Lindsey Babineau has been an agricultural educator for 20 years. "I had
a really illuminating moment after I took my students out to [a] farm to show
them all the technology at work. The first comment from a student in our discussion
period was: 'Wow, farmers are really intelligent.' They didn't realize that
farmers are educated, dedicated, hard-working people. They hadn't ever thought
of farmers as anything but hayseeds."
Babineau doesn't have a school farm to give her students agricultural experiences.
"I do agriculture projects within the classroom, and the students practice
horticulture inside a greenhouse, and grow things around school grounds. The
whole goal of Ag in the Classroom is to show that agriculture isn't just something
on the farm. There's plenty of room for people behind the computers. It isn't
just milking cows," she says.
"Quite often [agriculture] is looked upon as the geeky thing to do, but
in my course there's a place for them. They discover a whole new area where
they can take their interests and [later] seek employment."
Agriculture educator Susan Meyer also cites the combination of the rural
life and community involvement as an appealing part of her work.
"Working as a rural development specialist in these communities, people
get to know you. And they like you. Certainly my work doesn't involve policing
anybody. You're there to help and people appreciate that," she says.
"Coming into an extension office is part of the fabric of people's lives
here," says Meyer. "At retirement parties for extension workers, it's not
uncommon for the whole community to attend. People have tears in their eyes
until the district supervisor announces to everybody that just because you're
retiring, doesn't mean you're leaving the community. You're staying right
where you are."
As an educator for Henry County, Indiana, Mike Ferree provides educational
programs for the community, answers agricultural questions, and works with
community leaders in decisions that need input from agricultural experts.
"I have an extension specialist from Purdue [University's] agricultural
economics department to discuss the fiscal impacts of development on local
governments. Another educational presentation I plan to conduct is techniques
for farmland preservation."
The huge changes in farming and agribusiness over the past 20 to 30 years
are the most difficult part of providing services. Farms are getting larger,
diversifying their products and employing computer technology more than ever.
"Definitely fewer people involved are involved in production agriculture because
of the increase in knowledge and information available to producers. Producers
have become larger and more specialized," says Ferree.
"I assist beginning and part-time producers [and] some very large and sophisticated
producers. I've put agriculture awareness efforts to the non-farm public at
a higher priority because of the need [for] understanding."
Ferree encourages youth to get involved with farming clubs to learn more
about agriculture. "I grew up on a very small farm, but my father was in the
lumber business. I gained a great deal of knowledge and experience in agriculture."
Ferree, who initially leaned towards high school agriculture instruction,
says he gets the same rewards in his current position. "I enjoy teaching and
helping people solve problems. The financial rewards are adequate but the
feeling of knowing you helped someone is the greatest reward. When the people
you've helped or taught succeed and thank you for your contribution, that
gives you the most satisfaction. There's enough variety and flexibility in
the job that keeps it challenging and interesting.
"To boil it down, it's about career more than money," says Ferree. "I enjoy
the farms and rural community because I feel that is where people really care
about each other and what is important in life."