California Ag Is Big and It Has Changed • One in five Valley adults is employed in agriculture • $45 billion industry • Jobs are now more high-tech, specialized, and innovative • Require higher-level skills than a decade ago
Hundreds of Skilled Jobs Remain Unfilled • Students graduate high school without the skills or training to compete in the job market • Fewer than 20% of students go on to college • Youth unemployment in the Central Valley hovers near 37%
What Wonderful Agriculture Career Prep Does for Valley Youth • Increases college-going rate • Prepares students for skilled jobs and management careers • Average starting salary $35K - 50K
Skilled Jobs Available with 2-Year Degree – Right Out of High School Crop or Spray Technician, Irrigation Plant Science Manager, Pest Control Field Scout Major Machine Operator, Equipment Mechanic, Mechanics Electrician, Packing Technician General Administrator, Accountant, Business Management Clerk, Analyst, Supervisor
Our Model Creates a Strong Partnership WO WONDERFUL AG AGRICULTURE CO COMP MPANI NIES HI HIGH H CO COMMUNI MMUNITY SC SCHOOLS CO COLLEGES
How It Works • Students take first college course before starting high school. • Students continue to take college courses each semester of high school, and every summer throughout high school. • Students participate in fieldtrips and work- based learning experiences each year. • Students earn a technical certificate and an AS or AS-T degree by the summer following the senior year.
Wonderful Agriculture Career Prep Participants High Schools and Community Colleges Ag Business Middle Schools Partners 2014 POM Wonderful Bakersfield College Sanger High School Avenal High School Reedley College Wonderful Citrus Wonderful Academy West Hills College Wonderful Orchards 2015 Wasco High School Wonderful Reedley Middle College Washington Union High Pistachios and School Almonds 2016 Olam International Mendota High School
Enrollment 2014- 2015- 2016- 2015 2016 2017 3 High 6 High 7 High Schools Schools Schools 503 Freshman/ 825 Freshman/ 199 Freshman Sophomore Sophomore/ Students Students Junior Students 6 Middle 7 Middle Schools Schools 1,000 Middle 850 Middle School School Students Students
Wonderful Agriculture Career Prep provides: • Guest speakers, summer camps, and tours of orchard, production and packing facilities • Participation in industry conventions • Job shadowing and industry mentorships • Guaranteed paid internships at The Wonderful Company • Skilled jobs at one of our companies
More Information Rebecca Farley Senior Director Wonderful Agriculture Career Prep Rebecca.Farley@wonderful.com Wonderful.com
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