High school agriculture students gain industry exposure through hands-on career conference
The National FFA Organization hosted 72 high school students from 23 states at a week-long conference in Kansas City focused on animal agriculture career pathways. Participants toured major production facilities including Smithfield Foods and Cargill operations while engaging with industry professionals in livestock, animal health, manufacturing, and related sectors. The conference, part of a competitive selection program, aims to prepare students for future careers by connecting classroom learning with real-world agricultural employment opportunities.
The National FFA Organization selected participants through a rigorous application process that evaluated their Supervised Agricultural Experience—a work-based learning component allowing students to gain real-world skills through employment, internships, research, or entrepreneurial ventures. This emphasis on existing practical knowledge suggests the organization targets students already demonstrating serious commitment to agricultural careers rather than those with only casual interest.
The Next Gen Conference series represents a strategic initiative to address workforce development in animal agriculture. By rotating locations annually across major U.S. cities, the program creates regional access points for students nationwide. The 2027 schedule expanding to St. Louis, Detroit, and Denver indicates growing organizational investment in connecting classroom education with industry employment pathways across diverse geographic markets.
This initiative may help address labor supply challenges in animal agriculture by exposing high school students to diverse career specializations beyond traditional production roles. By introducing students to positions in animal health, technology, manufacturing, and marketing, the program could broaden recruitment pools for an industry facing demographic shifts. The competitive selection process and multi-year expansion suggest stakeholders view youth engagement in agricultural careers as strategically important to sector sustainability and economic vitality.