Exploring A Career Path In Food, Agricultural & Environmental Sciences

In this episode, our hosts chat about career paths in food, agricultural and environmental sciences with Adam Cahill, Career Development Manager at The Ohio State University.  After the discussion with Adam, Hunter and Hayden Matus, young farmers and brothers, get to share their advice and insight on how fellow beginning farmers can start their individual farming operations off on the right foot.

First, we chat with Adam Cahill about careers in agriculture:

Q: Explain a little bit more about the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University?

A: Those are the three science-focused majors within what is typically referred to as CFAES for short. Everyone needs clean water, food to eat, and shelter - all things that encompass a career within the CFAES program. Students and alumni are currently learning about and putting into practice things like, “How do I break down a food allergen so that people can consume that food product?” Or, “How do we take sustainability and make it something that can be utilized in every aspect of our lives?”

Q: What are some of the unique career possibilities?

A: Whether it’s a new major or a long-standing program, each is offered at a bachelor’s or associate’s degree level. One popular program, Environment, Economy, Development and Sustainability (EEDS), is a relatively new major focused on supporting the world’s growing population. Animal science and agribusiness are always popular programs in terms of enrollment numbers, but there are numerous lesser-known opportunities as well - like drone operations and culinary science.

Q: How do internships benefit students?

A: Unique to The Ohio State, each student is required to fulfill an internship before graduating. This requirement came to fruition from industry feedback - a need for entry-level employees with hands-on experience related to their major. Not only does this give students more experience, but also helps them solidify what they really want to do. By having a major, a minor, an internship, and maybe even a study abroad experience, students can mold their career interests.

Q: What are some of the best ways for students to explore careers in agriculture and other related fields?

A: Some of the best ways to explore different careers are to start searching the internet, talk to alumni who work in the industry, attend your local county fair, enroll in science classes in high school, and schedule a campus visit.

Next, we chat with Hunter and Hayden Matus of Matus Winery in Wakeman, Ohio about the resources and opportunities available for young, beginning, and small farmers:

Q: What helped you start your own individual farming operations?

A: Family and financial support.

Q: What programs did you use to finance your farms?

A: Hunter and Hayden both financed their farms in different ways. Hunter utilized the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Program, while Hayden was supported by a split loan between AgCredit’s AgStart program and the FSA.

Q: As beginning farmers, what do you wish you would have known starting out?

The Matus brothers wish they would have known a few things before starting out, but offered advice for others: watch your numbers, embrace new opportunities, work hard, listen to your elders, and learn how to control your stress. Hayden ended with, “Farming is a lot more than just jumping in a tractor.”