Showcase the uniqueness and diversity of careers in your industry

High school students in Washington State are experiencing amazing possibilities in the world of work in innovative ways, thanks to the Centers of Excellence (COE) outreach model and the efforts of proactive employers, both public and private. In Washington State, agriculture represents 12-13% of GDP, so it’s an important sector to invest in for continued productivity.

Leslie Druffel is Communication & Recruiting Coordinator at the McGregor Company, a large family owned enterprise. She has significant experience in natural resources, the agriculture business and high school skills centers. She agreed to be interviewed to highlight upcoming career exploration events and options for K-12 educators.

Ms. Druffel told us that in July, high school kids in an underserved eastern region will be touring a Snake River port in Clarkston, WA to learn firsthand how chemistry comes into play when evaluating specific crop needs and fertilizers. The contact there is Cari Horning of the Employment Security Department, who is a career-learning specialist.

Hands-on activities and use of technology are ideal.

Also there will be an information booth set up at the Snake River Family Festival where young people can learn about local agronomics, and why rivers are so important to farming operations, crop production and transportation of supplies and products. The McGregor Company has a keen interest in exposing Washington youth to the many diverse careers available that support the agriculture industry. These include business professionals, skilled mechanics, computer/IT gurus and data analysts.

For educators looking to set up their own career exploration events, Ms. Druffel shared some practical tips. She suggested reaching out to an industry that’s represented on your school district’s advisory board. She advised organizers to make sure that on-site tours of a facility focus on places where the work in specific careers is happening. Hands- on activities and use of technology and tools/equipment to demonstrate real-life work duties are ideal. Groups should be no larger than 20-25 students, and activity should keep moving along with minimal waiting/downtime.

When hosting a career fair at school, even if presenters will be moving through classrooms, make sure there’s a special room where all businesses are clustered as a magnet for students. If a career fair is a more intentional experience than just passing by it in the hallway or lobby, it will be more successful for employers and students alike.

For employers, Ms. Druffel emphasized that career exploration events are an important recruiting strategy for any business. She suggests bringing multiple people in different jobs to speak to students and highlight the diversity of work activity and roles available.

Create a central location for your career fair to serve as a magnet for students.

One success story we learned about was Colfax HS and LaCrosse Middle School bringing about 30 students into a big training room at McGregor headquarters where they heard from the president of the company, finance/accounting clerks, distribution specialists and a safety officer. Students were then taken by bus to the equipment division, to the welding/fabrication shop and to meet with the precision agriculture team all within a mile of each other. Apparently both kids and chaperones were blown away by how many different careers were represented!

Leslie advises today’s K-12 and post-secondary students to be flexible and keep an open mind about what really excites you in a particular field, beyond the classes you do well in. She urged educators to make time to explain practical applications of math games or science experiments; and writing and art in communications and graphic arts. Tying classroom learning to real world needs is key to creating meaningful connections. Students who enjoy working with their hands can be encouraged to acquire valuable skills, such as in computer electronics or welding that will get them in the door to jobs with a broader range of tasks and responsibilities and promising career.