Agriculture program looks to dispel student misconceptions about farming jobs

California and Arizona faces a shortage of workers in the agricultural sector, and it’s looking to Yuma and Imperial county students to fill some of those jobs.

As technology expands into every aspect of our lives, available jobs in the agriculture sector that are driven by technology are expanding. The Go Ag! initiative is getting teens interested in these high demand jobs and highly paid careers.

“The crazy amount of opportunities. I mean you know there are kids who want to go into marketing. Or kids who want to go into technology. Or kids who want to go be outside the typical what you would typically think of with AG. But there is so many other opportunities,” said Kristan Sheppeard member of the Harvest Dinner Advisory Committee.

Yuma County and Imperial Valley faces a shortage of workers in the agricultural sector that is driven by technology, and it’s looking for students to pursue education in this field.

The Go Ag! initiative looks to break down misconceptions about farming jobs and encourage teens at Gila Ridge High School to pursue careers in the industry.

Inspiring more students to become involved in agriculture is a topic that Steven Alameda cares deeply about, and one of the reasons he and dozens of other local farmers took part of Go Ag!.

“Every generation has something new that they can bring back and apply,” said Steven Alameda president of Yuma Fresh Vegetable Association

Alameda said this is all about putting a spotlight on the field that is hardly looked at.

“This is what we are trying to overcome. A lot of these kids think that they need to be born into a farm family and things like that. That’s really not the case.”

Sophomore Isaac Lopez is aiming to score one of those higher-paying jobs. He tell’s us this program helps his peer’s understand the value behind farming.

“They just don’t realize like how much that Yuma is actually doing for the world and for the community.”