Supporting counselors and the agricultural workforce

A new project from South Dakota State University's School of Education, Counseling and Human Development will provide professional development opportunities to rural school counselors in support of careers in food and agriculture. 

School counselors wear many hats and are often stretched thin. This is especially true for rural school counselors, who often serve multiple schools or districts and have limited time for professional development.

They work with students on their social and emotional development, help set academic schedules and facilitate counseling programs. At the middle school level, school counselors also play a key role in career exploration and guidance.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture recognizes the important role that school counselors play in career guidance. At the same time, USDA NIFA recognizes the impact an aging agricultural workforce may have on rural communities.

A new project from South Dakota State University’s School of Education, Counseling and Human Development, and in partnership with West Virginia University, will address this twofold issue by providing professional development training and mentorship to middle school counselors. The project, "Launch Fellowship: Empowering rural school counselors to support the agricultural workforce," is being funded by a three-year, $500,000 grant from USDA NIFA. 

"Without a new generation of employees prepared to take over, rural communities may face economic declines and a decreased quality of life," said Amber Letcher, professor in SDSU’s School of Education, Counseling and Human Development and 4-H Youth Development Specialist for SDSU Extension. "Middle school counselors are responsible for a considerable amount of career guidance, but many do not receive formal training in career development, and few have knowledge of emerging careers in the agriculture and food industry."

Letcher, one of the leaders of Strengthening the Heartland — a program which cultivates holistic rural wellness through free educational resources — will serve as the project's director.

To support career development and improve knowledge of careers in food and agriculture, the project proposes an experiential mentorship program for rural middle school counselors. Through a national pool, counselors will be selected to partner with a mentor experienced in career development. Participants will complete a six-month mentorship program that will culminate with a weeklong immersion experience.

"The selected school counselors will set goals, explore food and agriculture careers and participate in online trainings on career theory and pedagogy," Letcher explained. "The immersion week will involve travel to university labs and businesses in the agricultural industry."

The training and mentorship will see participants gain knowledge of agricultural careers that will increase their knowledge and self-efficacy in describing these careers to students.

"Improving agricultural literacy among school counselors promotes a new generation of professionals and will contribute to a healthy agricultural workforce," Letcher added.

This work is supported by the Professional Development for Ag Literature program, project award No. 2024-67038-42606, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and should not be construed to represent any official USDA or U.S. Government determination or policy.