How to Have a Career in Agriculture

Jennifer Elwell
TeachKyAg

I remind myself often that I may not have had a typical path into my agricultural career, compared to the path of many of my peers.

My parents decided to establish a horse farm, offering boarding, riding instruction, and training services, as this was my mother’s lifelong passion. Even though my grandfather decided farm life and dairying were not for him and opted to pave a path in the white-collar world, they regularly visited the farm, where my mom could spend hours on horseback and solidify her love. My father’s experience on his family farm and keen mechanic skills proved to be a great partnership. Together, they built the multi-barn operation it is today, starting with 9 acres, a pond, and a run down-house.

Both parents had off-the-farm jobs until I was in middle school. That was when they decided my mom could move to full-time farm management. It was also the right time to jump into a 4-H club, specifically the Horse Program. I didn’t know it at the time, but it was my first IN to an agriculture career. My parents were not involved in their county Kentucky County Farm Bureau, and I did not have access to FFA at my Louisville-area high school. Looking back, I know this hindered my connections and having a better idea of potential agriculture careers.

Thankfully, being exposed to 4-H and visits to the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture for competitions allowed me to see a few opportunities. I also learned there was a lot of scholarship money available for agriculture students. Wanting to be careful with my money and to increase my grandparents’ ability to view live UK basketball, I chose to major in Animal Sciences. 4-H made that familiar to me.

Here is the part where I wish I had some better resources about jobs in agriculture. I enjoyed my classes, but when visiting career days hosted by the college, I thought that I was limited in what I could do with my degree. I didn’t have the Internet. I wasn’t asking the right questions. I was not exploring other options. I had not figured my talents into the equation.

After some soul-searching and deciding a creative avenue may be a better fit, I almost left the College of Agriculture for the College of Communications and Journalism. Thankfully, I voiced my concerns and wishes to my advisor, and he let me know that I could do that and study agriculture. I found student jobs, organizations, and internships that helped me feel confident in this new choice. I had a goal. Luckily for me, the Internet was taking off as a new media, and I jumped at the chance to learn how to create web-based resources in addition to print. Without a lot of farm-community connections, this skill was my second substantial IN to my career in agriculture.

Finding an agriculture job close to home in the Louisville area was not immediate. I was fortunate to find media jobs right away, but I knew I wanted that continued connection to agriculture.  That became my PASSION. Within a few months, the right job came along, and I have worked in agriculture for 24 years now.

Since I have taken the position with Kentucky Agriculture and Environment in the Classroom, it has been my goal to help young people find their path within this wonderful, family-focused community.

I have interviewed many agricultural professionals to report how they ended up in their careers in hopes that it may inspire the next generation. It is clear that many of us did not end up where we thought we were going. Did I mention I really wanted to be a genetic scientist during my senior year of high school? I thought education in that realm was out of reach due to cost. I also had no idea UK College of Ag had that pathway of study. I want young people to know all the possibilities.

In the end, I’m very happy with the path God placed before me. Working in agriculture allows me to marry my love of science, love of learning, and finding creative ways to share that information.

While most view agriculture as a specialized, technical field or a get-your-hands-dirty type of work, this community needs people of all backgrounds, talents, and skills. If you want to be outside in nature, there is a job for you. If you like the comfort of an office, there is a job for you.

In summary, it is quite easy to have a job in agriculture. Know your PASSIONS and TALENTS, meet as many professionals as you can, develop your KNOWLEDGE and SKILLS, and take advantage of any learning opportunity you can. Then find your job in agriculture.

Jennifer Elwell is the executive director of the Kentucky Agriculture and Environment in the Classroom. You can find numerous resources on agriculture scholarships and careers at www.teachkyag.org.