Secondary agricultural education programs provide students an opportunity to gain a wide variety of knowledge about agriculture, as well as, the career opportunities within agriculture. The National FFA Organization is available for all youth enrolled in a secondary agricultural education program with a mission to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success. In order to continue to have youth interested in agricultural colleges and the potential for pursuing agricultural careers, students must be educated about those program areas. Student perceptions of these program areas can greatly influence their motivation enroll in secondary agricultural education programs, join the National FFA Organization, and pursue agricultural career. This study used a survey method to determine the perceptions of students not enrolled in a high school agricultural program of secondary agricultural education programs, the National FFA Organization, and agricultural careers, as well as, determine the demographic characteristics of those students.

<div> <p>Employability skills such as communication, leadership, and critical thinking are in high demand from employers and colleges alike (Crawford, Lang, Fink, Dalton, & Fielitz, 2011; Easterly, Warner, Lamm, & Telg, 2017). In a competitive employment environment, applicants must strive to achieve academic success and proficiency in their field of interest. They also need to possess a command over employability skills that are broadly applicable to all aspects of business (Boahin & Hofman, 2013). A descriptive census of 2018-2019 high school senior members of the National FFA Organization was conducted to provide an updated and focused look into the National FFA student membership. Its goal was to assess the level of employability skills and academic success retained through high school and participation, within the organization, that takes into account the evolution of employability skills desired by the 21^st Century job market. Exploring, defining, and understanding the current National FFA student membership’s achievements and interests in career pathways is important in ensuring the optimal educational experience for today’s youth. The study took place over nine weeks in the fall of 2018 with 2,087 respondents completing the online survey. Informed consent and parental consent were collected completely online. Respondents self-reported their Youth Leadership Life Skills, Critical Thinking Dispositions, Communication Competence, High School GPAs, Standardized Test Scores, FFA Involvement/Enrollment, and their interests in AFNR Career Pathways. Results of the study indicated that respondents self-perceived high employability skill levels and above average academic success compared to National Average Standardized Test Scores. These results could be translated into College and Career Readiness of the study respondents. Significant relationships were found between employability skill levels, academic success, and respondent’s level of FFA Involvement. Recommendations for future research include replicating this study within the next 10 years and using a standardized scale to collect self-reported high school GPAs. It would also be beneficial to review USDE high school transcript studies to uncover why “class scheduling problems” were reported as the most common reason for gaps in FFA enrollment.</p> </div> <br>

<p dir="ltr">With the accelerating pace of Baby Boomer retirements from the workforce, agricultural companies need to understand how to recruit and retain the upcoming generation of workers. The generation currently entering the workforce has been labeled Generation Z. The purpose of this study was to describe workplace attractiveness factors for FFA members belonging to Generation Z. Research questions were: 1) What factors of employer attractiveness is considered important to FFA Alumni belonging to Gen. Z and 2) What is the relationship between the respondents’ demographics and the factors/values of employer attractiveness?</p><p dir="ltr">The population for this study were past FFA members between the ages of 18 and 25 who were a part of one of three groups: American Degree recipients, FFA Alumni, or Forever Blue Network. This study was conducted in the spring of 2023 using Qualtrics. Conclusions from this study include agricultural employers must incorporate the five workplace attractiveness values into their organizational culture, policies, and practices; Generation Z employees who are unwilling to move for the job are less likely to be willing to meet company expectations beyond a typical work week; and Generation Z employees with a BS degree value a supportive company.</p><p dir="ltr">Agricultural employers can use the findings from this study to tailor their recruitment strategies and the findings can also guide School-Based Agricultural Education in its preparation of students for agricultural careers while ensuring the industry's continual growth and relevance by aligning education, career pathways, and employer engagement with the preferences of Generation Z.</p>