Agri-Business Program

The agricultural business industry offers some of the broadest career choices an ag lover might want to consider. Explore everything from animal, crop and dairy science to office management and sales. An investment in agri-business training at Ridgewater provides you with ample opportunities to supplement farm income or specialize in your passion.
Program delivery
- Willmar campus
- Fall and spring starts
Skills you will learn
- Feeds and seeds usage
- Fertilizer and chemical precautions, application, and trends
- Agricultural products
- Equipment
- Petroleum
- Agricultural services
- Office management
Choose Ridgewater
Agri-business and Ridgewater College are synonymous with excellence in agricultural education. As a program within Minnesota’s largest two-year Agriculture department, Agri-business helps you explore the many in-demand careers that serve commercial and family farms as well as Ag vendors and agencies. Want a career with 100% job placement? Read on!
Program Distinction
2017 Nationally recognized Outstanding Postsecondary/Adult Agriculture Education program
Certifications available: Commercial Driver’s License, OSHA Forklift, OSHA 10-hours, Commercial or Private Applicator, FAA Part 107 Drone
Specialization options
- Dairy Science
- Petroleum Sales
- Crop Science
- Agronomy Technology
- Office Management
- Management and Sales
- Animal Science
Program attributes that help students thrive
- State-of-the-art technology labs and facilities
- Four paid internships for hands-on experience and applied confidence
- School farm and shop for hands-on training
- Strong local industry partnerships for field trips and networking
- Very active Professional Agricultural Students (PAS) club with many top national honors, including 2014 National PAS Ag Sales champion
Gain versatile agri-business skills at Ridgewater. Since at least five jobs are waiting for every agri-business graduate, you’ll have choices!
Salary and Job Outlook Agri-Business
Potential Careers for Graduates | Entry Level Annual Wage 2018 | Median Annual Wage 2018 | Projected Growth Rate 2016-2026 | Projected Regional Job Openings 2016-2026 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Agricultural Equipment Operators | $31,491 | $39,083 | 2% | 290 |
Farmworkers & Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse | $20,800 | $27,102 | 15% | 242 |
Agricultural & Food Science Technicians | $28,059 | $42,286 | 15% | 242 |
Purchasing Agents & Buyers, Farm Products | -5% | - | ||
Soil & Plant Scientists | $47,778 | $64,293 | 24% | 85 |
Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians | 21% | 36 | ||
Conservation Scientists | 17% | 30 | ||
Farmworkers, Farm and Ranch Animals | N/A | N/A |

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