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Struggle to find ag educators continues
The struggle to find ag educators continues in Minnesota and elsewhere.
Brad Schloesser, director of the Minnesota State Southern Agricultural Center of Excellence, says this has been a problem for decades.
“The reality is, and I started my career in agricultural education back in the early 80’s, we’ve had a shortage for a long, long period of time.”
During a webinar Wednesday hosted by Minnesota AgriGrowth called Resilience in Agriculture and Food: Matching Talent to Need, he said learning institutions are having to import educators from other parts of the country.
“I think it’s probably an indication that we have a very strong agricultural industry. Many that prepare for agricultural education careers are sought by industry, and there’s a lot of competition.”
Schloesser says high unemployment rates related to the COVID-19 pandemic could present an opportunity to invite people looking for work into the ag education space.
