The adaptability of the module system means that content can be added or modified to account for developments and changes that the future will bring. During its year of development, a new component of the program extends the classroom education into real and practical opportunities. Students who complete five of the 10 modules unlock the ability to view internships with Western Growers members. The plan allocates a portion of the awarded grant funds to go toward offsetting the cost of a summer internship for a Western Grower member. “It’s a great way to get students in jobs but also helps the members by offsetting the cost of that intern. It’s almost a 60/40 split,” Peterson said. The link between faculty and growers shows its value in that community college instructors will have the connections with the students who are the most interested in an internship as well as the WG members who have expressed an interest in mentoring an intern. It’s an all-around mutually beneficial system, as the instructor further benefits from having more of their students in learning-based work. The Next Gen Ag Workers Program is set to build a new kind of relationship between the agricultural community and California community colleges, and this new connection is built upon a main objective: Help the younger generation find their place and purpose in a career in agriculture and share the variety of complex and exciting opportunities that await them. “The more sharp minds that are in this realm of food production, the better we all are. We're all better off,” Waite said. The beginning of the Spring 2023 semester is more than just the start of new classes and newly-acquired knowledge, it’s the ribbon-cutting to a clear-cut path toward the open door of the agricultural community in California. The curriculum is much more than the sum of its parts. It’s the message to those already living in agricultural communities—and who may have family contributing to these farms— that they are wanted within the ranks of these organizations. An enriching and challenging career awaits them, and they’ll have the support to get there. If you are interested in providing an internship opportunity, please contact Carrie Peterson at (209) 602-4288.
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MARCH | APRIL 2023
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