"HACC's new agribusiness certificate and degree program fills an educational void for the regional agriculture industry," said Dennis C. Wolff, Pennsylvania's secretary of agriculture, who is involved in agriculture on and off the farm.
The curriculum was developed to meet the growing need for agribusiness skills in what often is considered Pennsylvania's largest industry.
With 200+ related careers available in the agriculture industry, students completing the program will have the potential for careers that go far beyond traditional agricultural jobs, such as those in production farming, ranching and related animal sciences. Opportunities exist as food packaging and distribution managers, product and package designers, food safety and quality assurance managers, and agribusiness marketing, financial and service managers.
"Until now, students interested in a formal education in agribusiness had to go out of state. In-state needs were being met through traditional generic business programs," explained Ron Young, HACC's vice president of academic affairs. "HACC developed the Agribusiness program to integrate specialized courses within a business degree format. An advisory committee will guide the future refinement of the specialized courses, new courses, and the program content in general."
Anyone interested in learning more about the Agribusiness program is invited to attend a free information night on Tuesday, November 9, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the C. Ted Lick Wildwood Conference Center on HACC's Harrisburg Campus. There is no need to pre-register for this event.
Secretary of Agriculture Dennis Wolff will be available at 6:30 p.m. to meet with prospective students interested in agribusiness careers.
Also attending the information night will be Al Wenger, coordinator of HACC's agribusiness program who has spent more than 30 years as an executive in agribusiness, and has taught at the college level for Duquesne University, Penn State University and Elizabethtown College.
Agricultural career specialists will be on hand to discuss career potential in the field.
For more information, contact Danielle Brookhart at 717-780-3217 or send an email to the address below.
Directions to HACC's C. Ted Lick Wildwood Conference Center: Use HACC Entrance 4 off Industrial Road in Harrisburg near the Farm Show Complex. Walk across the small bridge over Paxton Creek. The conference center is the building on the left with multiple flagpoles in the front.