ANIMAL SCIENCE IN A NEW ERA
FOR OPPORTUNITY CHALLENGE SUCCESS
That’ s the title of a new Careers Brochure, just off press, which I authored for the American Society of Animal Science. Some pertinent excerpts from this publication follow.
• Why Go To College? Practical young people go to college for three primary reasons: m 1. Because in many cases a college degree is a requisite to getting a position. There are fewer unskilled agricultural jobs; more positions for managers, technicians, and scientists. 2. Because it increases earning power. As a result, they can enjoy a higher standard of living and some of the finer things of life. Indeed, a college education is a big key to financial success.
$ 247,000
Finished Finished GRADE SCHOOL HIGH SCHOOL
$ 293,000
$ 41 7, 000
1-3 YEARS of COLLEGE COLLEGE
In a lifetime, and on the average, here is what you can expect to earn. l
3. Because most people like to do some good in the world. Certainly everyone wants to make money; and there’ s no doubt that a college education is most helpful from this standpoint. But a college education also enhances those things of the spirit and intellect that do not wear dollar marks— the pure enjoyment from living and the enlarged contribution to society. Generally speaking those who command respect as leaders, and whose. lives are fullest and most productive, are college graduates.
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• Career Opportunities in Animal Agriculture
Of course, there are many good and interesting Pro _ fessions. In fact, one of the most cherished heritages of American youth is the opportunity to choose a profession— then build it into a life career. In reaching this decision, two primary considerations are im portant:( 1) a knowledge of various fields, and( 2) an evaluation of one’ s ability, aptitude, and interests.
Animal agriculture is scientific, specialized, mechanized, and industrialized. It provides job opportunities in many areas. There are actually more than 500 distinct occupations in Animal Agriculture, two-thirds of which are in businesses and industries closely related to agriculture rather than on the farm.
• Why Take Animal Science? In a nutshell, here’ s the answer: The opportunities are great. More specifically, here are some facts to
ponder: 1. The demand for graduates exceeds the supply.
The nation’ s colleges are graduating only about 4,700 agriculturalists each year, whereas it is estimated that we need at least 25,000 new, welltrained people annually; thus there are more than five jobs awaiting each agricultural graduate. Some Animal Science departments report a wider gap— with ratios of 8-10 to 1.
Despite the fact that 4 out of 10 people gainfully employed in the United States are making their living from agriculture, only 1 per cent of the 460,- 000 bachelor’ s degrees conferred annually is in agriculture. 2. There is a suitable job for every conceivable interest. Many challenging opportunities have mushroomed around Animal Agriculture. In fact, there are approximately 500 distinct occupations in the 7 fields of production, agribusiness, education, agriservices, research, communication, and conservation. 3. There are good opportunities for urban students. It is estimated that slightly more than half of the students in colleges of agriculture come from nonfarm homes. Their interest and aptitude count more toward success in Animal Science than farm background. This is so because of the varied opportunities in it. Of course, for the production assignments, farm experience is very helpful; and for certain other assignments it gives a running start. But for many of the positions in agribusiness, research, communication and teaching it is of little consequence.
Students from urban areas can add to their experience through summer placement and part-time work on the college farm— and, too, they will be
earning while learning. 4. It draws on all the sciences. Because the field
is so diversified, there is a need for all the sciences. As a result, students entering the field may specialize in any one of a number of the sciences *— biochemistry, genetics, physiology, pathology, microbiology, zoology, entomology, animal behavior, food technology and others.
# Ifc Requires College Training
Thomas Jefferson, farmer of Monticello and apostle of democracy, gave a fitting answer to the above question 150 years ago. Said he, " He who qualifies
( Continued on page 34)
VOICE of the Tennessee. ing Horse