Tag Archives: agriculture workforce

Inside Georgia’s Largest Career Expo: Empowering the Next Generation of Ag Leaders

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Macon, GA |

For thousands of students attending the Georgia FFA State Convention, one event stands out as a window into their future: the career expo. As one of the largest in the state, the expo offers students an up-close look at the wide range of opportunities waiting for them in agriculture—and beyond.

“They love to interact with the vendors,” says Ben Lastly, Executive Secretary of Georgia FFA. “We’ve got folks that come in who are truly talking about jobs and careers. And those students learn about opportunities. We have colleges, universities, technical schools here. They help students realize what it takes to get from where you are in middle or high school to our program. They get to interact with folks in the agriculture industry, colleges, universities, the military—life after high school. It’s about preparing these students to be productive when they leave our program.”

And staying in Georgia is a key goal. By showcasing the state’s top industry, the expo aims to keep talented young people close to home, building a stronger future for Georgia’s economy.

“For me, it was amazing to see the sheer mass of agricultural and allied organizations that support students here in our state,” says Andy Paul, Public Relations Representative for Georgia EMC. “We have such talent here in Georgia. When I was a student here, it was amazing to see the opportunities available to me by staying in my hometown.”

While many students are drawn to production agriculture, Lastly says the expo introduces them to the broader scope of the industry—from technology to environmental sciences.

“We have a lot of students interested in production agriculture, but we have plenty interested in technology, research, water quality, the environment, forestry, natural resources,” he explains. “Coming here, they can see what it’s like to work in rural electrification with Georgia EMC, or learn about animal agriculture from the dairy groups. It’s great for students to realize the different parts of agriculture.”

Whether planning to attend college, a technical school, or head straight into the workforce, FFA students are already highly sought after by employers—thanks to both the technical skills and the work ethic they’ve developed.

“They learn a lot of skills in high school that we may not have to train quite as much once they’re on the job,” says Paul. “We’re learning technical skills in agricultural mechanics classrooms. But I think FFA also instills a lot of hard work into those students—tenacity, grit, and the ability to hear a no and come back with a yes.”

Through FFA’s many programs and competitions, students build habits that make them stand out to recruiters, even if they don’t realize it at the time.

“If they’re competing in events like the agriscience fair or proficiency awards, they’re going to practice,” says Lastly. “They show up, work, keep records. And when they talk to employers about that, these students might think they’re just doing FFA things. But they’re getting up early to feed animals, practicing for competitions, double-checking research, tracking hours and finances. Those characteristics are already instilled in them.”

Labor Shortages & Rising Costs: Can the H-2A Program Save U.S. Farmers?

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Atlanta, GA |

Over the next few months some of Georgia’s signature fruits and vegetables like peaches, onions and blueberries, will all be ready to come out of the field. And in order to maximize both quality and quantity, it’s essential to have a reliable workforce.

“You have to have enough labor there on the busiest day to get them harvested, get them packed. This is timely work. It’s so timely to have harvest at the right days. So, we’re always very conscious. That’s our number one issue behind probably weather is labor availability,” says Robert Dickey, Chairman of the Georgia House Agriculture Committee.

That’s where the H2A program comes in, as it helps supplement a small number of domestic workers, while also complying with stronger immigration policies.

“If we’re going to continue to feed America with American grown crops, vegetables, and fruits, we got to have a labor force. Unfortunately, we don’t have a domestic force to do that. And that is why we have transitioned to this H2A program. You see other industries desperately wanting that, with our shortage of labor in this country. And so, this has been a good program for us. It has kept us all one hundred percent legal,” says Dickey.

Despite their workers being documented, many Georgia farmers are hoping there can still be some compromise on the recent immigration crackdown.

“I hope the administration can look at the history of some of our workers from whatever industry they’re in, in this state who have been here for many, many years and contributed to the economy and have families here, maybe even homes and things. Maybe give them some pathway to citizenship, some legal status so they can continue working and helping our industries,” says Dickey.

Labor shortages aren’t the only concern, as growers have seen wages increase exponentially over the past few years, which has opened the door for more foreign competition.

“So far, we haven’t had any real issues, a few little hiccups but, that program has worked well. I hope it’s no changes to it other than trying to get some costs back in line. Those costs for us have gone up over thirty or forty percent in the last two or three years and just raising our grower cost to not be competitive with foreign imports. So, that’s one of our big concerns,” says Dickey.

And it’s a concern that will likely continue into the future, unless some changes are made to the program.

“We don’t have that labor and don’t have it at a competitive rate, it’s just going to make foreign imports from Mexico, Chile, and South America much more available to domestic grocery stores. There’s going to be less costs and our industry will just really go away if we don’t do something to stem it,” says Dickey.

By: Damon Jones