Lesson guide · Lesson 26 · Grades 3–8 · 6 min

Jobs in growing: who works in this field

The growers, scientists, engineers, and others who work together to grow our food.

Open the lessonPrintable worksheet

Students will

  • Name five jobs on a modern farm and what each one does.
  • Explain what a sensor does on a farm.
  • Name school subjects that lead to jobs in growing.

New words

sensor
A small tool that measures something, like heat or pH, and sends the reading to a computer.

Talk about it

Which job in growing would you like to try? What would you want to find out?

Check questions and answers

  1. The fish in a farm's tanks look stressed. Who would you ask?

    • A fish and water specialist (answer) Right. They test the water and keep the fish healthy.
    • An engineer Not quite. Engineers design pumps and lights. Who cares for the fish?
    • A grower in the seedling room Not quite. Seedlings are plants. Think about who tests the water.

  2. Who designs the lights and racks?

    • An engineer (answer) Right. Engineers design the lights, pumps, and buildings.
    • A plant scientist Not quite. Plant scientists test new ways to grow.
    • A sensor Not quite. A sensor is a tool that measures. It can't design anything.

  3. Which school subjects help with jobs in growing?

    • Science, math, and technology (answer) Right. Each one helps someone on the farm.
    • Only science Not quite. Math and technology help too.
    • None. You learn it all on the farm. Not quite. What you learn in school helps in every growing job.

Sources

  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers. Occupational Outlook Handbook.
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Agricultural and Food Scientists. Occupational Outlook Handbook.
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Agricultural Engineers. Occupational Outlook Handbook.
  • Cabrera-Garcia, J., Milhollin, R., and Ernst, M. Controlled Environment Agriculture: Hydroponic Farming. G6986. University of Missouri Extension, 2024.
  • Li, H., Parcell, J., Roach, A., Solomon, A., Cabrera-Garcia, J., Dietterle, L., and Spell, A. The Economics and Optimal Design of Missouri Indoor Farming Supply Chains. University of Missouri Extension.
  • Pickens, J., da Silva, A., and Ayipio, E. Transplant Production for Hydroponic and Greenhouse Systems. ANR-2954. Alabama Cooperative Extension System, 2023.
  • Sallenave, R., and Shultz, R. C. Hydroponics: Water-saving Farming for New Mexico's Arid Environment. Guide H-180. New Mexico State University, College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, 2022.
  • NASA. Veggie. NASA Facts.
  • Masser, M. P., Rakocy, J., and Losordo, T. M. Recirculating Aquaculture Tank Production Systems: Management of Recirculating Systems. SRAC Publication No. 452, March 1999 Revision. Southern Regional Aquaculture Center.
  • University of Florida. Agricultural and Biological Engineering course descriptions (ABE 4320, ABE 4231C). University of Florida Catalog.
  • Rofiansyah, W., Zalianty, F. R., La Ito, F. A., Wijayanto, I., Ryanu, H. H., and Irawati, I. D. IoT-based control and monitoring system for hydroponic plant growth using image processing and mobile applications. PeerJ Computer Science, 2025. doi:10.7717/peerj-cs.2763.
  • Herridge, L. New Plant Habitat Will Increase Harvest on International Space Station. NASA, 2 March 2017.
  • USU Extension. The Purpose and Benefit of Land-grant (Extension) Universities. Utah State University, 14 February 2022.
  • Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment. Extension Outreach Overview. University of Massachusetts Amherst.
  • Cornell AgriTech. Plant Breeding. Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.