Unique County Ag Career Fair Offers Hands-on Demonstrations, Mentors

To showcase the many opportunities in agriculture in the county, Auglaize County (Ohio) Farm Bureau hosted a career fair for high school and upper junior high school students.

With a hands-on, demonstration approach, Mission: Discovery allowed students from the six school districts in the county, as well as those who are homeschooled, to explore in-demand careers in several agricultural interest areas – plant science, animal sciences, natural resources, ag sustainability, ag business, ag technology, food science and ag mechanics – and learn what steps they would need to take to pursue those careers after high school.

To expose the students to these various aspects of agriculture, Auglaize County Farm Bureau invited 18 local businesses to the event.

Included in the hands-on demonstrations were a John Deere tractor and planter, provided by a local dealer. 

Another aspect of the event that set it apart from other career fairs was the connection to mentors the students could make. 

Between the county Farm Bureau volunteers and the ag business representatives, more than 60 individuals were involved in the agricultural side of the career fair.

Auglaize County Farm Bureau also worked with county’s Workforce Development coordinator on the overall event.

Along with agriculture, there were six other career areas the more than 1,000 students in attendance could explore: business, construction, manufacturing, medical, military and public safety.

The event passport all the students were given encouraged them to talk to as many of the businesses as possible. At the end of the event, organizers drew a completed passport for a prize.

County Activities of Excellence

Auglaize County Farm Bureau’s Mission: Discovery event earned the organization a County Activities of Excellence Award. They were among 25 counties invited to display their activity at the 2026 American Farm Bureau Convention trade show in January in Anaheim, California.