Northwest CO Agricultural Community Survey

South Routt School District and Colorado Northwestern Community College (CNCC) are teaming on a federal grant application. We are proposing that grant funds will support the development of 1) an agriculture education Associate of Science degree at CNCC and 2) a concurrent enrollment certificate opportunity in agriculture education programs in Northwest CO high schools. Your comments in this survey will help portray agriculture education needs specific to Northwest Colorado in our proposal. If you have additional comments or questions about this grant proposal, please contact Karla Setter, Grant Writer for Routt County Schools, at (970) 871-3170 or ksetter@sssd.k12.co.us. Thanks for your help with this!

1. Which of the following best describes the purpose of your business?

Which of the following best describes the purpose of your business? Food production

Services for business that produce food

Food distribution

Other (please specify)

2. How many people do you employ during a typical year?

How many people do you employ during a typical year? 0

1-3

4-6

6-10

10+

3. When considering a recent high school graduate for employment, would you be more likely to hire someone with a CNCC agricultural education certificate? (The certificate will be developed with input from local industry leaders.)

When considering a recent high school graduate for employment, would you be more likely to hire someone with a CNCC agricultural education certificate? (The certificate will be developed with input from local industry leaders.) Yes, given other qualifications of candidates are equal

I don't hire employees

Comment

4. Do you seek to hire employees with degrees in agricultural fields, such as animal science?

Do you seek to hire employees with degrees in agricultural fields, such as animal science? Yes

I don't hire employees

Comment

5. How easy or difficult is it to find employees that meet your qualification standards?

How easy or difficult is it to find employees that meet your qualification standards? Very easy

Easy

Neutral

Difficult

Very difficult

I don't hire employees

Comment

6. At this time, how well are Northwest Colorado young adults prepared to be leaders in the food production industry? Please explain your answer in the comments section.

At this time, how well are Northwest Colorado young adults prepared to be leaders in the food production industry? Please explain your answer in the comments section. Formal training opportunities are adequate as is

Formal training is opportunities are inadequate as is

Comments

7. How well do you respect Soroco's Agriculture Education Program and CNCC's ability to collaborate with the agricultural community to develop meaningful certificate and associate degree credentials?

How well do you respect Soroco's Agriculture Education Program and CNCC's ability to collaborate with the agricultural community to develop meaningful certificate and associate degree credentials? I strongly believe they are capable of developing programs that will benefit the local agricultural community.

I believe they are capable of developing programs that will benefit the local agricultural community.

I am unsure if they are capable of developing programs that will benefit the local agricultural community.

I do not believe they are capable of developing programs that will benefit the local agricultural community.

Comment

8. Please provide any compelling stories, examples, explanations, data, etc. that describe the need for well prepared agricultural science/food production employees.

Please provide any compelling stories, examples, explanations, data, etc. that describe the need for well prepared agricultural science/food production employees.