Pennsylvania Ag Connection - Redding: STEM Education, Career Pipeline Critical

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Redding: STEM Education, Career Pipeline Critical
Pennsylvania Ag Connection - 05/31/2016

Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding recognized the achievements of 335 Pennsylvania high school students for their efforts as a part of the 2016 state Envirothon competition. While visiting Susquehanna University, Redding spoke to the 67 teams, stressing the value of their Envirothon preparation and how the experience lays a strong foundation for future career options in the agriculture and food industry.

"Today is more than applying classroom learning to scenarios that showcase the real-life environmental challenges we face. You're gaining the experience that will make you our future leaders and decision makers, and I thank you for taking this commitment seriously," Redding said during yesterday's awards ceremony.

During the two-day Envirothon competition, teams participate in a series of field-oriented tests that focus on soil and land use, aquatic ecology, forestry, wildlife and current environmental issues. Teams are also challenged to help solve a specific environmental challenge and deliver a proposal to a panel of judges who evaluate each team on its problem-solving capabilities and presentation skills. Students compete for a share of more than $10,000 in educational scholarships and the honor to represent Pennsylvania at the National Conservation Foundation-Envirothon, North America's largest high school natural resource education competition.

"The Envirothon teaches students to be critical, strategic thinkers in a world that's dependent on science, technology, engineering and math -- the STEM studies," Redding noted while speaking with the students. "Jobs in these STEM fields are expected to grow in demand by more than 10 percent in the next 10 years. Your preparation today sets you up for your future position in a workforce that will need your passion and insight to help solve challenges similar to the ones you explore as a part of this competition."

With an anticipated 75,000 jobs opening in the food and fiber industry in the next decade, the department is working closely with the Pennsylvania Department of Education to introduce students to career opportunities in agriculture.

"We currently lack the pipeline of workers who will be needed to fill these anticipated employment gaps in our industry over the next decade," Redding said. "Programs like the Envirothon help open students to possible agricultural careers that they never realized were available."

The department has identified the top 25 most in-demand positions among those anticipated vacancies -- approximately 60 percent of which are currently held by individuals with an associate's degree, professional certification, high school diploma or less. These most-in-demand positions span sectors such as production agriculture; animal health and veterinary services; landscaping; food manufacturing, forestry, lumber and wood products; and conservation and natural resources.

To help make more students and school guidance counselors aware of opportunities within the industry, the department has developed "Agriculture and Food Careers in Pennsylvania: A Desk Guide for Educators and Counselors." This guide offers detailed information on the knowledge, skills, and abilities related to these 25 in-demand positions.

For more information about the department's agriculture education and workforce initiatives, visit www.agriculture.pa.gov. Click on "Encourage" and then "Workforce Development."

For more information about the Envirothon, including information about the winning team, visit http://www.envirothonpa.org/.

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