Why Representation and Accessibility Matter in Agriculture Education

This webinar was recorded as part of National Farmers Union's 2021 virtual 119th Anniversary Convention. In the last year or so, there has been more attention to paid to some of the racial inequities in agriculture and the fact that around 95% of farmers in the U.S. are white. These conversations have largely focused on farm policies that disadvantage BIPOC farmers – which is certainly an important issue to address, but it certainly isn’t the only problem. During this conversation, we want to talk about another barrier to agricultural professions: a lack of access to educational opportunities that are affordable and culturally appropriate. In addition to discussing what the obstacles are and the consequences for diverse students, we’ll also think about possible solutions to make agricultural education more accessible to students from all backgrounds.