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The ��«Ӱҵ Agricultural Department held the annual Ag Expo 2024 on Oct. 17 at the Ted Kendall III Agricultural Complex on the Raymond Campus. Area high school students got a hands-on experience in the barns and toured labs and lecture rooms. Instructors and Industry leaders spoke to high school students about the technical talents needed in the agricultural industry today.

Dr. Rhonda Vann demonstrated the use of a sonogram in the livestock barn and shared the images with the students. Dr. Vann is a research professor with Mississippi State and is stationed at the Raymond Campus’ Agricultural Complex. She gave a talk on judging the quality of meat using the sonogram.

Students also visited the Veterinary Technology lab where animals are tested for diseases and where procedures are taught. Throughout the morning the programs that were covered included Meat Merchandising Technology, Beef Production, Poultry Production, the Veterinary Technology program and Agribusiness Management Technology.

Industry leaders who talked to students about career offerings and what’s on the horizon were from Cal-Maine Foods, Mississippi Beef Council, Stockman Supply, AGUP/John Deere Equipment and Mississippi State University.

“We hope doing events like this will open up people’s eyes to the possibilities that are out here today in agriculture,” said Anthony Minor with Cal-Maine Foods. “We need trained and knowledgeable employees. Cal-Maine is the largest egg producer in the country, so we have work opportunities. We are very happy with our partnership with ��«Ӱҵ. This is a great school to attend if you want career training along with life lessons and academic studies. That combination will help you succeed.”

Likely the best recruiters are the students in the program who were on hand to talk to visitors and answer questions about the programs at ��«Ӱҵ. Ann Cole Hammons of Brandon is a second-year student studying Agribusiness and Beef Production. After getting her associate degree she is heading to Mississippi State to get a bachelor’s degree in agricultural communications. Her summer internship was at Ag Up, getting experience in the business side of agriculture.

“I love ��«Ӱҵ’ Ag program so much, I couldn’t think of anything better for me to be doing, than to learn this business. We have multiple classes with multiple guest speakers. That opens your mind up to all kinds of opportunities and maybe open you up to what career you want to do.”

To learn more about ��«Ӱҵ’ agricultural programs visit https hindscc.edu/pathways/acmt or call 1-800-��«ӰҵCC.