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WORLAND — For the second year in a row, the University of Wyoming Washakie County Extension is hosting a Youth Ag Career Event during WESTI (Wyoming Extension’s Strategically and Technologically Informative) Ag Days next week.

The Youth Ag Career Event will run from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 14, at the Worland Community Center Complex. According to Washakie County 4-H Educator Amber Armajo, there will be a free dinner but participants are asked to RSVP by Feb. 13 to the Extension Office, 347-3431, to make sure there is enough food to accommodate all participants.

She said this year they have four colleges who will have representatives available to talk about scholarship and educational opportunities — University of Wyoming, Northwest College in Powell, Sheridan College and Casper College.

There will also be agriculture professionals from the area of livestock nutrition, banking, communications, farming and ranching, welding and beekeeping, among others.

After a brief welcome and dinner, Trent Loos, a member of President Trump’s Ag Advisory Committee and columnist for the High Plains Journal and WESTI Ag Days keynote speaker, will make a brief presentation before the “trade show” portion of the evening begins. Armajo said youth will have the opportunity to visit each of the college booths as well as rotating to visit each of the professionals and ask questions about the profession and what type of training and education is required.

The event is open to youth of all ages. It is a good educational opportunity for all youth but there will be a larger benefit to older youth considering college and career opportunities, Armajo said.

She said, “We really want to encourage kids who are not a part of the ag industry to come and see what is out there. There are so many opportunities within the ag industry and you don’t have to have any background or history, you don’t have to grow up in the ag field to have a career in ag.”

Washakie County Extension Educator Caitlin Youngquist added, “There are some really great career opportunities in agriculture. Many agriculture employers are having trouble filling positions so they are filling those positions with candidates who do not have specifically agriculture education. So young people who are interested in that field of work would have a real advantage if they pursue some education in agriculture. It’s a great place to look for work.”

Last year there were 45 to 50 participants. Armajo said some of the youth who participated last year have already RSVPed to attend this year.

WESTI Ag Days is Feb. 14-15 in Worland.