NYS Office of Strategic Workforce Development and Cornell to model program throughout New York State
Press release
BATAVIA, N.Y. – Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) hosted its third annual food processing bootcamp at Genesee Community College, training graduating high school students from 11 districts in Genesee, Livingston, and Wyoming Counties with experiences in high-wage in-demand careers.
The free, three-day “Cornell in High School” program teaches students about practices and opportunities in the food processing industry, Genesee County’s largest employment sector.
“Our subject matter experts from CALS provide local high school students with an introductory program that teaches the basics of the food processing industry, educates them on the many career opportunities within the industry, and bring in local employees and HR professionals from local organizations within the industry from the GLOW region,” said Dairy Foods Extension Program Director Kimberly Bukowski.
“The GLOW region offers hundreds of immediate job opportunities within the food processing sector; our job is to ensure local youth are aware of these opportunities while preparing them with the proper skills.”
Seniors Tommy Condidorio, and Joseph Kosta, of LeRoy from GVBOCES Electro Mechanical Trades class and Senior Bryleigh Burns, of Pavillion, part of Ms. Stringer’s Food and Nutrition Class, are three of the participants. The students were paid for their time at the camp through an Empire Development and Department of Labor Grant. According to Workforce Specialist at Cornell University, Hannah Moyal, there is a huge need for more people to go into the Dairy and Food Processing sector. “Our main goal at this point for this program and initiative is exposure. Exposing them to careers and pathways within Food and Dairy processing,” says Taylor Pelcher, Workforce Specialist at Cornell University.
At the conclusion of the program, participants received a “Cornell Food Processing Certificate” which will give them an advantage in securing careers in food processing. In addition to Cornell CALS, the program featured industry experts from Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Yancey’s Fancy, O-AT-KA Milk Products, Nortera and HP Hood.
“We have seen a significant increase in the skill set of next generation of workforce candidates and this paradigm shift in prospective employees can be attributed to the committed workforce development programs that have flourished in Genesee County for the past several years,” said Eric Brooks, Director of Specialty and Milk Balancing, Upstate Niagara Cooperative. “This is due largely to the great work of our HR and workforce development stakeholders across the region.”
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NOTE: The next bootcamp will be offered in January and the plans are to offer them quarterly.
Link to more information:
Dairy Foods Extension | CALS (cornell.edu)
(Provided photo)