Why Clinton County Agriculture is Vital to Our Economy: Ag Day Recap

Why Clinton County Agriculture is Vital to Our Economy: Ag Day Recap Main Photo

31 Mar 2022


News

Why did Clinton County Port Authority recognize National Agriculture Day? Agriculture claims a spot as one of Clinton County’s top industries. Almost 80 percent of the land in Clinton County, Ohio, is farmland. With 747 farms and 212,769 acres of farmland bringing in over $116 million, the agriculture industry is vital to our local economy.

Agriculture in Clinton County goes beyond crops and livestock. In the surrounding region, agribusiness has contributed to job creation through implementing new technology, bringing in new businesses, or pursuing unconventional ideas that look beyond the fields of Clinton County to tap global markets.

Employment opportunities exist across the board with choices in careers such as farm production, agribusiness management and marketing, agricultural research and engineering, food science, processing and retailing, banking, education, landscape architecture, urban planning, and energy.

Clinton County's farmers, agricultural workers, and agribusiness movers and shakers contribute to feeding the more than 7 billion people in the world locally, regionally, and globally. Our small family farms contribute to the Clinton County Farmers Market and hydroponic greenhouses like BrightFarms supply major regional retailers. Our students are preparing to guide policy and decisions that could well affect the global market.

Clinton County Port Authority recognizes its community education partners from high school to higher ed who are encouraging young people to consider career opportunities in the ag industry. Each high school in Clinton County has its own Future Farmers of America chapter. Additionally, Great Oaks Career Campuses/Laurel Oaks offers vocational programs in Animal Science & Management and Equine Science & Management to give students a headstart on careers and college.

At Wilmington College (OH), agriculture is one of the top three majors. They have programs in Ag Business, Ag Communications, Ag Education, Agronomy, Animal Science, Food Policy & Ag Advocacy, Pre-Vet, and Plant, Environment & Soil Science. Hands-on learning opportunities abound in the Center for the Sciences & Agriculture labs, the greenhouses, and the 267-acre crop and animal production farm. Students have the opportunity to learn how to lobby Congress in Washington, D.C. on agricultural and rural life issues or organize a judging competition that regularly attracts 1,000-plus high school students.

The National Ag Day program advocates that every American should understand how food, fiber, and renewable resource products are produced; value the essential role of agriculture in maintaining a strong economy; appreciate the role agriculture plays in providing safe, abundant, and affordable products; and acknowledge and consider career opportunities in the agriculture, food, fiber, and renewable resource industries.

American agriculture is essential, now and for our future. National Ag Day is organized by the Agriculture Council of America. The ACA is a nonprofit organization composed of leaders in the agricultural, food, and fiber community, dedicating its efforts to increasing the public's awareness of agriculture's role in modern society.

Contact Clinton County Port Authority for more information about our agriculture industry. Follow CCPA on LinkedIn and Twitter.

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