Connecting the Next Generation of Talent with Exciting Career Paths in Agri-Food
Do you have a passion for helping others and making a difference? Do you enjoy working with your heart, hands and mind? Are you interested in science, computers, communications, building things, teaching, working with animals, or sustainability and the environment? There is a career in AFNR for you!
When people think about agriculture they often think of farms and farmers, but more than 80 percent of agricultural jobs are not on a farm. While farming is an important part of agriculture, and a fulfilling career choice, there are numerous jobs in the agri-food field, from technical jobs to marketing to finance to food production to transportation to supply chain logistics, and everything in between!
An AFNR career means you can be part of a small business or a Fortune 500 company. Not only will you help feed the world with a career in agri-food, but you will help protect water, habitat and the environment. Our industry tackles critical issues and problems not only at the state and local level, but also on the national and even global stage including food security, animal health, climate change and more. This is more important than ever, as our population is expected to reach 9.8 billion people by 2050.
Plus, many careers in AFNR are high-paying jobs with quality benefits, so you can build a career while knowing your job positively impacts people in every corner of the globe. You will be making a difference each and every day.
You can find a career that fits your interests and passions
Evolving technologies and an aging workforce means there are many opportunities to not only find a meaningful career, but be on the cutting edge of innovation to help feed the world
Agri-food is an essential industry, and huge contributor to a strong, robust economy
You will be making a difference, from combating hunger to tackling climate change
You can find a career with excellent pay and benefits
Want to explore the amazing careers and opportunities that agri-food has to offer? Use our partners' amazing resources provided here to learn more about a variety of jobs and fields that could be your future career.
The AgCareers.com Career Profiles were created as a resource to increase learning and understanding around the great variety of opportunities in agriculture and food. To browse their more than 250 Career Profiles, select a pathway of interest to you.
AgCareers.com Agriculture & Food Career Guide
This resource is for students and young professional interested in careers in the agricultural industry.
Ag Talent and Workforce Corner
Our Ag Talent Workforce Coalition put together this great infographic that dives into the meaningful opportunities of building a career in AFNR, and it also shows why our collaborative work is critical to fill the talent pipeline in Minnesota.
Want to learn more about various agricultural career pathways? AgCentric and Minnesota State are providing a deep-dive into different career areas, and how you can connect to the right college and major to jumpstart your career in AFNR. Please visit their brochure, which is available in English, Spanish, Somali and Hmong.
Use your passion for purpose in the AFNR fields at CFANS, and join a professional community of peers and mentors. Also learn about careers with a calling, and why agri-food is an industry that can attract teen talent.
AgExplorer is a robust, comprehensive career resource to help you explore the broad range of careers within the industry of agriculture, brought to you by the National FFA Organization. Learn more about which career may be right for you by watching the videos, exploring the career pages and completing the Career Finder interactive.
Learn, Grow, Do. is an initiative developed by the Minnesota State Agricultural Centers of Excellence - with the goal to educate students about the endless career opportunities in agriculture, food and natural resources.
Make It MSP: Grow Your Career in MSP
In Minnesota’s food and ag ecosystem, people are working together to address the major challenges facing our food system and planet. Here in Minneapolis-Saint Paul they’re leading the way to the future of food. No matter what problems you want to solve from farm to fork, you’ll find what you’re looking for in MSP. Discover opportunities to get connected and advance your career.
Minnesota Agricultural Leadership Council - Minnesota AFNR Education Resources
Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources (AFNR) education is led by more than 800 instructors in Minnesota and addresses workforce needs by providing quality instruction in seven career pathways. By introducing students to these areas of study, it provides opportunities to gain technical skills, prepares them for future careers, and develops them into leaders for their communities.
Minnesota State: Plan Your Education By Exploring AFNR Career Opportunities
Minnesota State consists of 30 state colleges and 7 state universities with 54 campuses across the state. They educate more than 340,000 students each year. Whether you’re searching for an internship, job or apprenticeship, want to explore career planning resources, or learn how you can gain new skills, Minnesota State provides a number of meaningful tools to help you. Try this newly launched and one-of-kind, highly interactive AFNR career pathway exploration webpage that features a Career Pathway Search, short AFNR Career Videos, What Can I Do with this Major?, and a Reality Check Tool, in addition to career planning worksheets. The site is designed to jumpstart an individual’s career exploration and provide information about AFNR college and career planning
Southern Agricultural Center for Excellence: Careers and Employment in Agriculture
Do you want to learn about career pathways, what skills you need to succeed in agri-food, and find the latest job postings? Explore careers and resources here.
RealTime Talent’s Agricultural, Food & Natural Resources Career Pathways
Want to take a deeper look at eight career pathways in agri-food, including potential jobs, salaries and skills needed? Check out this handy chart from RealTime talent to explore what field in agriculture is right for you!
Have a passion for teaching and building a strong, smart agri-food sector that feeds the world? Ag education is a critical career field that is training and preparing the next generation of leaders in the industry. Learn how you can change the world, one student at a time.
Check out this study from USDA on the nearly 60,000 jobs in the field that will be open to college graduates in this field between 2020-2025.
