What If We Celebrated Future Agriculturalists?

Could Augusta Celebrate the Next Generation of Agricultural Leaders?

As Georgia continues to invest in workforce development, one important question deserves more attention: how do we help young people see agriculture as a modern, meaningful career pathway?

For Karen Gordon, founder of Growing Augusta and AgLab Institute, that question became more personal after serving as a long-term agriculture substitute teacher at Cross Creek High School.

“I expected to teach horticulture, support FFA, and help students prepare for careers in agriculture,” Gordon said. “What I did not expect was how much the experience would change the way I think about workforce development.”

Inside the classroom, she saw students who were curious about agriculture but did not always see themselves becoming traditional farmers. Some were drawn to landscaping. Others were interested in business, technology, culinary arts, environmental science, photography, social media, or entrepreneurship.

Several simply wanted a career that would allow them to stay in Augusta, earn a living, and build a good life.

That experience opened a larger conversation.

What if agriculture pathways expanded to include urban agriculture, digital storytelling, food entrepreneurship, agritourism, drones, GIS mapping, community gardens, farmers markets, marketing, data analytics, and content creation?

The reality is that agriculture is already connected to all of those fields. It is not only about production farming. Agriculture is food, business, science, land, health, technology, conservation, communications, and community development.

In 2025, Georgia launched Teach in the Peach, a statewide initiative to encourage students to consider careers in education. The campaign includes a public signing day that celebrates students who commit to becoming future educators.

Watching future teachers receive that kind of recognition sparked another question for Growing Augusta:

What if Augusta did something similar for agriculture?

Not another career fair. Not another one-day program with no follow-up. But a public moment of recognition for students who are choosing agriculture, food systems, natural resources, or agricultural education as part of their future.

Imagine graduating seniors standing alongside local farmers, chefs, conservationists, nursery owners, Extension agents, entrepreneurs, landscape professionals, food innovators, and agriculture teachers. Instead of signing a letter to play a sport, they sign a commitment to pursue a future in agriculture.

Some students might go to college. Others might choose technical education, apprenticeships, direct employment, military-to-agriculture pathways, or entrepreneurship.

The point would not be that every student follows the same path.

The point would be recognizing the decision.

There are already strong programs introducing students to agriculture across Georgia. Agriculture education, FFA, 4-H, Farm Bureau, Georgia Foundation for Agriculture, Extension, and other partners continue to build awareness and opportunity.

But Growing Augusta is asking a slightly different question: how do we publicly celebrate the students who are saying “yes” to agriculture?

That question matters in Augusta, especially as the community looks ahead to the planned Josey High School College & Career Academy. A local career academy has the potential to reshape how students think about workforce pathways and future opportunities.

Agriculture should be part of that conversation.

A future agriculture recognition event could help students see the field more broadly. It could connect them to careers in urban farming, landscaping, culinary arts, natural resources, food safety, agribusiness, environmental science, school gardens, agricultural education, local food systems, and digital agriculture.

It could also help younger students understand that agriculture is not simply part of Georgia’s past. It is part of the region’s economic future.

Growing Augusta is not announcing a new program at this time. The team does not expect to implement the idea within the next year. Instead, the concept is being studied and developed slowly, with a possible launch window around 2028 if the right partnerships, timing, and community support come together.

That slower approach is intentional.

Rather than rushing to create another event, the goal is to listen first. What do educators need? What do students want? What are local employers looking for? Which pathways already exist? Where are the gaps? How can Augusta honor its agricultural legacy while preparing students for modern careers?

Agriculture teaches patience.

You prepare the soil. You plant with care. You nurture what has potential. Then you give it time to grow.

For now, Growing Augusta is simply asking a question that may be worth growing:

What would happen if Augusta celebrated future agriculturalists with the same pride we give future athletes, scholars, educators, and public servants?

The answer could help a new generation see agriculture not only as a tradition, but as one of Augusta’s most promising career pathways.