Brick College Student Addresses State Agriculture Convention

A Brick Township resident who is also the New Jersey State Future Farmers of America (FFA) President addressed delegates gathered for the New Jersey State Agricultural Convention in Atlantic City last week, the state Department of Agriculture said in a statement.

Ernest Arians, a sophomore at Ocean County College who is studying to become an educator, spoke about how New Jersey Agricultural Education and FFA make it possible for the younger generation to begin their journey to a lifelong career in agriculture. 

Arians said, with global population is expected to increase by 2.3 billion by 2050, the world’s farmers will have to grow about 70 percent more food than what is produced currently.

"How are we going to produce enough food to feed the world?" he asked.

"This question influenced my decision to enroll in an agricultural education program," said Arians.  "We must find a way to keep America the world’s farm and I want to do my part."

Arians said Agricultural Education and FFA prepare students for life and teaches leadership, advocacy and how to be the best you can be, according to the statement.

"We must do our part for the benefit of mankind and all in this room to secure the future of agriculture," he told the delegates. "It is because of you that we have gotten this far; let’s take it to another level as we work together to create new agricultural education programs, prepare more agriculture teachers and impact more students as we help them reach new heights."