Department of Agriculture
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Dana Ladner
Compliance Education Coordinator
785-564-6660
Agricultural Education
KDA works with a variety of Kansas agricultural organizations to advocate for agriculture and educate youth and adults alike about the diversity and importance of Kansas agriculture. Whether advocating for agriculture through Kansas Ag Week activities, working with the Kansas State Department of Education to enhance technical education in high schools, or training young Kansas leaders on current agricultural issues, KDA is committed to educating Kansans about agriculture.
Career and Technical Education
The goal of Kansas Career and Technical Education is to provide students with relevant contexts for learning through pathways to prepare for college and a career. Career clusters tie what students learn in school to the knowledge and skills necessary for success in post-secondary education and careers.Kansas Career and Technical Education programs are organized by 36 pathways representing the 16 career clusters. This range of pathways provides opportunities to instruct and guide all students regardless of their career goals and interests.
Agricultural Education Programs
The mission of agricultural education is to prepare students for successful careers and a lifetime of informed choices in the global agriculture, food, fiber and natural resources system.
Agricultural education instruction is delivered through three major components:
- classroom/laboratory instruction (contextual learning)
- supervised agricultural experience programs (work-based learning)
- student leadership organizations (National FFA Organization, National Young Farmer Educational Association, and National Postsecondary Agricultural Student Organization)
Kansas currently has 229 agricultural education programs in the state. Additionally, Kansas has eight pathways within the agriculture, food and natural resources career cluster. These pathways include:
- Agribusiness Systems
- Animal Systems
- Biotechnology Systems
- Environmental Service Systems
- Food Products and Processing Systems
- Natural Resource Systems
- Plant Systems
- Power, Structural and Technical Systems
For more information about Kansas agricultural education programs or for details on how to start a program, contact Guy Shoulders, education program consultant at (785) 296-3956.
As of May 2024, more than 13,500 Kansas students are members of the National FFA Organization in 229 chapters within the state. For more information about the Kansas FFA Association, please visit their website here.
Jobs in Agricultural Education
Are you interested in starting a career in Kansas Agricultural Education? View all open positions across Kansas on the Kansas Agricultural Education Vacancies website.