The Land-Grant University’s Role in Lifelong Workforce Development in Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resources: Leveraging the Relationship between Academic and Extension Programs

Authors

• T. Grady Roberts, University of FloridaFollow
• Debra M. Barry, University of FloridaFollow
• J.C. Bunch, University of FloridaFollow
• Suzanna Browning, University of FloridaFollow
• Jason C. Dossett, University of FloridaFollow
• R. G. (Tre) Easterly III, University of FloridaFollow
• Cassandra Goff, University of FloridaFollow
• Carla Jagger, University of FloridaFollow
• Juan Montealegre, University of FloridaFollow
• Brian E. Myers, University of FloridaFollow
• Heather Nesbitt, University of FloridaFollow
• Jason Steward, University of FloridaFollow
• Jessica Switzer, University of FloridaFollow

Volume

63

Issue

4

Abstract

Today’s food, agriculture, and natural resources (FANR) workforce is constantly evolving. Lifelong learning is no longer a lofty goal but is now a necessity. Colleges of agriculture at land-grant universities have the potential to meet the lifelong learning needs of the FANR workforce. In this article, we present a model where the academic and Extension components of colleges of agriculture at land-grant universities can link together to provide seamless lifelong workforce development. Our model is built on workforce development theory and is based on the traditions of the land-grant universities evolving to meet the needs of the people. Our model can serve as the catalyst for meaningful discussions at each land-grant university about meeting workforce development needs.

Creative Commons License

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Recommended Citation

Roberts, T., Barry, D. M., Bunch, J., Browning, S., Dossett, J. C., Easterly, R., Goff, C., Jagger, C., Montealegre, J., Myers, B. E., Nesbitt, H., Steward, J., & Switzer, J. (2025). The Land-Grant University’s Role in Lifelong Workforce Development in Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resources: Leveraging the Relationship between Academic and Extension Programs. Journal of Extension, 63(4), Article 8. https://doi.org/10.66752/1077-5315.5681