Statistics from the Iowa Department of Education show, as of last year, there were still 234 high school ag education programs with nearly 15,000 students. Also, more than 1,800 students are enrolled in the 15 community college programs in Iowa.
Leaders say there is a shortage of high school ag teachers.
Some programs are using retired teachers as temporary substitutes. We have a couple of programs that don't have teachers this year. Gruis quickly adds those programs have found temporary solutions to their problems for this year. But they have changed. We teach agriculture.