Teach Ag!

This week I came across many potential topics to hit on relating to global agriculture, but I kept returning to the theme of the week around campus which was centered around an event today...National Teach Ag Day in the United States. On our campus today we hosted many to explore career options in agricultural education. We are facing a serious shortage of agricultural educators in the United States. National Teach Ag Day is all about promoting and bringing awareness to the great profession of agricultural education. Here is a link to a video that was created to get you thinking about what agricultural education is all about!

I have noticed as I travel to other countries agricultural education is something that you often do not see in education until the collegiate level. This always gets we thinking...Where would the United States be without agricultural education? Or the better question yet...Where would the world be if everyone had agricultural education around the world? So here's my challenge to you...What does agricultural education look like around the globe and how does this impact certain countries and/or regions?

Global Agricultural Education Challenge

• Research different countries agricultural education systems. This can be done individually or by pairing up with others.
• Is there formal agricultural education?
• How is agricultural knowledge delivered (book, email, field days, text message, etc.)?
• Who delivers agriculture knowledge (teachers, universities, researchers, extension, government, etc.)?
• After you have researched specific countries/regions evaluate their agricultural education systems.
• Are there things you would change? Why?
• How does their agricultural education programs impact the country or region as it relates to economics, health and nutrition, stability, etc.?
• Assume that you were just elected to a government office for a newly created country. You have been asked to shape and create the agricultural education system for this country. What would your recommendations be? Be sure to justify your responses.
• Once your research and analysis is complete share your findings with others and let the conversations begin!