HISTORY
Agricultural education first became a part of the public education system in 1917 when the U.S. Congress passed the Smith-Hughes Act. Today, over 900,000 students participate in formal agricultural education instructional programs offered in grades seven through adult, throughout the 50 states and three U. S. territories.
What is Ag Teaching?
AG EDUCATION
Agricultural education uses a three-circle model of instruction. The three-circle model includes classroom and laboratory instruction, leadership development, and experiential learning. Now more than ever California needs agriculturalists trained in specialized technical occupations to continue this competitiveness in national and global markets. California agriculture programs keep students abreast of specialized and demanding career opportunities through internships, work-study, and Career Technical Education (CTE); creating a direct link between the agriculture industry and the classroom.
FFA
California high school agriculture programs use FFA to enhance the leadership and experiential learning portions of their program. To learn more about FFA and its influence on agricultural education, visit www.ffa.org.
ECONOMIC IMPACT OF CA AG
In this challenging economic era, agriculture is a promising area of progress. California’s agricultural abundance includes more than 400 commodities. Over a third of the country’s vegetables and nearly three-quarters of the country’s fruits and nuts are grown in California. In 2024, California’s farms and ranches received $61.2 billion in cash receipts for their output. This represents a 3.6 percent increase in cash receipts compared to the previous year
California Agricultural Production Statistics, CDFA 2026
WHY IS THERE A SHORTAGE?
In 2014, student enrollment in California agriculture programs increased by an impressive forty percent. That same year, the increase in student enrollment was met by and sparse fifteen percent increase in agriculture teachers. In the past ten years student enrollment in agriculture programs has continued to climb. In the past ten years California has added 74 new programs and 513 new teaching positions. As of November 2025, 26 new positions were created - leaving 1 positions lost and 8 unfilled. The teacher shortage can be attributed to a multitude of factors. Some factors contributing to the teacher shortage include: continued program growth, veteran teacher retirements, teachers relocating out of state, transitions to administrative positions, employment in industry and continuing education. In the 2024-2025 school year, it was reported that 70 teachers left school-based agricultural education (SBAE), furthering the critical teacher shortage.
The Teacher Shortage
Agriculture Experience Tracker (AET), 2023.
*Statistics based on teacher reported available data.
The Teacher Pipeline
TEACHING CREDENTIALS
In 2024-2025 there were 1103 agriculture teachers in California. Of these teachers, 83% held traditional credentials and 17% held alternative credentials. Approximately 6% of California agriculture teachers were in their first year of teaching in 2024-2025. Of those122 first year teachers, 47% held traditional credentials, 41% held alternative credentials and 12% were interns.
FIRST YEAR AG TEACHER CREDENTIALS
2023-2024
Agriculture Experience Tracker (AET), 2023.
*Statistics based on teacher reported available data.
CALIFORNIA AG TEACHER CREDENTIALS
2023-2024
Traditional
University Degree Program
Bachelors Degree, Credential Program & Student Teaching
Alternative
CTE Credential Process
Already have Degree and/or Industry Experience
Intern
University Degree Program while Concurrently Serving as Teacher of Record
Traditional credentials for agriculture teachers include both a single subject – agriculture, and an agriculture specialist credential. The single subject credential allows teachers at the secondary level to be classroom teachers. An agriculture specialist credential provides them the opportunity to be an FFA advisor, receive state and national career technical education (CTE) funding, supervise student projects (SAE's), etc. A single subject and agriculture specialist credential can only be obtained through CTC-approved credentialing programs, such as Fresno State, Chico State, Cal Poly-Pomona, Cal Poly- San Luis Obispo, and UC Davis.
Alternative credentials to the traditional single subject and Ag specialist credentials would be considered a career technical education (CTE) credential. This allows the teacher to teach in the classroom, but may not allow them to do what a traditionally credentialed teacher is able to do with regards to FFA advising, utilizing state, national funding, etc. A CTE credential can be obtained through a county office of education.
Intern credentials can be obtained through a CTC-approved internship credential program. This type of credential allows a teacher to be employed full-time while completing their single subject and agriculture specialist credential programs.
We realize that everyone's journey to becoming a California ag teacher may look slightly different. Use the above Pathway Guide as a roadmap on your journey.
Traditional Credential Data
Source: National Agricultural Teacher Supply and Demand Project 2026
Agricultural Education - 10 Year Teacher Placement Summary
August 25, 2023
Teacher Demographics
According to data from The Agriculture Experience Tracker (AET, 2025), of the 1103 California agriculture teachers, 919 were White, 5 African American/Black, 17 American Indian/Alaska Native, 14 Asian, , 135 Hispanic/Latino and 3 Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and 10 were unknown.
This data underscores that race and gender equity in California agriculture education is far from optimal, recognizing that in 2025, 83% of agriculture teachers in California were White and predominantly female (66%). It is important for agriculture education to address these demographic disparities in order to ensure that the profession becomes more inclusive, representative, and equitable.
RACE
CALIFORNIA AG TEACHER DEMOGRAPHICS
2024-2025
STUDENT VS. TEACHER DEMOGRAPHICS
There is sharp demographic contrast between the agricultural student and agricultural teacher populations in California . Secondary agriculture programs exhibit a demographic spread of 49% male, 44% female, 26% White, and 46% Hispanic (AET, 2023). These percentages vary significantly from the agricultural teacher population in California.
AG STUDENT DEMOGRAPHICS
AG TEACHER DEMOGRAPHICS
*African American/Black, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Bi-racial/Multi-racial, Native Hawaiian.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
According to The Agricultural Experience Tracker (AET), forty-six percent of California's agricultural teachers have been teaching less than five years, accounting for nearly half of the state's agricultural teaching population.
YEARS OF TEACHING EXPERIENCE
November 2023
Agriculture Experience Tracker (AET), 2023.
*Statistics based on teacher reported available data.