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BLACKSBURG — Graduates of Virginia Tech’s two-year agriculture program are in high demand across the state, but the program’s future is at risk, according to its director.
“Industry was very interested in developing a program of this type because there’s a real shortage of people with the kind of training we provide,” said Mike Bell, director of the two-year agriculture technology program at Tech. “So far, however, we have yet to meet our goal of enrolling 100 students per class. ”
Since it began in the fall of 1987, a total of 79 students have graduated from the program that offers technical training in such areas as animal and plant care, soils, and agriculture business. Many have gone on to jobs as turf specialists for golf courses or lawn care companies, as managers for regional feed companies or cooperatives, or as valued employees on large, Virginia farms.
“Any graduate who’s looked for a job has been able to find one,” Mr. Bell said. “Companies are happy to get someone who’s been trained and educated in very specific, technical areas of agriculture. Agriculture is a very sophisticated industry, as much or more so than other industries. ”
Gus Constantino, president of the Virginia Turfgrass Council and owner of Wilson’s Feed and Seed in Richmond, said he and other industry leaders prompted Tech to start the program because of the tremendous need for its graduates. “Right now, the way our industry is growing, we just don’t have people with training to feed into the system,” he
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