Page 12 - TTMNFall2023

Agriculture
Page 12 Electronic Edition: www.teachingtodaymn.com

Agricultural Education Teachers are In High Demand – Both In and Out of the Classroom

a variety of careers through hands-on classes, course with about 40 students to nine diverse
highly applicable course material, and a sup- courses with over 400 students today. robin
portive network of staff and alumni. Tidd joined the district as an agriculture, food
“Through early field experiences, intern- and natural resource teacher in 2021 after
ships and student teaching, Ag Ed students are graduating from CFANS.
able to try on different options to find their “One reason the program came back here
career fit,” said Amy Smith, associate pro- was because of community support,” said
fessor of Agricultural Education and major Tidd. “They saw how many jobs we have in
coordinator. “by graduation, they typically Mankato that relate to agriculture, and we
have their career path identified, whether that weren’t training high school students in that
leads to a classroom, county extension office, area. Now we’re introducing hundreds of stu-
or the corporate world.” dents each year to agriculture education and
Smith says that over the past three years, all of the possibilities within it.”
92 percent of undergraduates who completed “There is a broad array of subjects that
the program immediately accepted employ- fall under the agriculture umbrella, such as
ment within the profession. For those who biotechnology, environmental services, and
didn’t, the primary reason was geographic food products and processing, just to name a
limitations. few,” said Smith. “Many people don’t realize
For Ag Ed students destined for a middle that the subjects they are passionate about
or high school classroom, there is no short- teaching are actually agriculture, just called
Robin Tidd (right) works with a high school student at Mankato Area Public Schools age of opportunities. “In many cases, demand something else.”
is coming from school districts wanting to The Ag Ed program at CFANS continues
Amy Smith, CFANS (The College of Food, “I’m better because of the time I expand existing Ag Ed programs or start new to evolve to meet that challenge, most recently
Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences) spent working with high school students in ones,” said Smith. “At the same time, due to with the addition of a minor and a new mas-
When Liz Knutson presents to a group of the classroom,” said Knutson, who joined teacher shortages in other areas of career and ter’s degree. As the program has expanded,
people at work, she leans heavily on skills she Corteva Agriscience after graduating with her technical education, some schools are leverag- one thing has stayed the same: a personalized
developed studying Agricultural Education at teaching license in 2014. She now serves as ing the versatility of an Ag Ed curriculum to approach to supporting students.
CFANS. It’s where she learned how to set direc- Pioneer soybean marketing leader for the U.S. address topics often included in family and “There’s a place for everyone in agricul-
tion and expectations, to command a room, and “The Ag Ed major made me more versatile consumer science education or technology ture,” said sophomore Noah Erickson. “I know
to galvanize an audience to act. While student and, I believe, a more marketable potential education.” that the versatility of this major will help set
teaching is where she honed these skills, they’ve employee.” This growth is evident at Mankato Area me up for success.”
proven invaluable in the corporate world. The Ag Ed major prepares students for Public Schools. It grew from one introductory
MDA Awards Grants to Bolster Meat Processing Education in Minnesota

Ashby Public School preparing the meat in different ways.
Partner with West Central Area Schools Award Total $5,037.80
and West Central Initiative to teach meat pro- Nicollet Public School
cessing through the purchase of equipment for Utilize the National Food Science Safety
a meat processing mobile trailer. and Processing Curriculum (CASE) to impact
Award Total $41,296.58 student career readiness in meat science and
Bertha-Hewitt Schools processing.
renovate an existing space to accommo- Award Total $60,000
date a walk-in cooler as well as upgraded sinks ROCORI Public Schools
to allow for proper cleaning of equipment and Develop two classes: one focused on meat
ensure proper food and student safety. science and food safety and the second about
Award Total $50,000 further processing, safety, and cultural differ-
Byron High School ences. Award Total $39,527.16
build upon current programming by
developing and adding a meat processing Sibley East Public Schools
course with local processing partners. Update an old Family and Consumer Sci-
Minnesota’s meat processing indus- “Minnesota’s meat cutting and butchery
try has received a boost from the Minnesota training programs are vital to the future of our Award Total $27,175.47 ences lab to become a meat cutting lab and
Department of Agriculture (MDA), which has state’s processing industry,” Agriculture Com- Lac qui Parle Valley High School develop a pathway in which students will build
awarded $350,000 in one-time grants through missioner Thom Petersen said. “The MDA is build a mobile meat processing trailer and upon skills every year in grades 8-12, culminat-
its Meat Education and Training (MEAT) Grant pleased to support these nine schools provid- collaborate with a technical college College to ing in a work-based capstone.
Program. ing new pathways for students to receive more develop a curriculum for meat processing classes. Award Total $21,962.99
The MEAT Grant provides the opportu- hands-on training experiences and learn about Award Total $70,000 West Central Area Schools
nity for Minnesota schools to fund equipment careers in this field.” Further support the purchase of a meat
purchases, facility renovation, curriculum A full list of MEAT Grant recipients can Morris Area High School processing mobile trailer and provide up to 100
development, faculty training, and more pro- be found below. For more information, visit the Expand the current Ag Processing course hours of hands-on training for one agriculture
cessing-related activities at new or established MDA’s program webpage https://www.mda. to further provide hands-on experiences and instructor at a local butcher shop.
training programs for secondary students. Nine state.mn.us/meat-education-training-meat- in-depth learning about meat cutting and pro- Award Total $35,000
schools received grants through this funding, grant cessing, and provide a culinary experience Information courtesy of the Minnesota
with a maximum award of $70,000. through Family Consumer Sciences classes by Department of Agriculture