Well, here’s a frustrating reality—my final Agriculture class for my Associate’s Degree got canceled this semester due to lack of enrollment. On the surface, it might just seem like a scheduling hiccup, but really, it’s a symptom of a much bigger issue. Why aren’t more students pursuing Agriculture as a degree? The truth is, it’s a complex mix of cultural misconceptions, educational gaps, and the perception of farming itself.
Let’s start with this: Ag programs tend to attract students who didn’t grow up on a farm. That’s not to say no farm kids enroll—some of us did—but typically, the kids who grew up farming learn the ropes by working on the farm with their families. By the time Grandpa and Dad are ready to pass the torch, those kids already know what they need to take over. Formal education in Ag isn’t seen as necessary when your life has been one big hands-on lab.
That leaves a different group—students who didn’t grow up farming but feel called to the land. These are folks who need the technical knowledge and practical skills to get started. But here’s the catch: society doesn’t exactly encourage farming as a viable career path. Remember when you were in elementary school, and the teacher asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” If you said Farmer, it probably got a cute smile and maybe a vague, “Oh, that’s nice.” Fast forward to middle and high school, though, and the response starts to change. Suddenly, “Farmer” becomes a punchline or a fallback plan. “You won’t make any money doing that,” they’d say. “Why would you want such a stressful and thankless job?”
And if you were a kid who got good grades? Forget it. Farming was presented as something for people who didn’t excel academically, as though it didn’t require intelligence, creativity, or innovation. The irony, of course, is that farming is a highly skilled profession. It takes an understanding of biology, economics, environmental science, and a whole lot of perseverance. But by the time students reach college, the idea of pursuing farming—or an Ag degree—has been so thoroughly dismissed that it’s no wonder enrollment numbers are low.
So how do we fix this? That was the question the dean of my school asked me back in my first semester: What would help increase enrollment in our Ag programs? It’s a tough one. Changing societal attitudes toward farming doesn’t happen overnight. But here are some thoughts:
- Early Encouragement: Start planting the seeds early (pun fully intended). Elementary school kids shouldn’t just learn about farming from history books—they should see it as a vibrant, innovative, and essential career option. Schools can bring in speakers, organize farm visits, or even integrate agriculture into science classes.
- Realistic Portrayals of Farming: Media often paints farming as either a bucolic, romanticized ideal or a backbreaking, joyless grind. The truth is somewhere in between. We need more realistic portrayals of farming that highlight its challenges but also celebrate its rewards and potential for innovation.
- Bridging the Gap: For those who didn’t grow up on a farm, it can feel like an insurmountable leap to get into agriculture. Colleges and universities should market their Ag programs as the bridge between that dream and reality, with clear pathways to entry-level farming careers or support for launching your own operation.
- Community Support: Programs like the one run by Farmers Rising out of Caledonia, IL, are great examples of how to bring people together around agriculture and business. Pairing education with community can make all the difference in inspiring confidence and persistence.
If we want students to pursue Ag degrees—and, more importantly, thrive in agricultural careers—we have to start by changing the narrative. Farming isn’t a fallback; it’s a calling. It’s not just surviving; it’s innovating, feeding the world, and building a sustainable future. And those of us in these programs (or trying to be, when our classes don’t get canceled) know that better than anyone.
What do you think would help boost enrollment in Ag programs? Have you faced similar challenges in your education or career path? Pull up a seat at the farm table—we’ve got a lot to talk about.
Until next time,
Traci
