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Technology opening new career paths in agriculture

A Minnesota ag educator says advances in technology are creating more opportunities for young people to pursue careers in agriculture.

Jennifer Smith is a farm business management instructor for Riverland Community College and the Minnesota Farm Bureau Foundation Post-Secondary Ag Educator of the Year.

Speaking to Brownfield from the American Farm Bureau Convention in Phoenix, she says it’s surprising how many jobs exist in the agricultural field today.

“There’s an immense amount of jobs and opportunities for people that don’t grow up on a farm, but have a passion or interest in agriculture, food or wildlife.  It’s all inter-connected, and that’s a big part of educating people that these opportunities are out there.”

She tells Brownfield agriculture touches many industries.

“You can work in a bank, you can work in economics.  You can work in sales or marketing, and you don’t have to be in a production enterprise job.”

Smith says the Foundation Award looks at overall contributions to agricultural education from the local to national level.