UNIVERSITY PARK (Centre
Co.) - For those about to enter
college, choosing the right edu
cational path to prepare for
employment in the 21st century
can be a challenge.
The average worker is likely
to change careers at least three
times during his or her lifetime,
and many industries that
appear to be thriving today
could be downsizing or filing for
bankruptcy tomorrow.
Graduates in the agricultural
sciences, however, have reason
to be optimistic about job
prospects.
A report compiled every five
years by Purdue University and
the U.S. Department of
Agriculture estimates that near
ly 48,000 jobs in the food, agri
culture, and natural resources
system will open yearly into the
21st century, while universities
will produce only about 45,600
qualified graduates. This five
percent shortfall translates into
employment opportunity for
those majoring in agricultural
sciences.
Strong career fields include
marketing, merchandising and
sales. In addition, food proces
sors and forest product firms
seek graduates with scientific
and technical expertise in prod
uct development. Experts in
managing water, land and other
natural resources can expect
strong demand for their services
as well.
While not every graduate can
immediately trade their cap and
gown for a suit and tie, Penn
State’s 1994-1995 placement
statistics for the College of
Agricultural Sciences show that
two-thirds of its graduates had
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Future Is Still Rosy For Most Ag Graduates
secured jobs in fields related to
their majors three months after
graduation. Those with mas
ter’s and doctoral degrees have
even higher placement rates.
Average starting salaries for
agricultural careers range from
$21,000 for those with bachelor’s
degrees to $27,000 for graduate
degrees. Within certain indus
tries, starting salaries can be
much higher. For example, the
average starting salary for food
science baccalaureate graduates
is more .than $30,000.
, Industries within the U.S.
food, agricultural and natural
resource system have not been
affected by recent economic
trends. Food-related companies
continue to consolidate, forcing
smaller, less efficient competi
tors out of the business.
Companies that restructure
may need fewer workers, but
those that are hired must be
well educated.
Certain sectors of the agricul
tural job market will be particu
larly strong over the next five
years. About 30 percent of the
available jobs for agricultural
graduates will be in marketing
and sales, which is likely to have
an 11 percent employment
deficit-the largest shortfall.
The social services will face a six
percent shortfall in qualified
graduates.
Nearly two-thirds of the job
openings will be for dietitians
and nutritionists. A 4.5 percent
deficit is expected in the science
and engineering sector, where
demand will be strongest for
food scientists, food process
engineers, forest product engi
neers, and food quality control
specialists. Managers and
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financial specialists will see a
tighter job market, but opportu
nities will still exceed graduates
by about 2.5 percent.
Sectors of the job market that
will be much more competitive
include communication and edu-
COLUMBUS, Ohio The 9th
Annual Apple Cider Quality Con
test will help Ohio’s apple grow
ers make better cider, said Win
ston Bash, director of Ohio State
University’s Food Industry Center
and the contest’s coordinator.
The contest, conducted by the
Ohio Fruit Growers Society, will
take place Feb. 4-6 at the 1998
Ohio Fruit and Vegetable Growers
Congress in Toledo.
All 14S cider producers in the
state can enter up to three samples
in the contest.
“Anyone, whether they’re a
large producer or they produce
cider only for their own consump
tion, can enter the contest,” Bash
said.
Each entry must be submitted
with detailed information about
how it was produced, such as pro
duction equipment used, apple
varieties blended, cider storage
methods, use of apples dropped on
the ground, type of washing sys
tem, cider pasteurization, and use
of preservatives. The samples are
then judged for taste and quality
by a panel of four to five industry
experts and invited guests. Bash
said.
Once the samples are judged
and ranked, the production tech
niques of the top five samples are
sent to growers, along with the
717-859-3276
Contest Makes A Better Cup Of Cider
cation, which will have a tour
percent surplus of graduates,
and agricultural production
(farming, aquaculture, etc.) with
a nearly seven percent surplus.
While the national trend toward
reducing the size of federal and
state government will mean
production information of the
other samples, to help suggest
what produces high-quality cider.
Production techniques can real
ly change the way cider tastes,
Bash said. It is usually better to
store apples that produce cider in a
controlled atmosphere rather than
in a cooler. Apples used in pro
duction that are too mature or too
immature impact flavor.
“It’s also a good idea to blend
the flavor of three to five different
apple varieties together to give
cider a well-rounded, sweet-and
sour taste," he said.
Using apples that fall on the
ground is discouraged because E.
coli bacteria can contaminate the
dropped apples. The cider indus
try is working to eliminate any
possible bacterial outbreaks.
“The cider contest is a way to
further promote cider consump
tion and raise cider quality in
Ohio,” Bash said.
There is a $ 10 entry fee for each
submitted sample. All cider must
Students Learn to Build
A Future Through FFA
ALEXANDRIA, Va. -
"Agriculture offers tremendous
opportunities for young people,"
said National FFA Adviser Larry
D. Case, "and FFA helps them
find direction and purpose. Even
if they decide not to pursue one
of the 2000 careers in the busi
ness, science and technology of
agriculture, they will benefit
from the public speaking skills,
career experience, and leader
ship skills they gain from the
FFA."
FFA members across the
United States, Guam, Puerto
Rico, and the Virgin Islands will
organize events and activities to
build awareness of agricultural
education and support for FFA
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Lancaater Fuming, Saturday, January 3, 1961-03
fewer opportunities for gradu
ates seeking traditional careers
with public agencies, many
smaller private-sector business
es are expected to provide some
of the services once offered by
governmental agencies.
be delivered to the Congress regis
tration desk between 10 am. and 5
pm. Wednesday, Feb. 4. Prefer
red samples are one-half gallon of
thawed or fresh cider in a plastic
container. Usually about SO sam
ples are entered in the contest.
Bash said.
The Gold and Silver Award
winning cider will be available for
tasting Friday afternoon Feb. 6 at
the Congress. The winners will re
ceive plaques.
A contest application and copy
of the rules can be obtained from
Diane Miller, horticulturist at
Ohio State’s Ohio Agricultural
Research and Development Cen
ter in Wooster, (330) 263-3824, or
from the Ohio Fruit and Vegetable
Growers Association. (614)
249-2424.
The 1998 Fruit and Vegetable
Growers Congress is being held at
the Toledo Sea Gate Centre in con
junction with the Roadside Mar
keting Conference and, for the
fust time, with the Ohio Grape-
Wine Short Course.
during National FFA Week, Feb.
21-28. National FFA Week is
held each year during the week
of George Washington's birthday
to recognize his leadership and
commitment to American agri
culture.
This year's theme,
"FFA-Building the Future," pro
moted through communities
nationwide, emphasizes how
FFA enables students to develop
leadership skills, confidence,
and the values that have made
America strong. They possess
the knowledge and career expe
rience to make valuable contri
butions that will carry the agri
cultural industry and the nation
into the next millennium.