Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding visited Highland Elementary School and Cedar Cliff High School in Cumberland County to mark National Agriculture Literacy Week, according to a statement from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. The events aimed to inspire students about career opportunities in agriculture and emphasize the connection between farms and food.
“Investing in opening students’ eyes to new possibilities is a sound investment in all of our futures. Giving the youngest Pennsylvanians a meaningful experience learning where their food comes from inspires them to consider career possibilities waiting for them when they graduate. It is the first, critical step toward building the skilled, innovative, and imaginative workforce who will feed us in the future,” Redding said.
During his visit, Redding read “Cows Can Moo Too! Can You?” from The Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library series to third-grade students at Highland Elementary School and answered questions about his role as Agriculture Secretary. At Cedar Cliff High School, he toured an Apiary Lab supported by a $6,143 Pennsylvania Farm Bill Agriculture and Youth Grant awarded in 2024 for apiary education. The program includes hands-on experiences with pollinators and teaches students how to harvest honey and wax while producing products such as honey, lip balm, soap, and candles. The lab also integrates aquaculture and hydroponics into a system used year-round for growing fish, fruits, vegetables, feedstock, and other plant products.
“The Aquaponics of West Shore program sparks creativity and curiosity among students from kindergarten through twelfth grade and throughout our community. Through hands-on learning and real-world experience, the program connects students with agriculture, sustainability, and environmental stewardship. Our goal is to inspire the next generation of Pennsylvania gardeners, beekeepers, farmers, and agricultural engineers,” Justin Weaver said. Christina Burrows added: “The aquaponics program is a source of pride for both our students and our school community. Students come to class curious and eager to take on the challenges of sustaining the living systems within the program—including bees, chickens, plants, fungi, and fish. Through hands-on projects, they develop a strong sense of ownership and responsibility while building lifelong skills in problem-solving, collaboration, and environmental stewardship.”
Pennsylvania leads the nation in the percentage of farmers under 35 years old. The Shapiro Administration has increased funding for vocational-technical education (vo-tech), career technical education (CTE), apprenticeships by nearly $65 million since taking office—a 50 percent increase—and created four new apprenticeship programs serving agriculture careers. Since 2019 Ag & Youth Grants have awarded $3.5 million supporting 377 projects statewide.
Pennsylvania agriculture contributes $132.5 billion annually to the state economy and sustains over 593,000 jobs according to the official website; it involves more than 49,000 farm families managing over 7.3 million acres with annual cash receipts of $7.8 billion; it supports community prosperity by conserving farmland; offers inspection services for consumer protection; fosters economic growth; protects public health through investments; removes barriers; promotes state agricultural products; extends operations across the commonwealth—all according to information available on their official website.
More details about ongoing investments are available as listed on the official roster page.
