Ag, Food, and Natural Resources (AFNR) Education

Cultivating Resources

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AFNR Teacher Organizations | AFNR Teacher Preparation and Mentoring | AFNR Additional Resources

About the field of Agriculture, Food, & Natural Resources

Background

Agricultural, Food, and Natural Resources (AFNR) Education prepares individuals for employment in a vast range of science, technology, and business occupations found within the context of in food, fiber, and natural resources. AFNR careers include the production, processing, marketing, distribution, financing, and development of agricultural commodities and resources including food, fiber, wood products, natural resources, horticulture, and other plant and animal products or resources.

AFNR is one of the three original Career and Technical Education (CTE) fields, created in 1917 by the Smith-Hughes legislation. AFNR has evolved in the more than 100 years since its inception as farming classes only for boys to now supporting good paying, highly skilled, and sought after careers for all in food science, biotechnology, agribusiness, and agricultural manufacturing. The student organization for AFNR, FFA, was formed in 1928 originally as Future Farmers of America. As of 2024, more than 211 districts offer AFNR programs in Minnesota, including 334 teachers and 42,970 students grades 5-12.

AFNR comprises the Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources career field on the federal Career Wheel. AFNR includes two clusters: (a) Agriculture and (b) Energy & Natural Resources.

Licenses for this career field include:
– Broad-based license for the entire AFNR field: Agriculture broad-based-010100.
– Careers license for the Agriculture cluster: does not exist yet in Minnesota.
– Careers license for the Energy & Natural Resources cluster: does not exist yet in Minnesota.

– Cross-cutting career-license for the Digital Technology cluster: Communication Technology careers-300000.
– Cross-cutting careers license for the Management & Entrepreneurship cluster: does not exist yet in Minnesota.
– Cross-cutting career-license for the Marketing & Sales cluster: does not exist yet in Minnesota.

Agriculture and Natural Resources Industries in Minnesota

Minnesota’s leading food products sector sprouted in the state because the industry of agriculture is rooted in our history. From farm to table, Minnesota is a food production and agricultural powerhouse. Minnesota is also committed to developing, building, and promoting sustainable solutions across a swath of industries—including water, solar, wind, and other clean energy technologies. Our state has long been a leader in biofuels, and carbon emissions from Minnesota’s power sector have declined 40 percent in the last ten years as our state transitions to a cleaner energy future.

  • 4th in the Nation for Total Agricultural Exports (USDA, 2024)
  • 1st in Sugar Beets, Oats, Wild Rice, Red Kidney Beans (MDA, 2023)
  • 1st in Turkeys Raised (MDA, 2023)
  • 2nd in Hogs (MDA, 2023)
  • 3rd in Soybeans, Dry Beans, Sunflower (MDA, 2023)
  • 6th in Red Meat, Cheese, Honey (MDA, 2023)
  • 1st in the Region and 5th in the Nation in Sustainability (DEED, 2024)
  • 7th Most Environmentally Friendly State (WalletHub, 2024)

Minnesota AFNR Companies

  • AgriBank
  • Cargill
  • CHS
  • General Mills
  • Hormel
  • Jennie-O Turkey
  • Land O’Lakes
  • Runnings
  • Schwans
  • Xcel Energy

Top in-demand and high-wage careers in AGRICULTURE



  • Half of all meat processing jobs pay between $31,045 and $40,257 per year, with 3.5% projected growth in job demand during the next ten years.
  • Half of all agricultural manufacturing jobs pay between $47,792 and $61,381 per year, with 7.7% projected growth in job demand during the next ten years.
  • Half of all food scientist jobs pay between $71,278 and $110,521 per year, with 2.5% projected growth in job demand during the next ten years.
  • Half of all veterinarian jobs pay between $87,218 and $127,125 per year, with 13.1% projected growth in job demand during the next ten years.

Landscaping

Food Scientist

Environmental Engineer

Meat Processor

Water Treatment

Veterinarian

Three Components of Ag, Food, and Natural Resources (AFNR) Education

AFNR Courses and Labs

Academic, Rigorous Instruction

Ag, Food, & Natural Resources (AFNR) prepares students for high wage, high skill, and in demand jobs and careers in food, fiber, and natural resources from animals and plants to business and power systems. AFNR integrates science, math, economics, and even art, ideally while meeting high school graduation requirements and earning college credit and industry certifications. AFNR is contextual, combining classroom and laboratory instruction, often making heavy use of project-based learning.

Essential elements include: career awareness, exploration, and preparation; programs of study based on industry; and a balance of classroom and laboratory instruction, which uses technology.

AFNR Work-Based Learning

Technical, Relevant Experience

Students learn best by doing. A work-based learning (WBL) project is an extension of the classroom, where students develop specific technical and career knowledge that prepares them for their future. AFNR deeply integrates WBL using Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) projects where students explore careers of interest, followed by relevant experiences with internships, entrepreneurship, research, service learning, and School-Based Enterprises at the school such as greenhouses and school farms.

Essential elements include: work-based learning opportunities guided by training agreements and training plans; safety instruction and policies.

Minnesota FFA

Affective, Relationships/Leadership

FFA is a federally charted, integral component of AFNR and is it’s Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO). To become an FFA member, students must enroll in at least one AFNR course per year. Minnesota FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through Agricultural Education. State membership as of 2024 was more than 16,000 secondary members in 210 chapters.

Essential elements include: leadership development opportunities through student organizations or other means.

Courses in Ag, Food, & Natural Resources

– Introduction to AFNR
– Principles of AFNR Biology
– Youth Leadership/FFA

– Energy and Natural Resources Science
– Natural Resources Ecology
– Wildlife, Fisheries, and Ecology Management
– Water Treatment and Environmental Services
– Forestry Science and Management
– Biofuels, Renewable Resources, and Alternative Energy
– Minerals, Mining, and Fuels
– Energy and Environmental Engineering
– Outdoor Education and Recreation Management
– Environmental Science Issues and Policy
– Forestry Operations School Forest
– Natural Resource Work-Based Learning/SAE

– Agricultural Economics
– Ag Finance and Accounting
– Ag Sales and Marketing
– Ag Communications and Journalism
– Ag Construction and Carpentry
– Ag Manufacturing and Welding
– Ag Transportation and Operations
– Small and Large Animal Science and Care
– Animal Biology
– Equine Science
– Livestock and Poultry Production
– Aquaculture
– Veterinary Science and Biology
– Plant Science and Horticulture
– Soil Chemistry
– Crop Production and Agronomy
– Pest Management, Entomology, and Plant Pathology
– Floriculture, Ornamental Horticulture, and Floral Design
– Turf, Landscape, and Parks Management
– Greenhouse and Nursery Operations School Business
– Food Science and Nutrition
– Food Technology and Safety
– Food Processing and Preparation
– Animal and Plant Biotechnology
– Agriculture Work-Based Learning/SAE

Districts with AFNR Programs

Ada-Borup-West, Clearbrook-Gonvick, Climax-Shelly, Crookston, Fertile-Beltrami, Fosston, Kelliher, Mahnomen, Park Rapids, Stephen-Argyle Central, Thief River Falls, and Warren-Alvarado-Oslo.

Aitkin, Deer River, Duluth, Grand Rapids, Greenway, Lake Superior, and Mesabi East.

Bertha-Hewitt, Brainerd, Browerville, Little Falls, Long Prairie-Grey Eagle, Menahga, Pequot Lakes, Pierz, Pillager, Royalton, Sebeka, Staples-Motley, Upsala, Verndale, and Wadena-Deer Creek.

Alexandria, Ashby, Barnesville, Battle Lake, Brandon-Evansville, Breckenridge, Detroit Lakes, Fergus Falls, Frazee-Vergas, Hancock, Hawley, Henning, Herman-Norcross, Lake Park Audubon, Minnewaska, Morris, New York Mills, Osakis, Parkers Prairie, Pelican Rapids, Perham-Dent, Rothsay, Ulen-Hitterdal, and West Central Area.

Albany, Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa, Braham, Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose, Chisago Lakes, Dassel-Cokato, Foley, Holdingford, Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted, Isle, Kimball, Melrose, Milaca, Mora, North Branch, Ogilvie, Paynesville, Princeton, Rockford, Rockville-Cold Spring-Richmond (ROCORI), Rush City, Sauk Centre, Sauk Rapids-Rice, and Willow River.

Academy for Sciences and Agriculture, Anoka-Hennepin, Belle Plaine, Central, City Academy, Eastern Carver County, Farmington, Forest Lake, Hastings, Intermediate 287, Intermediate 288 (Southwest Metro), Intermediate 916 (Northeast Metro), Randolph, Robbinsdale, Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan, Saint Paul, St. Francis, Stillwater, Waconia, and Watertown-Mayer.

Adrian, Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City, Benson, Bird Island-Olivia-Lake Lillian, Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart, Canby, Cedar Mountain, Dawson-Boyd, Eden Valley-Watkins, Edgerton, Ellsworth, Fulda, Glencoe-Silver Lake, Heron Lake-Okabena, Hills-Beaver Creek, Hutchinson, Jackson County Central, Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg, Lac qui Parle Valley, Lakeview, Litchfield, Luverne, MACCRAY, Marshall, Minneota, Montevideo, Mountain Lake, Murray County Central, New London-Spicer, Pipestone, Red Rock Central, Redwood, Renville County West, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton, Tracy Area, Westbrook-Walnut Grove, Willmar, Windom, Worthington, and Yellow Medicine East.

Blue Earth, Butterfield-Odin, Cleveland, Fairmont, Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop, Granada Huntley East Chain, Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton, Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial, Le Sueur-Henderson, Madelia, Mankato, Maple River, Martin County West, Minnesota New Country School, New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva (NRHEG), New Ulm, Nicollet, Sibley East, Sleepy Eye, Springfield, St. Clair, St. James, St. Peter, Tri-City United, Truman, United South Central, Waseca, and Waterville-Elysian-Morristown.

Albert Lea, Alden-Conger, Austin, Blooming Prairie, Byron, Caledonia, Cannon Falls, Chatfield, Dover-Eyota, Faribault, Fillmore Central, Glenville-Emmons, Goodhue, Grand Meadow, Hayfield, Houston, Kasson-Mantorville, Kenyon-Wanamingo, Kingsland, Lake City, Lanesboro, LeRoy-Ostrander, Lewiston-Altura, Lyle, Mabel-Canton, Medford, Northfield, Owatonna, Pine Island, Plainview-Elgin-Millville, Red Wing, Rochester, Rushford-Peterson, Southern Minnesota Education Consortium, Southland, Spring Grove, St. Charles, Stewartville, Triton, Winona, and Zumbrota-Mazeppa.

Directory of AFNR Programs and Teachers | Directory of FFA Chapters | Open AFNR Teaching Jobs

AFNR State Leadership and Professional Organizations

Minnesota association for career and Technical Education

Learn more about MnACTE
Minnesota association OF AGRICULTURE EDUCATORS

Learn more about MAAE

AFNR Curriculum

– AFNR TIP Curriculum Drive
– AFNR Safety Curriculum
– CASE Curriculum
– Ag in the Classroom Curriculum
– AFNR MDE State Standards (Frameworks)

AFNR Resources

– AFNR General Resources
– FFA Resources
– AFNR Program Approval Guide
– AFNR MDE Program Approval Database
– AFNR Job Posting Guidance

AFNR Funding

– CTE Revenue
– CTE Perkins Funding
– CTE Cooperative Funding
– AFNR MDE Program Approval Forms
– Other CTE Grants

State Staff in AFNR Education

AFNR Teacher Preparation and Mentoring

Southwest MN State University

Licenses:

University of Minnesota – Crookston

Licenses:

University of Minnesota – Twin Cities

Licenses:

PELSB – Portfolio Pathway

Licenses:

CTE Teacher Induction
Program (TIP)

Introductory mentoring and induction for secondary teachers new to the profession who need support with foundations of CTE and basic pedagogy/instruction, most often Tier 1 and Tier 2 teachers. CTE TIP offers free curriculum, mentoring, professional development, and resources.

AFNR Teacher Induction
Program (TIP)

Advanced mentoring and induction for those who have recently completed a teacher preparation program (Tier 3) or those who have completed CTE-TIP (Tier 2 or Tier 3) and need license-specific support to build a program, design and adopt curriculum, and enhance their teaching and pedagogy.

Free mentoring, curriculum, and support from a program with more than 20 years of success.

Learn More

Additional AFNR Resources

Minnesota State hosts eight Centers of Excellence – each serving a major industry that faces serious workforce challenges. The centers collaborate with industry and educators to attract and prepare students for success in high-demand careers.

Strategically located throughout the state, the Minnesota State Centers of Excellence drive workforce innovation through education and industry collaboration – and provide thought leadership on workforce development in their respective industries.

The Minnesota Department of Education administers rule and funding unique to CTE, including federal Perkins (under sole source agency Minnesota State) and CTE revenue. The MDE state specialist for AFNR is Lindsey Brockberg.

The nine Service Cooperatives are regional governments and school districts under Minnesota State Statute 123A.21. The cooperatives work as a liaison to state agencies and districts and have strong partnerships with business and industry, postsecondary institutions, and other associations that provide opportunities for Minnesota districts, teachers, and students.

The Cooperatives partner to form the MN CTE Consortium to provide statewide services in CTE teacher licensure, induction/mentoring, and professional development under Minnesota State Statute 124D.4536.

Minnesota State colleges and Minnesota school districts were self-formed in 2008 to promote collaborative planning and implementation of Career and Technical Education programs through the Perkins federal grant. Each consortium has at least one Minnesota State college and one school district, including charter schools. 

AFNR Frequently Asked Questions

Vocational Education (Vo-Ed) evolved into Career and Technical Education (CTE) in the 1990s and 2000s. The 2018 Perkins V Strengthening Career and Technical Education act definitively shifted Vocational Education to Career and Technical Education, dropping the word vocational from the act’s title. At a very superficial level, CTE and Vo-Ed look like they are the same thing, but philosophically they are fundamentally different. CTE provides students with experiences from career exploration and career development all the way to occupation-specific technical skills leading to careers that are high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand. CTE programs align secondary, postsecondary, business, and industry to create multiple opportunities in a career pathway. The philosophy of vocational education was to provide those very specific technical skills tracking towards a specific job right out of high school. References to vocational, Vo-Ed, or Voc-Ed are antiquated and conjure up an image that is not reflective of the vast array of today’s highly technical and in-demand careers.

Yes. Federal Public Law 116-7 specifies the integral nature of FFA to the instruction of agricultural education in the United States. The National FFA Organization’s constitution states to become and maintain membership, students must complete at least one AFNR course per year.