23-05-2025
Ag-related career opportunities plentiful, diverse
Four hundred Somerset County eighth-graders had their eyes opened recently to career opportunities in agriculture during an event at Pennwood Farms in Berlin.
Longtime dairy farmer Harold Shaulis told our David Hurst that 'it's not all about growing crops and raising cattle.'
Statewide, 25% of careers involve agriculture in some way, shape or form. That includes preservation work on state lands, logging and the veterinary field. There are ag-related banking jobs, sales professionals needed to provide ever-changing farm equipment and mechanics to maintain it.
Abby Shuck is a perfect example of operating an agriculture business on a small scale. She told Meyersdale Area Middle School eighth-graders that she's an entrepreneur. She said, 'I make 10 bars (of goat milk soap) at a time … and it's helping me pay for my college costs.'
The goal of the Agricultural Career Day was to broaden local youths' perspectives about the agricultural field – and the jobs that exist within it.
Somerset Area eighth-grader Jacklyn Richard was seeing that for herself. She said that she was already considering following in her sister's footsteps into veterinary work, but said that dozens of presentations gave her more to think about. She told Hurst that Shuck's success of turning goat milk into a healthy skin product was a highlight of her day.
She said, 'It's just really interesting getting to hear what everyone does and learning about their jobs.'
Garrett Waydo, a Berlin Brothersvalley eighth-grader, agreed. He said he already works for Leydig Farms, bagging feed that is hauled to livestock.
Somerset County Commissioner Irv Kimmel Jr. raises beef cattle on his family's Rockwood-area farmland, but said young people in rural Somerset County have little experience with the industry. He said, 'They can come here, walk around and get a real feel for the industry, and a lot of jobs they probably don't know exist.'
We agree. It's worth checking out.
