The pipeline is breaking. For years, agricultural and animal health companies could hire “perfect ag students” straight from graduation. Not anymore. The shortage is such that some universities are considering remedial tracks to bring ag students to a workable starting point. Kim Rounds, a potential hirer of perfect ag students, warns this trend is accelerating fast—and argues the industry must adjust now.
Source: Kim Rounds, LinkedIn, September 2025. Link. Most agriculture companies today are led by middle-aged white men. That’s not criticism; it’s context. It means management teams are going to have a harder time finding candidates who look like them, were raised like them, and had the same experiences.
More students entering ag programs today are:
- Predominantly female
- From non-farm backgrounds
- Sparked by a brush with ag: 4-H, FFA, a summer camp, or a single class
- Passionate, but missing a deep base of cattle experience
Fresh eyes. New perspectives. Different life experiences.”