Empowering Youth Through Agriculture Training
Hands-on skills for a sustainable future in trades and agriculture training
Empowering Young Minds
Our Vision
At Youth Agri-Trade Academy, we envision a future where young people are empowered with hands-on skills in agriculture, trades, and sustainable business. Through our pumpkin patch enterprise, we cultivate entrepreneurial spirit and environmental stewardship. Our workshops in general mechanics, electrical work, construction, animal care, horsemanship, and more provide the technical expertise needed for success in diverse fields. We are committed to making education accessible by offering scholarships and supporting youth in 4-H and FFA projects, whether through feed, transportation, or housing for their animals. By blending innovation, sustainability, and practical education, we strive to equip the next generation with the knowledge and confidence to build thriving careers and resilient communities.
Support Youth Agri-Trade Academy
Shape the Future and Start the Conversation
Help our youth begin to look at skilled trades with a fresh view. Help them start to think about how buildings are constructed and the materials and tools it takes. Talk about all the inner workings of a building – plumbing, electricity, support beams, etc. Have them try to draw a blueprint or design the layout of their perfect home and then add details on how they would run wires and pipes. Look at all the angles on many of the hip roofs constructed today. (They certainly aren’t as simple as a barn roof anymore!) For roofing, talk about how shingles and even underlayment need to be laid so that water flows off correctly for the complex facets, like in a valley. These conversations are vital as we instill value into the skilled trades as a respectable and well-paying career option.
So, what's causing the labor shortage in skilled trades anyway?
Back 30 some odd years ago, the pressure was on for everybody to get out and go get a college education, get an office job.
The computer revolution was taking off, and everybody was doing that. And vocational programs suffered as a result. They started getting put out to pasture.
As the cultural zeitgeist shifted, young people put less stock behind working with their hands and looked toward four-year college degrees for the promise of higher pay. The result? Student debt exploded more than sevenfold since the 1990s, but research shows college graduates still find it challenging to secure jobs in their chosen field.
The booming demand in skilled trades — where salaries often exceed median U.S. worker pay by 30 percent or more — offers a promising new avenue for young people in search of steady work. But getting them interested requires a shift in mindset.
We as a society haven't done a good job over the last 10 or 20 years of promoting skilled trades. You have these two factors of a somewhat negative perception of the skilled trades, coupled with ever-rising demand, and it creates a pretty profound worker shortage.
Funding for programs like Youth Agri-Trade Academy is a promising way to build a strong and steady pipeline of people entering skilled trades
Early education benefits
According to Parag Chitnis, acting director of USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, a recent report shows that students across America who are studying food, agriculture and related sciences made a “sound career choice and will graduate into a strong and growing job market in the years ahead.”
The USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture and Purdue University report shows that over the next five years, U.S. college graduates can expect about 59,400 job opportunities annually in food, agriculture, renewable natural resources and the environment. Employer demand will actually exceed the supply of available graduates with a bachelor’s degree or higher in agriculture-related fields.
While our high school agricultural education programs offer the base knowledge to help students get a strong start on a college degree and ultimately a career path, programs like FFA and Youth Agriculture-Trade Academy offer soft skills that often do not carry strong data. But they are what employers are looking for.
For instance, Youth Agri-Trade Academy helps students understand collaboration in the workplace. Youth Agri-Trade Academy students learn to work as a group. They understand how to listen to others, share their opinions and even take criticism. They have one goal — to win. To do that, they must work together in a respectful manner.
Contact Us
Have a question or want to get in touch? We'd love to hear from you. Contact us today and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.
Support Youth Agri-Trade Academy Today
Youth Agri-Trade Academy - Supporting Education
Our organization is committed to supporting education by providing scholarships, mentorship, and resources to students from low-income backgrounds. We believe that education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty and creating a brighter future for all. Through our partnerships with schools and community organizations, we work to ensure that every student has the opportunity to achieve their full potential. Join us in our mission to make education accessible to all!
Donate Today
Your donation can make a difference in the lives of students in need. Help us support education and create a better future for our communities.
Support Youth Agriculture and Trades Education
Your generous donations help us empower young people with essential skills in agriculture and trades. By contributing, you support our workshops and pumpkin patch enterprise, fostering entrepreneurship and environmental stewardship. Together, we can make education accessible to all.
Hello
Join Youth Agri-Trade Academy in Making a Difference
Our nonprofit organization is committed to improving the lives of those in need through community outreach and education. Discover how you can get involved and make a positive impact today.