program is administered by USDA’s Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE). Eligible students are current CAMP students, alumni, and HEP graduates attending a post-secondary institution.
Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities National Internship Program: The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) is a nonprofit organization that advocates on behalf of Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) representing more than 500 member institutions across the United States. The HACU National Internship Program places students in federal and corporate internships. USDA has partnered with the HACU for more than 28 years to provide over 3,000 college students with paid spring, summer, or fall internships at various USDA offices in Washington, D.C. as well as field offices. The program gives undergraduate and graduate students valuable professional experience in the federal sector.
Thurgood Marshall College Fund Internship Program: TMCF supports students in the fields of science, technology, engineering, agricultural, mathematics, and business at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. This program accepts undergraduate students with at least a sophomore standing, graduate, and professional students. Applicants must maintain at least a 3.0 GPA with strong verbal and written communication skills.
Wallace-Carver Fellowship Program: Working with the World Food Prize, USDA offers college students the opportunity to collaborate with scientists and policymakers through paid fellowships at USDA research centers and offices across the United States. Fellows help analyze agricultural and economic policy; assist in the management of food, nutrition and rural development programs; and take part in groundbreaking field and laboratory-based research. Fellows also participate in a weeklong symposium hosted by the USDA in Washington, D.C. Named for Henry A. Wallace and George Washington Carver, two of American leaders in agricultural science and policy who made significant strides toward ending hunger, the Wallace-Carver Fellowship seeks to educate, inspire, and train the next generation of agricultural leaders.
Mayor Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program: The Mayor Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program is a locally funded initiative that provides District of Columbia youth ages 14 to 24 with enriching and constructive summer work experiences in the private and government sectors. Eligible youth will have the opportunity to earn money and gain meaningful work experience; learn and develop the skills, attitudes and commitment necessary to succeed in today’s world of work; and gain exposure to various career industries.

Career Development Programs

These programs offer participating students opportunities for professional growth and career exploration by providing opportunities to develop their skills through real-world experiences at USDA agencies and increase their professional network and awareness of careers at USDA and the agricultural sector.

Agricultural Scholars: The Farm Foundation Agricultural Scholars program engages graduate student scholars working in agricultural economics or related agricultural policy work with a year-long series of learning experiences focused on gaining a deeper understanding of production agriculture, agribusiness, and government, in hopes of inspiring and training the next generation of agricultural economists interested agricultural policy, commodity market analysis, agricultural finance, and other applied fields of economics.

Other Programs

NextGen Program: USDA made a historic $262.5 million investment in 2023 in over 60 minority-serving institutions across the United States and Insular Areas to recruit, train, and retain the next generation of leaders in food, agricultural, natural resources and human sciences fields.
Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates: The Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates (REEU) Program Area Priority promotes experiential learning opportunities for undergraduate students at two- and four-year institutions such that upon graduation they may enter the agricultural workforce with exceptional skills. This grant program allows colleges and universities to design paid internships programs that provide undergraduate students with research and extension/outreach opportunities components in the food and agricultural sciences. Each project funded has its own timeline, disciplines supported, and selection process.

Success Stories: FFA Alumni in Agriculture

AgExplorer. Although their backgrounds and experiences differ, they all share a common thread: FFA helped them find their futures in agriculture.

Kelsey (Wright) Duinkerken: After graduating from California Polytechnic State University with a degree in agricultural science and minors in agricultural business and agricultural communications, the Morro Bay FFA Alumna and 1995-96 California FFA state reporter began working as the cooperative’s marketing coordinator. “I have the privilege of supporting my team through challenges and wins,” says Wright, who also received an American FFA Degree. “There are so many opportunities in this field, and we need smart leaders now more than ever,” she says.
Sheila (Weninger) Jaeckel: Reflecting on her time as a Hartford FFA member in Wisconsin, Sheila (Weninger) Jaeckel says there isn’t one experience that stands out to her the most. “Additionally, being a chapter officer taught me how to work with others and delegate tasks,” Jaeckel says. Jaeckel attended Fox Valley Technical College, where she completed an associate’s degree in agribusiness science and technology with a focus on agronomy, and earned a technical diploma as a precision agriculture technician. “I highly recommend trying out a career path through an internship or job shadowing experience,” Jaeckel says. Jaeckel’s favorite part of her current job is that no two days at Ballweg Implement are the same. “I love seeing people’s reactions when they learn how to use new technology for the first time,” she adds.
Garrett Vetick: “I love the breadth of my job and working with people in rural communities,” Vetick says. Following high school, Vetick attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he studied agricultural economics and agribusiness entrepreneurship. Today, he helps improve all aspects of the design, construction and management of livestock facilities. This includes exploring new technologies and evaluating the environmental, economic and social sustainability practices of farming operations. “If someone would’ve told me five years ago where I’d end up, I probably wouldn’t have believed them,” he says.
Milton Sabat González-Serrano, Ph.D.: Milton Sabat González-Serrano credits his Su Manual Ruiz Gandía FFA advisor, Agro. The 2012-13 Puerto Rico FFA state president, 2017 national FFA officer nominating committee member and American FFA Degree recipient is currently pursuing a Ph.D. During his time at the Ohio State University, González-Serrano has mentored more than 15 undergraduate and high school students in the Dr. In addition to mentoring, one of the many things González-Serrano enjoys about working in this field is its dynamic nature. After completing his Ph.D. “From developing drought-resistant crops to improving food nutrition and reducing environmental impacts, biotechnology is transforming agriculture,” he says. “This field combines biology, engineering and environmental science.
Matthew Baxter: In high school, Matthew Baxter competed in every FFA Career Development Event (CDE) he could get his hands on. Livestock evaluation and land judging were his favorite CDEs, but he also tried dairy cattle evaluation and range judging. “I’d also encourage my younger self to run for a chapter office because I’ve seen the value in this experience through serving on local and state FFA alumni boards,” Baxter says. Baxter, who’s been in his current role for more than 16 years, completed a nine-month welding course at Fort Hays Tech North Central. “If you’re looking for a career where you can use your hands to physically build or create something and make a good living for yourself, this pathway is definitely the way to go,” Baxter says.

Alternative Career Paths in Agriculture

Farmer/Grower

As a farmer or grower, you will produce food in a variety of outdoor environments, such as a farm or nursery. You may work with fruit and vegetables or animals such as cattle or poultry. Farm work is physically demanding, often requiring long days in all types of weather, but it is very rewarding to raise fresh produce from seed or animals from birth. Farmers generally produce crops, livestock, or dairy products either organically or conventionally. They care about providing high-quality and nutritious food, connecting with their community and working outdoors, and many use sustainable practices to build soil health. There are opportunities for farmers in both rural and urban areas, and there are many financial incentives for beginning, minority, veteran, or women farmers. This career path can take many different forms but tasks generally include managing the land, caring for crops, animal husbandry, and maintenance and repair.

Vegetable farm: grow one crop, such as corn, while other types of farms diversify and produce many different crops and varieties of fruits and vegetables.
Orchard or fruit farm: maintain one or more types of fruit; some types like citrus and nut trees and blueberry bushes will produce for many years under good care and management.
Aquaculture: raise or catch animals that live in water, such as a seafood or crawfish farm.

For farmers and growers, relevant experience is often more important than higher education. One way to gain experience is by working on a farm for a growing season to receive observational and hands-on training. Some farmers are born into the family business and receive training from a young age, while others complete apprenticeship programs over the course of a few growing seasons to gain enough experience to move from an entry-level farmhand to a higher-level management position. Along with on-farm training or other forms of gardening or animal husbandry experience, an associate’s or bachelor’s degree from a land grant institution like Louisiana State University is helpful, especially if you want to own a farm business. Some relevant majors include agricultural business and economics, farm management, dairy science, animal science, horticulture, and organic farming.

Agriculture Career Cluster Sub-Categories

Agriscience: Careers focused on the economic aspects of agriculture, encompassing farm and rangeland management, agribusiness finance, international relations, supply chain management, and other functions that are essential for agricultural profitability.
Agricultural Technology: Careers at the intersection of agriculture and technology, focusing on the design and operation of agricultural equipment and systems; repair and maintenance of agricultural equipment; and agricultural engineering, mechanics, and automation processes. This Sub-Cluster includes innovative farming methods such as precision, urban, and vertical farming to increase efficiency, productivity, and sustainability in agriculture.
Animal Systems: Careers that both promote the health and well-being of animals, including companion, livestock, and exotic animals, and facilitate the efficient production of animal-related products within the food system. For livestock and poultry, professionals in this field aim to optimize the production of meat, dairy, eggs, and other animal products. Careers in this field also include veterinary and other services to manage the care, breeding, behavior, enrichment, and management of animals.
Food Products and Processing Systems: Careers centered on applying scientific and technological principles to the development, enhancement, processing, and usability of agricultural food products. Professionals in this field work with fruit, vegetable, grain, and meat processing, ensuring that these products are nutritious and safe for consumption. This Sub-Cluster is crucial in maintaining quality control and nutritional value, enhancing product freshness, and meeting consumer and regulatory standards.
Plant Systems: Careers involving the study and management of plant growth, soil health, and pest management, focusing on sustainable crop production for both food and goods.
Water Resources: Careers centered on the effective management and use of water resources in agricultural settings, including precision irrigation, aquaculture, and fisheries. Professionals in this field are dedicated to maximizing water efficiency and productivity in farming operations to enhance crop yield and support sustainable fish farming practices.

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