St. Louis, MO and Des Moines, IA (June 29,2026) — Grounded in AgTM and AgCareers are partnering to address the experience and market knowledge gap that many employees and new hires have – fewer have lived on farms, studied agriculture in college or worked in the industry with the new Ag Onboarding Academy.
“The wide variety of careers in the agricultural industry today invites people from different experiences, education, and backgrounds who may not have agricultural knowledge,” said Bonnie Johnson, Marketing & Communications Manager, AgCareers. “Our latest analysis indicates nearly 40 percent of AgCareers.com’s job applicants do not have an ag-based education, and 30 percent of them are not currently working in agriculture.”
The Ag Onboarding Academy will expand access to practical onboarding resources that help agricultural businesses strengthen employee readiness, improve retention, and build more confident teams.
“Good onboarding is one of the simplest and most effective ways to help someone feel welcome, confident and capable in a new role,” said Janice Person, founder of Grounded in Ag. “Helping people understand and appreciate agriculture and the farmers many of us serve is the focus of our programming. Participants hear directly from trusted farmers and experts who impart expertise in the business, farm practices and culture as they deliver the lessons. This collaboration with AgCareers makes practical training tools more accessible so more businesses can add that industry lens, improve understanding, and set employees up for success.”
Audio soundbite from Janice Person
Johnson continues, “Employers are increasingly welcoming new hires from non-ag backgrounds and looking for opportunities to fill that knowledge gap. They are exploring better ways to support new hires, especially as more people enter the industry. By expanding access to onboarding resources, we can help employers enhance the experience for employees and strengthen their teams over time.”
With the Ag Onboarding Academy, farmers and ag professionals deliver lessons to provide an engaging and real-world connection with customers. There are a few course combinations offered that provide foundational knowledge about agriculture and farming, which can be augmented by optional courses in crops or livestock. All the courses are delivered via videos (web & app), which are paired with downloadables, quizzes and vetted resources. There are additional packages available via Grounded in Ag that provide greater depth of knowledge by focusing on specific commodities.
A free preview is available for people interested in learning more.
The collaboration comes as Person prepares to speak about upskilling at the AgCareers Agriculture and Food Roundtable Conference this summer, where workforce development, retention, and employee readiness will be among the topics of discussion.
About Grounded in Ag: Grounded in Ag helps agricultural businesses strengthen onboarding and employee success through practical training resources built for the realities of the industry. Trusted experts and vetted resources are core elements to every program. Grounded in Ag is developed by Grounded Communications, LLC, a communications & training firm based in St. Louis, Missouri.
About AgCareers: The AgCareers’ mission is to provide global talent solutions in agriculture and food. They strive to “Feed the World with Talent” in the industries they serve. AgCareers’ passion is agriculture, demonstrated through their investment in time and resources that engage candidates and employers in the industry. They work to build the pipeline of talent to the industry by expanding knowledge about the breadth of career opportunities in agriculture. For more information, visit www.AgCareers.com.
Media Contacts:
Janice Person contact@groundedinag.com
Bonnie Johnson bonnie.johnson@AgCareers.com