The Land-Grant University’s Role in Lifelong Workforce Development in Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resources: Leveraging the Relationship between Academic and Extension Programs

Authors

T. Grady Roberts, University of FloridaFollow
Debra M. Barry, University of FloridaFollow
J.C. Bunch, University of FloridaFollow
Suzanna Browning, University of FloridaFollow
Jason C. Dossett, University of FloridaFollow
R. G. (Tre) Easterly III, University of FloridaFollow
Cassandra Goff, University of FloridaFollow
Carla Jagger, University of FloridaFollow
Juan Montealegre, University of FloridaFollow
Brian E. Myers, University of FloridaFollow
Heather Nesbitt, University of FloridaFollow
Jason Steward, University of FloridaFollow
Jessica Switzer, University of FloridaFollow

Volume

63

Issue

4

Abstract

Today’s food, agriculture, and natural resources (FANR) workforce is constantly evolving. Lifelong learning is no longer a lofty goal but is now a necessity. Colleges of agriculture at land-grant universities have the potential to meet the lifelong learning needs of the FANR workforce. In this article, we present a model where the academic and Extension components of colleges of agriculture at land-grant universities can link together to provide seamless lifelong workforce development. Our model is built on workforce development theory and is based on the traditions of the land-grant universities evolving to meet the needs of the people. Our model can serve as the catalyst for meaningful discussions at each land-grant university about meeting workforce development needs.

Creative Commons License

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Recommended Citation

Roberts, T., Barry, D. M., Bunch, J., Browning, S., Dossett, J. C., Easterly, R., Goff, C., Jagger, C., Montealegre, J., Myers, B. E., Nesbitt, H., Steward, J., & Switzer, J. (2025). The Land-Grant University’s Role in Lifelong Workforce Development in Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resources: Leveraging the Relationship between Academic and Extension Programs. The Journal of Extension, 63(4), Article 8. https://open.clemson.edu/joe/vol63/iss4/8