Approximately 1,300 elementary school students from nine counties in Pennsylvania had the opportunity to explore career opportunities in the agriculture industry at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex on Thursday and Wednesday.
The event, which is part of the Shapiro administration’s plan to bolster Pennsylvania’s agriculture workforce, featured hands-on exhibits that allowed students to learn about a range of topics, including dairy farming, beekeeping, sustainable forestry, and drone-assisted crop management. Students also had the opportunity to interact with the people who raise animals on Pennsylvania farms, raise crops, and help farmers produce healthy food and products.
“We saw students get excited to see where the products they wear and use every day come from and how science and technology help farmers produce food in ways that are healthy for them and for our planet,” said Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. “The Shapiro administration is committed to connecting all Pennsylvania students with the opportunities waiting for them when they graduate and want to put their science, technology, engineering, and math skills to work feeding our world.”
The Shapiro administration has made a commitment to investing in Pennsylvania’s public schools and students, which includes providing free universal breakfast for 1.7 million students. The state has also earmarked funding for a new agriculture innovation fund and a comprehensive plan to support economic opportunity in the agriculture industry.
The Farm City Day event is part of a series of events across Pennsylvania that are aimed at exposing students to careers in agriculture. According to the Shapiro administration, agriculture supports one in ten jobs in the state, and the state expects to see 75,000 job openings statewide over the next decade.
The event was also part of the nation’s Make Learning Days initiative.