News Releases

The future of agricultural education in Iowa will be discussed beginning at 6:30 p.m. March 23 at a public hearing broadcast on the Iowa Communications Network. This meeting was originally scheduled for Feb. 16, but a winter storm forced its cancellation.

The Governor’s Council on Agricultural Education is conducting the public hearing, titled “Creating Life-changing Opportunities Through Agriculture, Food and Natural Resource Education,” to seek ideas for expanding agricultural education in Iowa. There are 242 agricultural education secondary school programs offered out of the state’s 370 school districts.

Robert Martin, chair of the Department of Agricultural Education and Studies at Iowa State University and member of the Governor’s Council on Agricultural Education, is helping to coordinate the public hearing.

Public hearing organizers invite individuals interested in agriculture and education including students, parents, school administrators, advisory groups, educators, agribusiness people, entrepreneurs and farmers.

Participants will be asked to discuss topics and suggestions to improve agricultural education in Iowa, including: should all students learn about agriculture, food and natural resources; what would it take to expand those programs; what should the plan be to expand agricultural education; and how can these programs enhance leadership and career development for students.

The discussions will be at these ICN sites:

• Albert City, Albert City Truesdale High School, 300 Orchard St., Room 100
• Algona, Algona High School, 600 S. Hale, Room 86
• Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College, Building 6, Room 8
• Calmar, Northeast Iowa Community College, Dairy Education Center, Room #114
• Carroll, Carroll Kuemper High School, 109 S. Clark Street, Room A169
• Cedar Falls, Cedar Falls AEA, 3712 Cedar Heights Dr.
• Cedar Rapids, Kirkwood Community College, Washington Hall, Room 104
• Council Bluffs, Iowa Western Community College, Looft Hall, Room CC3
• Creston, Green Valley AEA, 1405 N. Lincoln, Turner Room
• Dubuque, Dubuque Senior High School, 1800 Clarke Dr., Room A-123
• Fort Dodge, Fort Dodge High School, 819 N. 25th St., Room 12
• Gilbert, Gilbert High School, 103 Mathews Dr., Room 116
• Johnston, Iowa Public Television, McElroy Room
• Marshalltown, Iowa Valley Community College, Wolfe Building, 3405 S. Center St., Room 2102
• Mason City, North Iowa Area Community College, Careers Building, Room 118
• Muscatine, Muscatine Community College, Larson Hall, Room 60
• Ottumwa, Indian Hills Community College, Rosenman Video Conference and Training Center
• Sheldon, Northwest Iowa Community College, Sheldon CC1, Room 402D
• Shenandoah, Shenandoah High School, 1000 Mustang Dr., Ed May Center
• Sioux City, Sioux City East High School, 11 Mayhew Ave., Room 215
• Webster City, Webster City High School, 1001 Lynx Ave., Room 19
• West Burlington, Southeastern Community College, Building 300, Room 331