Northern Crops Institute's summer academy connects students with careers across ag sector

FARGO, N.D. — A growing need for the next generation of agriculture professionals is driving a summer program at North Dakota State University, designed to show students just how broad the industry has become. The Northern Crops Institute is preparing to host its fourth annual Summer Ag Academy from June 22-26 in Fargo, offering high school students a hands-on introduction to careers in food science, animal agriculture, global trade and ag technology. ADVERTISEMENT The five-day program is free for students, with housing, meals and transportation covered through industry sponsorship. Program organizers say the academy was created in response to workforce concerns across agriculture. “(The Summer Ag Academy) came out of basically a need expressed by the industry where they’re just not seeing enough people coming up to replace the folks that they have,” said Casey Peterson, program development manager with the Northern Crops Institute. The academy targets students currently in grades 9-11 and is open to those with or without an agricultural background. Peterson said one of the biggest challenges is overcoming outdated perceptions of the industry. “Most of them don’t know about these careers, and they think of agriculture as farming or ranching,” he said. “All of these careers are connected to agriculture.” The program is designed to broaden that understanding by exposing students to roles across the food system — from product development to international markets. ADVERTISEMENT Participants will choose one of four tracks for the week: food science, animal science, international trade or agricultural technology. Students in the food science track will work in Northern Crops Institute laboratories developing food products and learning how items reach grocery shelves. The animal science track focuses on livestock nutrition and feed systems, while the international trade track explores how crops produced in the Upper Midwest are marketed globally. The ag technology track introduces tools such as drones, sensors and robotics that are increasingly used in modern farming. The academy blends classroom instruction with hands-on experiences, facility tours and interaction with industry professionals. Students spend part of their time in focused track sessions and part in shared programming across disciplines. “They do kind of a deep dive in their track, and we do some general sessions together,” Peterson said. The program can accommodate up to 60 students, or about 15 per track. While most participants come from North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota and Montana, interest is expanding. “Already this year, we've got students from Arizona, California, Texas on the list,” Peterson said. ADVERTISEMENT Industry-backed program The academy is funded entirely by sponsors, including farm organizations, universities, ag lenders and agribusiness companies. Supporters include groups such as the North Dakota Farmers Union, Compeer Financial, AgCountry Farm Credit Services and several universities and commodity organizations. Peterson said industry involvement is critical not only to fund the program but to connect students with real-world career paths. “It’s really anybody that’s connected to agriculture,” he said of potential sponsors. Program leaders are continuing to seek additional sponsors to support future academies. Organizers say introducing students to agriculture careers early is key to building the workforce needed across the industry. “If they’re not wanting to stay on the farm or ranch, we try to show them how they can connect,” Peterson said. “Just the whole variety of jobs that there are in agriculture.” ADVERTISEMENT Applications for the 2026 Summer Ag Academy are now open , as well as sponsorship opportunity.