Why should I consider a career in agriculture?

As you get older, consider taking an agriculture class in junior high and/or high school. You may also have the opportunity to join FFA, which provides lots of opportunities to learn more about careers in agriculture.

Only about 1% of the U.S. population claims farming as their occupation. But there are over 22 million people who work in agriculture. This is almost 11% of the total workforce.

About 75% of the land in Illinois is used to produce food on over 72,000 farms. There are over 1 million agriculture-related jobs in Illinois. Illinois is also a leader in food manufacturing. No matter what interests you, there is likely an agriculture career related to your interests and passions.

There are millions of jobs in agriculture in a diverse number of career fields. It is more important than ever for us to be able to produce food, fiber, and fuel while continuing to protect the environment. Careers in agriculture help make sure everyone has access to safe, healthy, and tasty food. In order to accomplish this, the agriculture industry needs people who are skilled in a wide variety of areas. Who knows, maybe some of your interests and passions would be a good fit for a career in agriculture!