(1) Agriculture, natural resources, and food production play a central role in the economy and culture of Vermont.

(2) Farms and farm-based industries are experiencing an ever-increasing need for workers who are willing to work the hours involved in farming and who have the multiple skills necessary to handle successfully the multiple and varied responsibilities of farming.

(3) Farms have always provided the environment for youth to acquire workplace skills such as responsibility, creativity, and initiative and occupational skills ranging from plant and animal science to economics and to grow therefore into sought-after workers by a wide variety of employers.

(4) Programs such as the Farm Youth Corps have provided the infrastructure that is necessary to connect youth to careers in agriculture, natural resources, and food production.

(5) Programs that have provided youth with the opportunity to work on farms have declined due to reductions in federal funding.

(1) Provide them an opportunity to engage in work that provides them with hands-on learning and allows them to develop a strong work ethic and vital workplace and occupational skills that will be valuable in any career they might pursue.

(2) Encourage youth to pursue pathways to careers in agriculture, natural resources, and food production.

(3) Provide farmers with young short-term workers and the opportunity to mentor future, long-term employees.

(4) Ensure that youth are aware of the benefits of agriculture, natural resources, and food production to themselves and to Vermont. (Added 2003, No. 122 (Adj. Sess.), § 164a.)