Cooperative Living August 2023 - 6

POWERFUL CAREERS
●●●●●●●● Seeds
by Jim Robertson, Staff Writer
Electric co-ops connect with Future Farmers of America students at career expo
F
uture farmers, lawyers, mechanics,
veterinarians and even some
aspiring lineworkers visited with
representatives from 40 organizations
promoting a variety ofcareer options
at the Career &Opportunity Expo
preceding the Virginia FFA State
Convention onJune 22.
For the second straight year, the
electric cooperatives ofVirginia,
Maryland and Delaware supported the
event, held this year at Virginia Tech
in the Commonwealth Ballroom ofthe
Squires Student Center. Representatives
visited with attendees throughout the
afternoon and enjoyed many great
conversations with exceptional young
men and women. A total ofmore than
1,200 students, educators and parents
attended the expo.
Students were encouraged to pursue
meaningful and powerful careers with
their local electric cooperatives.With
more than 8,000 electric cooperative
job openings expected nationally in
the coming years-greater than 400
4 ● Cooperative Living ●
August 2023
in Virginia, Maryland and Delaware-
now is a great time to consider joining
the cooperative family. An estimated
22,000 retirements are expected to take
place over the next several years, with
more than 1,100 ofthose affecting the
Delmarva region.
Electric cooperatives play host
to a variety ofcareer opportunities,
including accountants, network
administrators, field engineers, GIS
technicians, foresters, energy advisers,
public relations specialists, drone
pilots and more.
Event organizer and FFA Foundation
Director Jennifer Armstrong explains
that the purpose is not only to inform
students ofthe many career paths
available, but to also encourage them
to practice having conversations with
professionals and exhibit good manners
in the process. " For this being just
the second year for this event, it's
gained such momentum, " she says.
" Our exhibitors love the one-on-one
interaction with members, and it really
Rachael Freeman and Jim Robertson
from the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware
Association of Electric Cooperatives
speak with students about potential
careers at electric cooperatives.
opens up these young minds to the
diverse options that exist in both
education and career through this
organization. "
Other participating organizations
included FarmBureau, Rockingham
Cooperative, Southern States, Farm
Credit and more. Electric cooperatives
are committed to supporting valuable
programs like FFA and look forward
to opportunities to engage with
students about choosing a promising
career path. Stay up to date on powerful
careers locally and nationally at
vmdaec.com/powerfulcareers. Contact
your local electric cooperative about
available internships or job-shadowing
opportunities. 
For more, visit vmdaec.com/powerfulcareers.
co-opliving.com
PHOTO COURTESY LOGAN MILLER PHOTOGRAPHY
http://www.vmdaec.com/powerfulcareers http://www.vmdaec.com/powerfulcareers http://www.co-opliving.com
Cooperative Living August 2023

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