Subject

Good morning and thank you for convening this hearing. My name is Gary Swan and I am offering remarks on behalf of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, which is comprised of a voluntary membership of more than 42,000 member families.
            We commend you for using this occasion at Ag Progress Days to raise awareness about the importance of agricultural education and the magnitude of careers related to our largest industry.
            Today Pennsylvania Farm Bureau wants to offer you four brief and basic points.
            First, let’s look at the big picture. The food system in America contributes more than $625 billion each year – or 20 percent – to our gross national economy. Of the more than 20 million people who work in agricultural jobs, only 10 percent engage in traditional farming. Ninety (90) percent are employed in more than 200 related careers.
            When one looks at employment opportunities nationwide for college graduates with experience in areas of food, agriculture and natural resources, Penn State notes that there are more than 52,000 annual job openings for new graduates. Forty-six (46) percent of those are in management and business. Twenty-five (25) percent are in scientific and engineering pursuits. Sixteen (16) percent of the career opportunities are in agricultural and forestry production.  Thirteen (13) percent are in the areas of education, communications and government services.
            Our first point is that careers related to agriculture are diverse and dynamic. No matter whether a young man or woman dreams about becoming an accountant or landscaper, a researcher or teacher, a scientist or inventor, there’s enormous opportunity for them in the farm and food sectors. In fact, one would be hard pressed to think of an industry where the diversity of opportunity is greater.
            Our second point is that young men and women who are fortunate to have had an upbringing or work experience on a farm have an inherent advantage over other job applicants in achieving employment with any enterprise which is connected to agriculture. For example, the Wall Street firm that deals in agricultural commodities would prefer to hire a person who knows the difference between feed grains and forage. The construction company who hires an engineer to design a farm building is better off employing someone who has actually helped dad reconstruct the old barn a dozen times to better accommodate a changing industry.
            Farm Bureau’s third point is that farm and food related careers can help stem the tide of what has been described as Pennsylvania’s brain drain. Much has been said about the departure from the Commonwealth of sons and daughters to other places where better career opportunities are said to exist.  Let’s think about that problem in a new context. Pennsylvania has the nation’s 19th largest agricultural economy and production sector. Associated with that is one of the largest agribusiness and food industry sectors in the country. For those who are motivated towards a promising job in any of the fields described earlier, chances are good that a rewarding career is available in the Commonwealth.
            The fourth point we offer today is about the need to preserve the wellspring which generates what I have described. The world of career opportunities depends upon the economic growth and advancement of agriculture itself.  Beyond that, however, it is essential that everything possible is done to encourage young men and women to pursue farming as their career. If one were to ask the typical American what their greatest concern is about agriculture’s future, we would venture the guess that a huge percentage would respond, “Who will be the next generation of farmers?”
            There are no simple remedies to that looming dilemma, but this we do know:  The adage “out of sight – out of mind” applies.”  Where agricultural education exists in high schools and technical schools, farm youth have a stronger anchor point for a potential future in farming. In rural areas where agricultural education is not offered, we believe the pathway to farming is diminished.
            Beyond the need to preserve instruction in agriculture and its many related fields, advancement of the FFA organization is vitally important. It is an indispensable tool for our youth to discover and develop traits of leadership and personal responsibility.
            Agricultural education also needs new teachers to maintain the quality of education.  It is extremely important that those teachers have varying backgrounds from agribusiness, veterinary, biotech, environment and production agriculture. As you know, in recent years there has been a deficit in not only agricultural educators, but other teachers as well.  There is a national movement of agricultural organizations underway called “Team Ag Ed.” Its goal is recruit 10,000 quality agricultural education teachers by 2015 (10x15). 
            Pennsylvania Farm Bureau is working in several ways to help advance agricultural education and related career opportunities.  For example, earlier this year we formed a Collegiate Farm Bureau chapter at Penn State, and we are planning similar initiatives at other places of higher education. Partnering with the University, our goal is to introduce them to experiences which will capture their imagination about career opportunities in the farm, food and agri-business sectors.
            Needless to say, continuing support is crucial for the mission of Penn State and our many other outstanding institutions of higher learning and career development.
            Pennsylvania Farm Bureau’s three Mobile Ag Ed Science Labs – with a teacher on board – have introduced more than 25,000 elementary school students to agriculture and its related sciences. We hope the project will generate interest in agriculturally related careers among those who have never placed a foot on a farm.
            Again, we thank you for focusing a spotlight on this important subject.  Pennsylvania Farm Bureau looks forward to working with you on initiatives to further advance agricultural education and the wide, wide world of agriculturally related careers.