The many options for a career in agriculture – and getting started with the right foundation

Modern agriculture has many different paths that young professionals can explore. Our ever-evolving industry is in an era where we rely on technology more than ever, using robotics, drone technology, satellite imagery, and other tools to efficiently and sustainably support our customers in feeding the world. There’s more options than ever for students looking for jobs in ag – even for students who may not be directly looking to work in our industry.?

We also realize that the beginnings of a career path start way before a person begins their first job. That’s why we, meaning our team at Nutrien Ag Solutions, prioritize collaboration with organizations such as the National FFA Association, Agriculture Future of America (AFA), 4-H, and other impactful groups that support youth in agriculture. These organizations educate students from all kinds of backgrounds about ag and give students a place to explore different areas of agriculture, open their eyes to opportunities they may have never heard of in our industry, and prepare students with the resources and vital skills to have a successful career – in ag or a different field of work.?

With this week being National FFA Week, the importance of the organizations that prepare our next generation of industry leaders weighs heavily on my mind. I deeply believe in the transformative power of the agriculture sector. Not just because I grew up on a farm, but because I see the work my teammates here at Nutrien Ag Solutions and our partners across the industry do every single day to make the world a better place. Working in agriculture (and in my biased opinion, working at Nutrien Ag Solutions) is extremely rewarding and addresses so many of our world’s current challenges by combining innovation and sustainability as we seek to help growers feed the planet in a more sustainable, efficient and profitable way.??

Our industry can’t continue moving forward without the help of the next generation. To find ways to support youth in agriculture, I highly recommend learning more about the organizations named in this article or reaching out to organizations in your community to see how you can support local ag students. If you’re an alumni of one of these amazing organizations, I recommend exploring whether your place of employment or community has an alumni group you can join to connect with fellow ag alumni. For example, at Nutrien, my colleague Spencer Harris heads up a committee filled with FFA and 4-H alumni, as well as employees who would like to support the organizations. The committee organizes ways to engage with their communities by representing our company at local competitions or at different conventions.?

If you’re not quite sure where to start supporting, I encourage you to consider beginning your support of youth in agriculture by contributing toward Give FFA Day, a day during National FFA Week where folks can make donations that allow the organization to continue providing support and educational opportunities for students. To learn more about how you can participate in Give FFA Day, visit https://giveffaday.ffa.org/pages/home-2176.??

To close off this article, I want to thank all of the teachers, parent volunteers, and community volunteers – especially our Nutrien Ag Solutions employees, who give their time to support and nurture students in ag. We see your passion for this industry and generosity for providing influential experiences for youth in agriculture.??