Careers in dairy: adolescents perceptions and attitudes

Exploring adolescents’ perceptions of dairy farming careers in Ireland: views of students studying agricultural science in secondary school

“…Agricultural educational programmes are essential for recruitment into post-secondary agricultural education programmes and consequently into an agriculturerelated career (Scott & Lavergne, 2004). Beecher et al (2019) found that Irish secondary-level students who studied agricultural science had, unsurprisingly, much better knowledge of the realities of dairy farming and a higher level of interest in agriculture-related careers. In this paper, the focus is on students who select to study agricultural science in school at secondary level to better understand their perspectives on potential careers in agriculture and in the dairy industry.…”

“…Exploring adolescents' perceptions of dairy farming careers in Ireland: views of students studying agricultural science in secondary school Adolescents' attitudes towards careers in dairy farming are subject to perceptions about farm ownership and succession as influenced by gender, potential income and work-life balance (Beecher et al, 2019). There are many factors influencing how adolescents perceive dairy farming careers including, inter alia, where they live, their family background, their education and their media consumption (Lent et al, 2002).…”

“…The curriculum specification for Leaving Certificate Agricultural Science is designed to prepare students for immediate entry into society and the world of work, or to further education and training and aims to highlight careers across the agriculture and food sectors. Students who study agricultural science have a greater knowledge about agriculture, express more favourable beliefs about agricultural careers and are more inclined to consider agricultural science as an area of study than those without such exposure (Knobloch et al, 2007;Beecher et al, 2019). Social cognitive career theory (Lent et al, 2002) examines the processes during which individuals form interests, make choices and attain success in career and academic pursuits.…”

“…Hazari et al (2010) consider the importance of the student's connection with the subject area that is influenced by their interest, performance, competence and recognition by others can influence their career plans. The influence of parents on career choices is widely recognised (Matthews & Falvey, 1999;Fizer, 2013;Beecher et al, 2019) while Robnett & Leaper (2013) also point to the influence of friendship groups. They examined the association between friendship groups and the participants' interest in STEM.…”

“…Attracting young people especially women to careers in farming or indeed to rural life is necessary not only in terms of generational renewal on farms but also in terms of the viability of rural areas (Connolly et al, 2012). In Ireland, Beecher et al (2019) and Cassidy (2019) point to the continued prevalence of the view that to be a farmer, one must be male and from a farm while the norm for entry to the profession of farming continues to be transgenerational succession within the farm family (Deming et al, 2019). However, the entry routes for women into farming are affected by social customs and life course as for many women access to land is directly tied to a male partner (Pilgeram & Amos, 2015).…”