AgCareers CAN

22 / 32

as we have (and we so desperately
need others too as well) when they are
uninterested or misinformed? Treat this
Ag & Food Career Guide
as your toolkit for being an Agvocate.
Understand why it is important and
beneficial to advocate for both the
agricultural industry and agricultural
careers, how to go about advocating, and
the best resources for sharing agriculture
with others.
WHY AGVOCATE
Have you ever overheard conversations
that made you wonder if more people
today think their food comes from the
grocery store than the farm? Or have you
had someone tell you that your favorite
food is not okay to eat because of the
chemicals or antibiotics they’ve been
“contaminated” with?
Misconceptions about food and
farming can be dangerous, as they
spread quickly and threaten the
reputation and wellbeing of the
agricultural industry. Negative opinions
and false information can lead to both
legal and economic issues for industry
employees.
Furthermore, agriculture being cast in
a negative light can be attributed to the
very real agricultural labor shortage.
According to the Canadian Agricultural
Human Resource Council, the
agricultural industry could be facing up
to 114,000 unfulfilled jobs by 2025.
APPROPRIATE APPROACHES
It’s easy to get worked up about negative
portrayals of agriculture, the industry we
know and love, but it’s harder to
effectively advocate for it. It might be
intimidating to speak up, or it may be
difficult to get involved without anger.
If you find yourself in a conversation
with a misinformed consumer, first ask
them where they heard this information.
Next, listen to their perspective and
why they feel the way they do. It does
no good to rush into a rant about why
One of our core values at
is “bleed green.” We are passionate and
committed to what we do: agriculture.
Part of that includes promoting
excellent careers in agriculture. Share
these resources with your peers in order
to create a positive and motivational
dialogue around agricultural careers.
CAREER PROFILES
& INFOGRAPHICS:
The Career Profiles were
created as a resource to increase learning
and understanding around the great
variety of opportunities in agriculture
and food. Explore more than 250
different careers organized by pathway.
RESOURCES
22 Ag & F ood CAreer guide
they are wrong. Typically, there is a very
emotional root to their opinion. Finally,
after you’ve listened to them and asked
questions, calmly and rationally share
your own perspective.
Here are some other instances where
you can effectively agvocate:
• Reading accurate agricultural books to
youth and young students.
• Meeting with local groups about
agricultural jobs in the community.
• Working with legislators to inform
them about an upcoming vote on
agricultural policy.
• Participating in #AgChat discussions
on Twitter.
• Speaking to clubs and organizations in
your area about your agricultural career
or the industry.
No matter how you “agvocate,”
sharing your passion for our industry can
make lasting impacts for our future.
Our infographics were modeled after
our Career Profiles and provide a more
visual and shareable form. These are
great tools to share with youth.
CAREERS IN AGRICULTURE DIGITAL
E-BOOK: We created the Careers in
Agriculture digital e-book to promote
agricultural careers. This publication
features interviews with agricultural
professionals, industry leaders, and
agvocates concerning the various
challenges facing the agricultural
workforce. Find versions with or
without the Career Profiles included.
All of these resources and many
more can be found on
under the Job Seeker menu, then under
“Resources.” AG