2020 ExploreAg

Editor’s Note: Due to ongoing health concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the difficult decision has been made by Ohio Farm Bureau and OSU Extension to cancel all ExploreAg Camps this summer.

Ohio State University Extension, Franklin County and the Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation are bringing four ExploreAg camps to high school freshmen, sophomores and juniors to explore various careers in agriculture. Ohio is projected to have 18,000 new jobs in agriculture through 2020. 

Students will interact with and learn directly from teachers, scientists and researchers. Subject areas include food science, precision agriculture, animal sciences, natural resources, management skills, technology, and agricultural business. In addition to the classroom experience, scholars will participate in field experiences that highlight cutting-edge research and meet industry partners to provide a glimpse of various careers in related fields. There will also be sessions focused on soft skills such as interviewing, resume building and public speaking to prepare participants for the workforce. Schedule

Camp dates

Session 1: June 14-19 – Ohio State University, Columbus Campus

Session 2: June 21-26 – Ohio State University, Columbus Campus

Session 3: July 5-10 – Central State University 

Session 4: July 12-17 – Ohio State University – ATI campus, Wooster

The ExploreAg camps are free to attend. Program costs covered include on-campus accommodations, meals, staffing, course supplies, program materials, and transportation. Supervision is provided at all times by faculty, staff, and program counselors who are current college students in related majors.

Application deadline

The deadline to apply is March 6, 2020, and applicants will be notified of admittance by March 20, 2020. Applicants will be asked to submit an application with one reference and a 1-3 minute video with the prompt: “Please tell us about one agricultural career and why that interests you.”

Questions about ExploreAg Camps should be directed to OSU Extension Educator Marissa Mulligan.

Online extras

Read about the 2018 and 2019 camp experience and watch this camp overview video:

Growing our Generation
Having opportunities to attend leadership institutes, advocate for rural Ohioans on the state and national level, facilitate young ag professionals events, and serve in a variety of leadership positions have helped my skills grow exponentially.
Sara Tallmadge's avatar
Sara Tallmadge

Ashland County Farm Bureau

Growing our Generation
Business Solutions
Labor has always been an issue, mainly because we are a seasonal operation. So that's a challenge finding somebody who only wants to work three months out of a year, sometimes up to six months.
Mandy Way's avatar
Mandy Way

Way Farms

Business Solutions
Washington, D.C. Leadership Experience
If it wasn't for Farm Bureau, I personally, along with many others, would not have had the opportunity to meet with our representatives face to face in Washington.
Austin Heil's avatar
Austin Heil

Hardin County Farm Bureau

Washington, D.C. Leadership Experience
Farming for Good
I was gifted the great opportunity through an Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation Youth Pathways grant to run a series of summer camps here. That really expanded my vision of what ‘grow, maintain, sustain and explain’ could actually be.
Jim Bruner's avatar
Jim Bruner

Mezzacello Urban Farms

Farming for Good
Leadership development
I see the value and need to be engaged in the community I live in, to be a part of the decision-making process and to volunteer with organizations that help make our community better.
Matt Aultman's avatar
Matt Aultman

Darke County Farm Bureau

Leadership development
Advocacy
So many of the issues that OFBF and its members are advocating for are important to all Ohioans. I look at OFBF as an agricultural watchdog advocating for farmers and rural communities across Ohio.
Mary Smallsreed's avatar
Mary Smallsreed

Trumbull County Farm Bureau

Advocacy
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