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Butler County hosts Inaugural AgFest

-shared by Crystal Ott, Ohio 4-H Foundation manager

In September, the Butler County 4-H program hosted its inaugural AgFest event, a workforce development day designed to teach youth about the wide variety of agricultural-based careers. Agricultural professionals from across the county took time to give presentations on their careers and speak about the skills needed to be successful.

Students in grades five through seven from Madison Local and New Miami schools spent the day at Jackson Family Farm rotating between 10 different stations. They learned about careers in floriculture, livestock production, landscaping and design, food science, conservation and urban forestry, veterinary medicine, engineering, and more. Margo Long, the state Workforce Development and Pathways program manager, provided youth with an opportunity to complete the “Pick Your Path” survey. This tool is designed to assess students’ strengths and weaknesses in certain subjects and help them discover potential careers and pathways for future development.

AgFest was an all-Extension effort by Butler County’s 4-H, agriculture and natural resources, and family and consumer sciences staff, and it was made possible through grants provided by the Ohio 4-H Foundation. Grants like these are made possible by our many generous donors. To learn more, visit ohio4h.org/foundation/grants.

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