Perception of ag jobs needs changing

From wausaudailyherald.com: “Panel: Perception of ag jobs needs changing” — To protect Wisconsin’s $59 billion agriculture industry from a crippling workforce shortage, leaders need to kill the negative image that’s keeping young people from entering the field, industry experts said.

During a panel discussion today at a conference about economic development in rural Wisconsin, educators, business leaders and economists highlighted a grim reality: Wisconsin’s top industry is struggling and will continue to struggle to find qualified workers.

Much of that concern stems from young people’s misperceptions that jobs in agriculture, including food processing, are all low-paying, require no education and equate to long hours on a farm.

The panelists said that couldn’t be further from the truth.

“The jobs are there,” said Lori Weyers, president of Northcentral Technical College in Wausau and a proponent for drawing students into agriculture work. “We can’t get the people interested in the careers.”