Strategic Roadmap for Kentucky Agriculture: 2025-2030
Prioritize workforce development to meet employer needs by expanding career opportunities in agriculture.
Workforce development in agriculture is crucial for meeting employers’ evolving needs and ensuring a sustainable future workforce. Prioritizing it involves identifying high-demand sectors and the required competencies. Collaborating with educational institutions and industry partners, such as universities and agricultural organizations, aligns training with employer needs. Career mapping and outreach from elementary to adult learning create pathways into agricultural careers while engaging career influencers raises awareness of opportunities. Employer education is key to helping businesses understand modern workforce expectations, enabling effective retention and development strategies. Overall, workforce development drives industry expansion and fosters innovation. —Laurie Mays, Strategy Lead
View Updated Working Group Document (.docx)
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Tactic 1: Identify high-need sectors and employer needs within those sectorsDetermine current and future critical workforce needs, such as meat processors, large equipment operators and mechanics, welders, ag economic development experts, NRCS, organic inspectors, CDL, accountants/tax preparers working with farmers, et al. a. Establish critical workforce needs through data (from KY Stats, USDA). b. Determine competencies needed in critical sectors and how to build those in both traditional & non-traditional agriculture. When? November 2024-2025 Where? Kentucky Chamber Talent Pipeline Management reports, meetings with employers | Project Lead
Partners for Delivery
Collaborators KDA Economic Development, Supply Chain Working Group, Ag Diversification & Innovation Working Group, Large Animal Veterinarian Task Force |
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More than $2 million in scholarships are awarded annually to Kentucky students pursuing careers in agriculture and related fields.
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Throughout 2024, the Kentucky Agricultural Council, with assistance from the Kentucky Agriculture and Environment in the Classroom, developed a resource website - kyagworks.org - and promotional materials to help youth and job seekers find opportunities in Kentucky agriculture. The website currently includes:
Additions may be made by emailing kyagcouncil@gmail.com. |
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Tactic 2: Education and Career Mapping Help people navigate educational and training opportunities from elementary through adult learning while strategically defining career pathways. a. Identify and align (look for crossover skills) career pathways in agriculture. b. Provide education and training opportunities for individuals who are in recovery, reentering the workforce, changing careers, or entering the workforce for the first time. This includes a range of post-high school options, such as certificates, industry-specific training, associate degrees, apprenticeships, undergraduate degrees, and graduate-level programs (e.g., a distilling certificate). c. KY Chamber Bus to Business program. d. Inform students about financial resources for agricultural career preparation, including available scholarships and potential earnings in agricultural careers. e. Develop programs in urban middle and high schools to expose students to agricultural opportunities (incentivize rural and agricultural working and living). When? 2025-2026 Where? Meetings with employers, ag organizations, VA offices, prison systems, military bases; KyAgWorks.org | Project Leads
Partners for Delivery
Collaborators Ag Coord. & Comm. Working Group, KY AgVets Program at KDA |
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Tactic 3: Career Influencer & Education OutreachEngage career influencers (i.e. counselors, career coaches) in middle and high schools with educational opportunities to learn about the breadth of career opportunities in the agriculture industry. Prioritize career exposure and connections with teachers and students outside of agriculture to build awareness of agrifood jobs and eliminate barriers.a. Create an ag workshop/career seminar for influencers e.g. Kentucky School Counselor Association, CTE conference, and UK teacher listserv for CE resources – focus on those outside of agriculture. b. Compile and emphasize available scholarship dollars for students in agriculture. c. Continue to publish career profiles and career mapping (KyAgWorks.org, KY FFA Works, UK, The Farmer’s Pride). d. Aligning curriculum lessons/activities with needed workforce skills. e. Prioritize upper elementary students, e.g. reality fairs, new elementary ag ed programs. When? June 2024 - September 2025 Where? KY School Counselors Fall Conference | Project Leads
Partners for Delivery
Collaborators Ag Literacy Working Group, KY Chambers’ Educator Industry Guide, STEM & STEAM programs in schools, KY Dept. of Education |
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Tactic 4: Employer Networking and EducationSupporting the foundation of the industry. a. Convene employers to expand the use of work-based learning opportunities, apprenticeships, and adult education. b. Foster collaboration between employers, educational institutions, and high opportunity population agencies to ensure industry-driven program development. c. Educate employers on the needs and preferences of today’s workforce to enhance employee retention. When? Ongoing Where? Industry organization meetings |