I just recently celebrated the milestone of having worked in agriculture for a full decade! I got my first full-time job in the industry at the age of nineteen. I started out as an intern, artificially inseminating cows on farms all over northern Vermont. I loved the dairy industry and the region so much that I decided to stay. At the end of my internship, I found another full-time position working as a calf manager and assistant herdsman on a mid-sized farm. There, I gained so many valuable skills that I use almost everyday on my own farm (even though I’m not working with cattle anymore). Since then, I’ve worked in agriculture in all kinds of different capacities. I’ve worked directly with livestock, I’ve worked in sales and marketing, and I’ve worked in administrative and financial roles for different companies. As a small business owner, I continue to work in many different capacities on a day-to-day basis (we do pretty much everything ourselves around here).
What I don’t think that a lot of people realize is that there are so many pathways to have a career in agriculture. There are extension educators, salespeople, mechanics, crop consultants, loan officers, large animal veterinarians, equipment operators, researchers; the list goes on and on. We’re not all farmers, but we are all important to the function of the food system! (This is also why I helped to create the Women in Agriculture Network of the North Country, to celebrate and connect all of the amazing women in this industry in my part of the world.)
So what does it take to succeed in a career in agriculture? I recently presented at our local school’s career day, and I asked the kids to brainstorm what skills or attributes they might need in order to make it in this field. The following list reflects what they came up with, with a little direction from me:
Work ethic: It’s no secret that farm work is hard work. Even if you choose to work in an agricultural profession that isn’t farming, be prepared to work hard. The days are long, and the job can be hot and sweaty, depending on the season. If you intend to work on a farm, expect to work 12+ hours a day on a regular basis. With that said, it’s also important to be able to regulate your work/life balance. If you can’t find ways to renew yourself, you will likely be on a path to burn out.
Physical strength: Not all agricultural professions require a person to be physically strong, but many do. It’s not uncommon to have to lift over 100 pounds, and to have to perform tasks in all kinds of crazy positions: crouching, crawling along the ground, up on top of a ladder, etc. Building and maintaining physical strength will certainly help you in this field, as will knowing your limits and not exceeding them.
Emotional strength: Being emotionally tough is absolutely essential, probably in every field of agriculture. There are so many frustrations, and so much loss. One of the things that most folks don’t realize about livestock farming in particular is that death is a constant. Not only do we have to bear the losses, sometimes we must be the ones to bring them about. Even if you are not raising animals for slaughter, you absolutely need to be prepared to face death head on, and to euthanize an animal if it is suffering. (As a child, I didn’t envision my future career involving shooting things, but here I am.)
Problem solving: Each new day presents a new challenge. Sometimes, you need to think outside the box in order to find a solution. Often, there are things that can’t be shifted on to someone else, or budget constraints necessitate a creative solution. Being able to think critically and use resources wisely is a major asset.
Communication: For me, written communication skills have proven to be important, since I regularly communicate with our customers through email, social media, and our website. Whether or not you work in a customer facing role, strong communication skills are valuable. Being able to communicate well is critical to the success of any team. Being bilingual or multilingual is also beneficial, as more than half of American farm workers speak Spanish as a first language.
Reliability: While some sectors of agriculture may not require that workers be present for the entire year, in animal agriculture, there is work to do 365 days a year. Animals need to be fed, watered, and milked whether it’s a holiday, or there’s a blizzard, etc. Farmers need to be able to depend upon their workers and service providers to show up when they are needed.
Passion: On the long, hard days, our passion for our work is what carries us through. If you don’t have a passion for agriculture, there are certainly other jobs out there that require less of you (and pay better). However, the rewards of having a career in this industry are many if it’s something that you truly enjoy.
One of the things that I love the most about agriculture is that there’s no right way to become involved in this industry. I’ve known people who dropped out of school in the fourth grade, and people who have multiple graduate degrees, and both were as vital to the operation of the farm as the other. I suppose that I took somewhat of a conventional path: I chose to study agriculture in college, and then went on to get a master’s degree in the same field, but my path wasn’t always linear. I left school, more than once, to pursue a more practical education by working in the industry. I have to say that although my college education has proven quite valuable, the hard skills that I learned through work have been even more so. There are plenty of great colleges and universities around the world that have strong agriculture programs, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with starting out that way! There’s also nothing wrong with working your way up, starting in an entry-level position and gaining on-the-job experience. There are also many technical schools and short term programs designed to give students an excellent start to their careers. Another way to get into the industry is to participate in an internship or work exchange program, like World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF). WWOOF is a super cool program, where folks can travel the world, living and working on farms of all different kinds as they do so. I wish that I would have participated in such a program when I was younger, before I had a family and a business of my own to attend to (maybe I’ll sneak in a short trip one of these days).
You certainly don’t have to have grown up on a farm to be involved in agriculture. I didn’t, and here I am ten years in. As long as you are dedicated, you will be able to gain the skills that you need to succeed. I think one thing that is almost universally recognized in our industry is that the world needs more farmers! In the United States, the average age of farmers is nearly 60, and there are not enough young people coming into the industry to replace them as the age out. There are many of us who work in agriculture who are also passionate about helping the next generation find their way. It’s never too early to get involved, and opportunities abound for those who have what it takes to elevate our food system.