One of the best fields for new college graduates is agriculture according to the United States Department of Agriculture. “Nearly 60,000 high-skilled agriculture job openings (are) expected annually in (the) United States, yet only 35,000 graduates (are) available to fill them.”
In a May, 2015 news release Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said, “There is incredible opportunity for highly-skilled jobs in agriculture. Those receiving degrees can expect to have ample career opportunities. Not only will they be likely to get well-paying jobs upon graduation, they will also have the satisfaction of working in a field that addresses some of the world’s most pressing challenges. These jobs will only become more important as we continue to develop solutions to feed more than 9 billion people by 2050.”This USDA report also states “women make up more than half of the food, agriculture, renewable natural resources, and environment higher education graduates in the United States.”
Jack Wiley, Associate Dean of Career and Technical Education at Trinidad State who also directs the agricultural program there said, “There are no barriers between males and females. Corporations are simply looking for bright well-trained people. The family farm is rapidly disappearing. Farmland is increasingly controlled by corporations and corporations need people to manage their farmland. They will require that little piece of paper that indicates a degree was earned. The biggest thing to me is a good work ethic,” said Wiley. “Across the board, dependable workers are needed.”
Alex Knapp who writes about the future of science, technology and culture predicts Agricultural Engineers will be one of “The Top Majors for the Class of 2022.” They will be needed to “develop better and more sustainable ways to grow food to meet the needs of the world.”
Students can start preparing early.
Trinidad State concurrent agricultural classes will be offered again to Centauri, Del Norte, Sargent and Sangre de Cristo schools this fall. With three young female students interested in agriculture at Centennial High School in San Luis, ag classes will be offered there as well. Concurrent classes are college courses taken while in high school with credits counting for both high school and college. Most Valley high schools offer concurrent classes now. Wiley said there is no reason high school students cannot complete a year of college courses before they graduate from high school. With most high schools paying the tuition for concurrent classes, this represents a considerable savings.
Sam (Samantha) Smartt, a 2014 Trinidad State agriculture graduate, is using her education
as a base from which to expand. She now works in the lab and greenhouse on the family
farm, raises blue roan horses, and inspects canola and barley fields for Colorado
State University – all of which have been enhanced by her ag degree. In fact, because
of her degree, she did not have to go to Colorado State University in Fort Collins
to train but was permitted to train locally. She finds every facet of her farm experience
to be interesting and loves being part of the family farm. Earning her degree was
“so worth it,” said Smartt. “We had a lot of hands on learning and that’s how I learn
best.” She is well equipped to talk farming with her farmer husband.
Another 2014 Trinidad State agriculture graduate, Katrina Hartzell, is a senior at Adams State University and is working on a double major in agribusiness and accounting. She wants to start a small farm business next year. “The Trinidad State ag classes have complemented what I’m learning at Adams rather well. I also appreciated the hands-on and real world applications taught in the classes. I will always value the education I received at TSJC,” said Hartzell.
Agriculture classes offered by Trinidad State include: Ag Finance, Ag Marketing, Agronomy, Animal Science, Economics, Farm and Ranch Management, Feeds and Feeding, Horticulture, Irrigation, Livestock Selection, Range Management, and soils.
Education classes to allow for credential renewal are also offered by the college.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2013 a median salary for farmers, ranchers, and agricultural managers was $70,000, for an agricultural engineer $74,000 and for a soil scientist $59,000. Also, according to the same report the best opportunities for growth are organic farming and biofuel development.
“Aquaculture is the fastest growing industry in agriculture today"
Fish farms also have promise for the future. “Aquaculture is the fastest growing industry in agriculture today,” said Ben Webster, the aquaculture program director at Trinidad State. “We’re one of a kind and interest is growing,” said Webster. “Only three or four other two-year institutions in the United States offer this training, and my research indicates we are definitely the most comprehensive. We’re going to have to reach beyond our local region. I have a student from Texas who has a fishery degree but needs culturing experience and he is coming here to get that. I have another student from Kansas City who is returning to finish his degree.” Hired in 2013, Webster is excited about growing the program and preparing his students to be “hands-on ready to go.”
For more information about concurrent classes see your high school counselor. For information about agriculture classes call 719-589-7064 and for aquaculture call 719-589-7049.