Production farming and ranching are the backbone of agriculture. But behind the farmer and rancher arE people in many different kinds of work providing support for those who produce our food and fiber. There are the truckers who drive the products to processing plants. There are people who work in the processing plants, turning crops into products to be sold in the grocery store. There are the grocers and the people who run warehouses where the products are stored. Even before the farmer gets to work, there are sCientists and engineers in many fields doing the research needed to produce the best crops, provide the best care for farm animals, provide the best equipment and more.
There are careers in agriculture for all education levels and all interests, for those who want to work outdoors and those who prefer working inside, at a computer, for those who like working with their hands and those who enjoy research, for those who like working with people and those who prefer working alone. You don’t have to have a college degree for many of the rewarding careers in agriculture. Some require just a high school degree or a two-year associate degree.
If you like math, you might consider a career in agricultural finance. Farmers and ranchers need basic math knowledge as well, to keep track of their herds, crops and their finances. If you like science, agricultural research might be the career for you. Agricultural research covers every area of scientific research, from biology to earth science, to physics and more.
IF you like social studies, you might get involved in public policy related to agriculture or you might pursue geography and the exciting field of geospatial positioning systems. There are even careers in agriculture for those whose favorite subjects are art or English. Artists are needed to design packaging and promotional materials. Writers are needed to communicate the advantages of different products or to keep the public informed about our food system.
The possibilities are endless and are changing rapidly. Preparing for any career means acquiring knowledge in a broad range of school subjects. Most careers require effective communication, including speaking and writing. Most Careers require knowledge of basic math and scientific principles.
In addition to knowledge gained through the classroom, skills are also important for achieving success. Working with other people may not be a subject for classroom study, but it is essential in the working world. Everyone has different skills. There are some things you do better than your friends and some things they do better than you. Skills employers want include the ability to multi-task, the ability to communicate, the ability to work with others, the ability to work with computers, and skills specific to the job.
Albert Einstein said “Education is not the learning of facts. It’s rather the training of the mind to think.” This is true of training for your career. Because everything is changing so quickly, the best preparation is learning how to learn and how to find the information you need when you need it.
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