New initiative aims to fill the gap in entry level agriculture positions

June 06, 2008, Calgary, Alta. Finding qualified people to enter into agriculture, food and bioresources careers is becoming increasingly difficult. IgniteAg is a new program launched by Calgary-based AgCall to help bring more candidates into the industry.

The program’s primary goal is to expand the pool of candidates with an initial focus on entry level positions. Right now, that pool is too small to meet industry needs. IgniteAg will act as the focal point for new talent in the industry. It will provide general information, career opportunities, industry promotion and immigration resources. It will also be a meeting place where candidates and employers can come together to learn more about each other’s needs.

“We want to help make sure graduates of agriculture programs stay in the industry,” says Arron Madson, Vice President, Sales and Marketing with AgCall. “But we want to look deeper. We want to talk to students with rural backgrounds who are not in agriculture programs. We also think there’s great potential with students who do not have a rural background to apply their education and skills to the agriculture industry. And, we want to help the industry facilitate bringing new Canadians into the agriculture workforce.

IgniteAg is currently working with industry, government agencies and post secondary institutions to secure funding for the initiative. A pilot program will be launched in September targeting students in their final years of college, university and technical school. Their career paths are often still undecided at this stage and the timing of the pilot program is aimed at guiding skilled individuals into the agriculture industry.

IgniteAg’s toolbox for generating interest will include social media, campus events and department-specific competitions. They are also planning agriculture career forums (for non-ag specific programs) and developing mentorship and ambassadorship programs. IgniteAg is also working with industry to identify needs and pool applications to bring immigrant workers to Canada.

Because of AgCall’s integrated position throughout the agriculture industry, they were approached by several industry leaders and companies to help find solutions to the staffing problem. “We know we have to think unconventionally in order to get people interested,” says Madson. “In the early stages of this initiative we’ve already seen the sense of urgency to develop the next generation of agriculture professionals. The people we’ve spoken with want to access talent quickly and this program aims to make people entering the workforce aware that their skills are needed right now.”

Lance Johnson recently joined AgCall as IgniteAg’s Executive Director to take the program from concept to reality – to attract investment and set up the pilot project for the September launch. He represents what the initiative is looking for. He has a rural background but a mainstream commerce education. He brought that education back to the agriculture industry where his career has flourished.

“We need to portray agriculture as a diverse and long-term career choice,” says Johnson. “One aspect of the program is to develop a career map to show agriculture’s potential to candidates. The sector is so important in today’s economy but it doesn’t necessarily have the profile of other careers. Agriculture not only feeds the world, but it is leading innovation, environmental stewardship, and alternative energies.”

He adds that agriculture has an image problem with young adults today. “We need to shift the perception of what agriculture is in the minds of youth,” says Johnson. “We don’t want to push them into agriculture, we want to attract and pull them in. This group is increasingly influenced by social media, and non-traditional approaches. Their peer influence is one part of what we hope will help sell agriculture to them.”

IgniteAg has set up a website at www.igniteag.ca with early information on the program and how sponsors, organizations, students and other potential candidates can get involved. As the launch date for the pilot program approaches, more information will become available.

AgCall is the leading provider of outsourced project management and program implementation for the North American agriculture and food industry. Using advocacy and peer influence tactics, the company builds customized sales, marketing, education, and servicing solutions, which accelerate the decision-making process and personalize the brand experiences for the end user. The result is an increase in sales, retention, satisfaction and loyalty to its clients and their brands. More information is available at www.agcall.com.



For more information, please contact:

Lance Johnson
Executive Director, IgniteAg
(ph) 780-628-3982
(email) l.johnson@IgniteAg.ca

Arron Madson
Vice President, Sales & Marketing, AgCall
(ph) 403-256-1229
(email) a.madson@agcall.com