When we think of the millennial generation and their jobs,
where do we imagine them? Maybe working in a start-up company with an open
workspace. Or possibly launching a business from their home.
What I’m sure very few of you imagine is a young person
waking up at 5 a.m. to till fields and feed livestock. However, young farmers
are a growing trend.
According to NPR,
the average age of a farmer in the U.S. is 58.3, a number that has been slowly
rising for over 30 years. But, in the
northeastern states of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont that trend is
reversing.
In Maine, farmers under the age of 35 have increased by 40
percent. The national average increase is only 1.5 percent. So what has caused
this explosion in the northeastern U.S.?
Land is relatively cheap in the northeast and according to Deseret News National, this generation has a greater concern about environmental health and sustainability.
Photo Courtesy of NPR. |
In Ohio, the same trend can be monitored just on a slightly
smaller scale. In the 2007 census,
farmers in the 25 to 34 age range were 2.3 percent of total farmers. However,
in the 2012 census
that percentage increased to 2.8 percent, which is higher than the national
average.
On the heels of millennials in pursuing agriculture is
Generation Z, those born in the mid-1990s. In 2014,
membership in Future Farmers of America reached 610,240 and 4-H became the
largest youth organization in the U.S. The influx of youth includes those from
urban and non-farm backgrounds.
The Ohio Farm Bureau has an entire group dedicated to young
farmers in Ohio called Young Agricultural Professionals. The group hosts
various events
to help young farmers and others in agriculture learn new ideas and develop
their leadership skills.
This weekend, Jan. 30-31, the Ohio Farm Bureau is hosting the
Young Ag Professionals 2015 Leadership
Experience for young adults ages 18-35 who share a passion for farming, rural
living and/or local foods.
These trends point to a bright future ahead for the
agriculture industry, which is vital to Ohio as agriculture is the state’s #1
industry!
What do you think about the increase of young farmers in the
U.S.? How do you think this will affect agriculture in years to come? Let us
know your thoughts in the comments below.