The AgriProspects Workforce Development Network, a national program of the Extension Foundation open to all Land-grant Institutions and funded through the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Workforce Development Competitive grant (2023-67037-40533), has initiated a nationwide data capture effort to identify and catalog adult agricultural workforce development programs offered by Land-grant Universities. This foundational step will inform and serve as the database for the development of the AgriProspects Marketplace, a centralized platform designed to connect earners, learners, and employers with Extension opportunities.
The AgriProspects team will conduct a comprehensive review of Land-grant institution websites to gather information on current agricultural training programs, credentialing options, and workforce development initiatives. The resulting clearinghouse will offer a robust resource to help individuals and businesses navigate educational and employment opportunities within the agricultural sector.
“Building this clearinghouse is an essential first step in ensuring agricultural workers and employers can easily find and access the skilling and upskilling resources they need to succeed,” said Dr. Jason L. Weigle, AgriProspects Program Manager. “Through this effort, we aim to expand on the good work already underway across Extension by providing consistency, parity, and visibility for end users to the extensive educational opportunities offered by all Land-grant Institutions across the country.”
The AgriProspects Marketplace, supported by the data gathered during this phase, will serve as a user-friendly platform for exploring Extension and broader Land-grant adult agricultural workforce development opportunities. Future phases of the Marketplace will incorporate additional features, including Learning and Employment Records (LERs) to capture learning and experiential competencies, digital wallets for verified credential management, an employment opportunity portal to facilitate connections between job seekers and employers, and expansion to encompass other Extension workforce development opportunities such as those within health care, energy, technology, and 4-H.
This initiative reflects the Extension Foundations commitment to strengthening the agricultural workforce by providing equitable access to education, training, and career opportunities.
For more information about the AgriProspects data capture effort or the AgriProspects Marketplace, please contact Dr. Jason Weigle at agriprospects@extension.org. Learn more about AgriProspects at https://agriprospects.extension.org.
