THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE EDUCATION 1

Abstract

Agriculture is the largest worldwide employer, with over one billion workers. With this in mind,

there are only eleven thousand agriscience educators in the United States. The need for

educators, especially in rural America, has been on the rise for the last decade in order to connect

today’s youth with agriculture. Additionally, agricultural marketers play a role in informing

consumers about products and services. Both forms of employment are crucial to the

development of agricultural literacy.

There are numerous misconceptions about agriculture amongst society. There can be confusion

about the agriculture industry, including the origin of chocolate milk, genetically modified

organisms, food labels, and the environmental impact of agriculture. By utilizing different

platforms, producers are able to communicate with consumers to explain different practices.

The role of an agriculture educator is to help young people explore agriculture and its associated

career paths. Agricultural marketers are similar to educators but work with a different client base.

Both require higher education, but there is also high job placement due to growing agricultural

employers. With a variety of jobs and positions available to educators and marketers, there is

potential to create a large impact on society. Not only is agriculture education important so that

consumers understand agricultural processes, but it also teaches skills ranging from science to

leadership to communication. As America continues to change, agricultural literacy will be more

important than ever so that consumers are aware of the world around them.

Keywords: ​agriculture, youth, education