Agriculture has been a staple in the Miami Valley, and one local college is working to grow that industry.
Central State University is partnering with four other institutions to help recruit, train and educate the next generation in the agricultural workforce.
The average median age for a farmer is 57 years old, which is why Central State and local farmers want to spark interest in getting food to the table.
The university could be at the forefront as they will be able to start a graduate program.
The goal of the $10 million partnership grant provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture is to recruit, educate, train and retain the next generation of diverse food and agriculture professionals.
It is done in three parts. One is to develop a graduate program Central State currently does not have.
“We work with K-through-12 kids and provide summer camps and let the young kids know what agriculture is about,” Hongmei Li-Byarlay, research professor of entomology, said. “The third part is to provide more opportunities for internships for Central State undergraduate students.”
Source: wdtn.com
Photo Credit: Central State University
Categories: Ohio, Education, General