Agriculture: where the jobs are

Fall 2016 Update: Ag Ed teachers in demand

Agricultural education is a growth industry. Just ask Matt Kreifels, who is in a unique position to see it: His job is split between the University of Nebraska-“Lincoln, where he's assistant professor of practice in agricultural education, and the Nebraska 

Department of Education, where he's state director of agricultural education.photo of Matt Kreifles
At UNL Kreifels helps teach future agricultural education teachers. At NDE he helps current Nebraska teachers with professional development, plans state activities for teachers and FFA members, and connects local agricultural education programs with educational resources.

A public perception persists that agricultural education is less relevant than 30 years ago, Kreifels said, but that's not so. In the seven school years Kreifels, a former agricultural education teacher in Blair, has been in his job, the number of Nebraska agricultural education programs has increased about 30 percent -” to 176 high schools.

"There's a significant amount of growth," Kreifels said. "I really believe schools are adding programs because agriculture is where the jobs are in Nebraska."

In fact, the biggest challenge facing agricultural education is having enough teachers to meet demand, Kreifels said.

Interest has been rekindled in the Omaha School District, which phased out agricultural education more than two decades ago. Tyler Schindler, a 2016 UNL graduate, teaches agricultural education in a one-of-a-kind program that incorporates a Career Academy at Bryan High School. Likewise, new programs have emerged at Lincoln Public Schools “The Career Academy,” at Kearney’s new high school, and in many Class C and D schools across Nebraska.

Lloyd Bell, ALEC agricultural education program coordinator, said Nebraska high school ag education has never been stronger, with demand exceeding supply. In addition, up to 20 percent of Nebraska's agriculture teachers could retire in the next three years.

Updated by Matt Kreifels, Fall 2016

For Information Contact:

Nathan Conner