By Maggie Edwards 

The Auburn University Rural Partnership Institute (AURPI) is enhancing workforce development by introducing students to state-of-the-art technologies in agriculture and forestry. 

AURPI’s mission is to bolster Alabama rural communities through innovative advancements in the state’s two largest ag-related industries — poultry and forestry, said Auburn University’s (AU) Caroline Whiting. 

“The goal is to find issues and offer solutions to combat them,” said Whiting, a project manager and research engineer in the AU College of Engineering. “AU’s Dr. Mykel Taylor and Dr. Kelli Russell conducted a series of interview surveys and found one of the primary problems in rural agriculture is the lack of skilled labor.”  

To continue the university’s collaboration with Southern Union State Community College (SUSCC), AURPI hosted its inaugural Ag Tech Workshop for the SUSCC senior mechatronics cohort in June. 

AU’s Oladiran Fasina said the program is a route for students pursing a two-year technical degree to gain skill sets and awareness of work in agriculture and forestry. 

“We know there are challenges hiring good labor in ag,” said Fasina, who leads the AU Biosystems Engineering Department. “This approach helps find the people who can do these trades.” 

Whiting echoed Fasina, stating the summer workshop also showcased diverse career opportunities. 

“We know there are people qualified to work in ag, but why aren’t they going into the field?” Whiting said. “This was the way to let them know there are jobs, and the demand is high. It was an eye-opening experience that exposed the group to how much technology is used in agriculture.”

During the four-day Ag Tech Workshop, SUSCC students were bused to various AU facilities. From poultry production and drone demonstrations to forestry simulators and precision agriculture, students left with new knowledge and an ag technology certificate. The hope is to expand the program to include other community colleges. 

SUSCC Dean of Technical Education and Workforce Development Eric Sewell said it’s a win-win for students and the college. 

“The Alabama Community College System is about putting people into the workforce,” Sewell said. “With ag being one of the largest commodities in the state, we want our students to have exposure to where they could land after graduation. When a member of the Alabama Legislature approached us, along with Dr. Fasina, to begin an ag technology partnership, we knew we wanted to be a part of it.”

Sen. Sam Givhan, R-Huntsville, brought the idea of connecting two-year tech degrees and agriculture after visiting another land-grant institution. 

“I hope we can transition the mindset of many young Alabamians to let them see agriculture as a broad opportunity,” said Givhan, a seventh-generation farmer. “We need to foster opportunities to get our youth more connected with the soil. The AU Creed reads, ‘I believe that this is a practical world and that I can only count on what I earn. Therefore, I believe in work — hard work. I believe in education which gives me the knowledge to work wisely and trains my mind and hands to work skillfully.’ The collaboration between AU and community colleges carries that out.”