By Blake Jackson
Governor Kathy Hochul has announced a series of initiatives to bolster agricultural education and youth leadership in New York State.
This follows the successful conclusion of the state's first Youth Agriculture Conference, which brought together nearly 300 high school students from FFA, 4-H, and MANRRS.
The conference, held at the Empire State Plaza in Albany, provided a platform for students to connect with industry leaders, explore career opportunities, and discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the agricultural sector.
The event was co-hosted by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (NYSDAM) and Cornell University.
“As a former 4-Her, I understand the importance of youth ag education and how valuable it is to ensuring we have a strong, vibrant agricultural industry,” Governor Hochul said. “With additional funding being provided to support critical programming and a new Blue-Ribbon Panel that will tackle challenges and identify new opportunities in this area, we will pave a clear path forward for our next generation of agricultural leaders, bringing young people together from every corner of our New York State.”
To further support agricultural education, Governor Hochul has established a Blue-Ribbon Panel to Advance Agriculture Education.
This panel will bring together key stakeholders to assess the current state of agricultural education, identify barriers, and develop strategies to strengthen programs and support the next generation of agricultural leaders.
“I am so pleased to be a part of this first-ever Agriculture Youth Conference, which is bringing together hundreds of our students from all corners of New York who have a passion and excitement for agriculture that is contagious, said New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball. "There is a tremendous momentum here at the State, led by our Governor, in investing in agricultural education and supporting leadership across all of our youth ag organizations. This conference is providing our young people the opportunity to meet each other, share their ideas, and help to chart a path forward for a strong, sustainable agricultural industry for many generations ahead.”
In addition to the Blue-Ribbon Panel, the state has allocated $50,000 to the statewide 4-H program to support strategic visioning and planning for the future.
This investment aims to ensure that 4-H continues to provide valuable educational opportunities for young people across New York.
The state's commitment to agricultural education is further demonstrated by significant investments in the 2024 State of the State budget.
These investments include funding for FFA, MANRRS, and Agriculture in the Classroom programs, as well as support for urban agricultural education.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-artistgndphotography
Categories: New York, Education, Government & Policy