Ag open to enthusiasm

Chelsea Wunnicke Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions

FREEDOM, Wis. – While she didn’t grow up on a farm, Breanna Fritsch knew from a young age that she wanted a career in Wisconsin agriculture. Despite her success showing Guernsey cattle as a youth, including being named Wisconsin State Guernsey Princess in 2019, she says she, and others like her, often receive discouraging messages about a future in agriculture.

“There are two things that I hear a lot,” she said. “It’s either that agriculture is a ‘dying breed’ and there’s no jobs in agriculture, or that ‘you don’t need to go to college’ to work in agriculture.”

Fritsch and other young adults like her are proof that neither of those suggestions hold true.

In 2021, while still a student studying agriculture and business at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, Fritsch and her mother, Tammy Fritsch, opened a micro dairy, Two Guernsey Girls, near Freedom. The business is now expanding to a new retail location and adding new products made from the milk of their 13 Guernsey cows. In addition to running her entrepreneurial venture, Breanna Fritsch also works as a dairy sanitarian with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

There are many college and career pathways into agriculture, Fritsch said. Some grew up on a family farm. Others cultivated an interest through extended family or extracurricular activities like FFA, 4-H and showing at fairs. Students can take that passion into post-secondary education and careers.

Fritsch said she passionately rejects the notion that job opportunities in agriculture are limited.

“That’s a lie,” she said. “There are lots.”

She had a job lined up prior to graduation, she said, and many of her classmates who studied agriculture are also working in their chosen fields. Job opportunities include areas outside of what many may consider traditional agriculture.

“When people think of agriculture, they think of either farming or crops,” she said. “There are so many other positions that young adults don’t know about. They don’t think of everything else that is a part of agriculture.”

Agriculture includes on-farm jobs, but also consulting, business support and food processing, she said.

According to a recent study – the Contribution of Agriculture to the Wisconsin Economy – by UW-Madison, there are more than 350,000 agriculture jobs in Wisconsin. The number of on-farm job positions have decreased through time, but food processing has grown by double digits.

There are jobs for every level of education, but Fritsch’s experience highlights how extended education opens doors to advanced job opportunities. She said learning about both the science and business of dairy operations has helped her go beyond entry-level positions.

Diversity in agricultural education is important, so colleges have many disciplines within agriculture programs. An animal-science degree may have different specialties such as dairy science, meat animal or veterinary technology. Fritsch said she uses her agricultural-business minor almost daily; it’s important for marketing and understanding the business side of decisions.

Post-secondary education offers opportunities for internships, mentorship and networking that lead to real-world jobs and connections, she said. And friendships formed through youth cattle showing continued through college and on to professional networks.

“I’m very fortunate that I was able to go to college and get my degree, because it has definitely given me more opportunities than I ever could have imagined,” she said.

Like many students, Fritsch paid for her education using multiple sources. National and local foundations offer many generous scholarships for agriculture students, but most don’t cover the full costs. Student income and family savings can help bridge the gap and reduce the need for student loans.

One way to reduce the overall cost of education was to start thinking about it early, she said. Because her high school didn’t offer agriculture courses, courses at Fox Valley Technical College were made available to her.

“High schoolers and those that are starting to think about going to college, I would recommend taking as many (advanced placement) classes or college-level classes as possible,” she said.

That helps students discover their interests, she said. Once they arrive at college, that experience can help save money and time by allowing the student to stick with an academic major that he or she knows will be enjoyable.

Parents, grandparents, other family and even friends can help students achieve their dreams by establishing a 529 account to save for future education. Funds saved in an Edvest 529 College Savings Plan account can be used at eligible educational institutions both in Wisconsin and out-of-state. That includes colleges and universities, as well as technical colleges and Registered Apprenticeship programs.

Contributions are made post-tax; account earnings grow tax-deferred and can be withdrawn tax-free for qualified education expenses – including tuition, student housing, books and supplies. And Wisconsin taxpayers who contribute to an Edvest 529 plan – regardless of account ownership – may claim up to a $5,130 state tax deduction per beneficiary in the 2025 tax year.

Young people in Wisconsin have countless opportunities to turn their interests into a career in agriculture through post-secondary education. Families and communities play a vital role in nurturing that interest – by exposing youth to the diverse paths available in the ag industry, highlighting educational options that align with their goals, and investing in their future through thoughtful planning and savings. Together they can cultivate the next generation of agricultural leaders.