More and more young women in the Scottish Borders are signing up for agriculture courses. Stephanie Crozier, a 16-year-old who grew up on a farm, is one of 12 girls studying the National Certificate (NC) Agriculture course at Borders College. This is happening in other courses across Scotland too. In fact, 46% of students on agriculture courses run by Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) are now women, which is up from 42% last year. Stephanie loves agriculture and hopes to have a future in the industry.

Borders College used to struggle to get enough students for its rural skills program. Last year, only 10 students enrolled in the NC Agriculture course. But now, they have their highest ever numbers, with nearly half of the students being teenage girls. Andrew Johnson, the head of rural skills, said that they have always had girls applying, but this is the first time they’ve had so many. In addition to the 25 students studying NC Agriculture, there are 18 more doing the National 5 Modern Agriculture course, and 12 apprentices in agriculture and mixed farming.

Mr. Johnson thinks it’s really important to attract young people to the agriculture industry. There are job opportunities available, and the industry needs new talent to keep growing. The UK government’s Environment, Food and Rural Affairs committee has warned before that there might not be enough workers for farming, which could cause permanent damage. The Scottish government has also started a Women in Agriculture taskforce to help more women make a difference in the sector.

Not all of the girls on the Borders College course have farming backgrounds. For example, Bethany Scott had no experience with agriculture before starting an animal care course. But she was interested in the practical side of the agriculture course and likes how busy and exciting farming can be. The managers at Borders College are confident that more and more students will sign up for agriculture courses in the future. They already have 18 school pupils taking part in their agriculture pathway program.

Many students have shared their positive experiences and dreams of having a farming career. Emily Mulligan, who has a part-time job at a local auction mart, recommends farming to other students who aren’t sure what to do. Jessica Damerell, who grew up working on a sheep farm, loves being outside and wants to be a farmer. The National Farmers’ Union Scotland (NFU Scotland) is happy about the increase in interest in the industry. They think it’s great that young people are passionate about agriculture and want to learn more.

Original news source: Record number of girls on Borders College farming course (BBC)

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Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: In pairs, students will read the article and write a summary of the main points. They should focus on the increase in young women enrolling in agriculture courses in the Scottish Borders and the importance of attracting new talent to the industry. After writing their summaries, students will share with the class and compare their answers.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups and give each group a set of discussion questions related to the article. The questions should focus on students’ opinions about young women studying agriculture and the future of the industry. Each group will discuss the questions and then present their opinions to the rest of the class.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write key vocabulary words from the article on separate slips of paper and place them in a bag. Each student will take turns drawing a slip of paper and silently drawing the word on the board. The rest of the class will try to guess the word. After each round, the student who drew the word will explain its meaning and use it in a sentence.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: In pairs, students will think about the benefits and challenges of pursuing a career in agriculture. They will then share their thoughts with their partner and come up with a list of advantages and disadvantages. Afterward, pairs will join another pair and share their lists with the new group, discussing any similarities or differences.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: In small groups, students will discuss and make predictions about the future of the agriculture industry. They should consider factors such as new technologies, climate change, and the changing needs of society. Each group will present their predictions to the class, explaining their reasoning behind each one.

Comprehension Questions:

1. Who is Stephanie Crozier and what course is she studying at Borders College?
2. What percentage of students on agriculture courses at Scotland’s Rural College are women?
3. Why did Borders College previously struggle to get enough students for its rural skills program?
4. According to Andrew Johnson, what is the importance of attracting young people to the agriculture industry?
5. What steps has the Scottish government taken to encourage more women to make a difference in the agriculture sector?
6. Can you give an example of a student on the Borders College course who did not have a farming background?
7. What positive experiences and dreams have some students shared about having a farming career?
8. How does the National Farmers’ Union Scotland feel about the increase in interest in the agriculture industry?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

More and more young women in the Scottish Borders are (1)______ up for agriculture courses. Stephanie Crozier, a 16-year-old who grew up on a farm, is one of 12 girls studying the National Certificate (NC) Agriculture course at Borders College. This is (2)______ in other courses across Scotland too. In fact, 46% of students on agriculture courses run by Scotland’s (3)______ College (SRUC) are now women, which is up from 42% last year. Stephanie loves agriculture and hopes to have a future in the industry.

Borders College used to struggle to get enough students for its rural (4)______ program. Last year, only 10 students enrolled in the NC Agriculture course. But now, they have their highest ever numbers, with nearly half of the (5)______ being teenage girls. Andrew (6)______, the head of rural skills, said that they have always had girls applying, but this is the first time they’ve had so many. In addition to the 25 students studying NC Agriculture, there are 18 more doing the National 5 Modern Agriculture course, and 12 apprentices in (7)______ and mixed farming.

Mr. Johnson thinks it’s really important to attract young people to the agriculture industry. There are job (8)______ available, and the industry needs new talent to keep growing. The UK government’s Environment, Food and Rural Affairs committee has warned before that there might not be enough workers for farming, which could cause permanent damage. The Scottish government has also (9)______ a Women in (10)______ taskforce to help more women make a difference in the sector.

Not all of the girls on the Borders College (11)______ have farming backgrounds. For example, Bethany Scott had no experience with agriculture before starting an animal care course. But she was interested in the practical side of the agriculture course and likes how busy and exciting farming can be. The (12)______ at Borders College are confident that more and more students will sign up for agriculture courses in the (13)______. They already have 18 school pupils (14)______ part in their agriculture pathway program.

Many students have shared their positive experiences and dreams of having a farming career. Emily Mulligan, who has a part-time job at a local auction mart, recommends farming to other students who aren’t sure what to do. Jessica Damerell, who grew up working on a (15)______ farm, loves being outside and wants to be a farmer. The (16)______ Farmers’ Union Scotland (NFU Scotland) is happy about the increase in interest in the industry. They think it’s great that young people are passionate about agriculture and want to learn more.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is agriculture and why is it important?
2. How would you feel if you had the opportunity to study agriculture?
3. Do you think it’s important for more women to get involved in the agriculture industry? Why or why not?
4. What do you think are some of the job opportunities in the agriculture industry?
5. How would you feel if there weren’t enough workers for farming and it caused permanent damage?
6. Do you think it’s a good idea for the Scottish government to have a Women in Agriculture taskforce? Why or why not?
7. What is the agriculture pathway program and why is it important?
8. How would you feel if you had a part-time job at a local auction mart like Emily Mulligan?
9. Do you like being outside? Why or why not?
10. How would you feel if you had the opportunity to work on a sheep farm like Jessica Damerell?
11. What do you think the National Farmers’ Union Scotland thinks about the increase in interest in the agriculture industry?
12. How would you feel if you had the chance to learn more about agriculture and become a farmer?
13. Do you think it’s important for young people to be passionate about agriculture? Why or why not?
14. What are some of the positive experiences that students have had studying agriculture?
15. How would you feel if you were able to make a difference in the agriculture industry?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. agriculture
2. courses
3. industry
4. enrolled
5. talent
6. opportunities
7. permanent
8. taskforce
9. backgrounds
10. practical
11. pathway
12. career
13. auction mart
14. increase
15. passionate

Meanings:
(A) Chances or possibilities for success or advancement
(B) Personal history or experiences
(C) Classes or programs of study
(D) A route or way to achieve a goal or destination
(E) A place where goods or livestock are sold to the highest bidder
(F) Natural ability or skill
(G) Having strong emotions or intense feelings about something
(H) Lasting or long-term
(I) A particular area of work or business
(J) Registered or signed up for a course or program
(K) The practice of farming and growing crops
(L) Relating to real-life situations or hands-on experience
(M) A chosen profession or occupation
(N) An increase or growth in size, amount, or importance
(O) A group of people working together to achieve a specific goal
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What percentage of students on agriculture courses run by Scotland’s Rural College are women?
(a) 32%
(b) 58%
(c) 70%
(d) 46%

2. How many girls are currently studying the National Certificate (NC) Agriculture course at Borders College?
(a) 12
(b) 25
(c) 18
(d) 10

3. Why did Borders College struggle to get enough students for its rural skills program in the past?
(a) The course was too difficult
(b) Not enough girls were applying
(c) There were no job opportunities in agriculture
(d) The college was not well-known

4. Why does Mr. Johnson think it’s important to attract young people to the agriculture industry?
(a) The industry needs new talent to keep growing
(b) The government has provided funding for agriculture courses
(c) There are job opportunities available
(d) The college wants to increase its enrollment numbers

5. What has the UK government’s Environment, Food and Rural Affairs committee warned about?
(a) Agriculture courses are not popular among young people
(b) The agriculture industry is not profitable
(c) There might not be enough workers for farming
(d) There is a surplus of workers in the farming sector

6. What has the Scottish government done to support women in agriculture?
(a) Provided scholarships for female agriculture students
(b) Started a Women in Agriculture taskforce
(c) Increased the number of agriculture courses available
(d) Offered financial incentives for women to work in farming

7. What is the agriculture pathway program at Borders College?
(a) A program for college students studying agriculture
(b) A program for experienced farmers to learn new skills
(c) A program for women interested in a career in agriculture
(d) A program for school pupils interested in agriculture

8. What is the National Farmers’ Union Scotland (NFU Scotland) happy about?
(a) The increase in interest in the agriculture industry
(b) The decrease in enrollment numbers in agriculture courses
(c) The lack of job opportunities in farming
(d) The low number of women in the agriculture sector

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. The Scottish government has started a Women in Agriculture taskforce to help more women make a difference in the sector.
2. Stephanie Crozier, a 16-year-old who grew up in a city, is one of 12 boys studying the National Certificate (NC) Agriculture course at Borders College.
3. 46% of students on agriculture courses run by Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) are now women, which is an increase from last year.
4. Less young women in the Scottish Borders are choosing to study agriculture courses.
5. The UK government’s Environment, Food and Rural Affairs committee has warned that there might not be enough workers for farming, which could cause permanent damage.
6. Many students on the agriculture courses have shared their positive experiences and dreams of having a farming career.
7. Borders College used to easily get enough students for its rural skills program, but now they have their lowest ever numbers, with nearly no teenage girls being part of the student body.
8. Andrew Johnson, the head of urban skills at Borders College, believes it is unimportant to attract young people to the agriculture industry.
Go to answers ⇩

Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. Who is Stephanie Crozier and what is she studying?
2. How many women are currently studying agriculture courses at Scotland’s Rural College?
3. Why is it important to attract young people to the agriculture industry?
4. What is the Women in Agriculture taskforce and what is its purpose?
5. What are some reasons why students are interested in studying agriculture?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Stephanie Crozier is a 16-year-old girl who grew up on a farm. She is studying the National Certificate (NC) Agriculture course at Borders College.

2. 46% of students on agriculture courses at Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) are women.

3. Borders College previously struggled to get enough students for its rural skills program because they had a low number of enrollments. Last year, only 10 students signed up for the NC Agriculture course.

4. According to Andrew Johnson, the head of rural skills at Borders College, it is important to attract young people to the agriculture industry because there are job opportunities available and the industry needs new talent to keep growing.

5. The Scottish government has started a Women in Agriculture taskforce to help more women make a difference in the agriculture sector.

6. Bethany Scott is an example of a student on the Borders College course who did not have a farming background. She had no experience with agriculture before starting an animal care course.

7. Some students have shared their positive experiences and dreams of having a farming career. For example, Emily Mulligan, who has a part-time job at a local auction mart, recommends farming to other students who aren’t sure what to do. Jessica Damerell, who grew up working on a sheep farm, loves being outside and wants to be a farmer.

8. The National Farmers’ Union Scotland (NFU Scotland) is happy about the increase in interest in the agriculture industry. They think it’s great that young people are passionate about agriculture and want to learn more.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) signing
(2) happening
(3) Rural
(4) skills
(5) students
(6) Johnson
(7) agriculture
(8) opportunities
(9) started
(10) Agriculture
(11) course
(12) managers
(13) future
(14) taking
(15) sheep
(16) National
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. agriculture
Answer: (K) The practice of farming and growing crops

2. courses
Answer: (C) Classes or programs of study

3. industry
Answer: (I) A particular area of work or business

4. enrolled
Answer: (J) Registered or signed up for a course or program

5. talent
Answer: (F) Natural ability or skill

6. opportunities
Answer: (A) Chances or possibilities for success or advancement

7. permanent
Answer: (H) Lasting or long-term

8. taskforce
Answer: (O) A group of people working together to achieve a specific goal

9. backgrounds
Answer: (B) Personal history or experiences

10. practical
Answer: (L) Relating to real-life situations or hands-on experience

11. pathway
Answer: (D) A route or way to achieve a goal or destination

12. career
Answer: (M) A chosen profession or occupation

13. auction mart
Answer: (E) A place where goods or livestock are sold to the highest bidder

14. increase
Answer: (N) An increase or growth in size, amount, or importance

15. passionate
Answer: (G) Having strong emotions or intense feelings about something
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What percentage of students on agriculture courses run by Scotland’s Rural College are women?
Answer: (d) 46%

2. How many girls are currently studying the National Certificate (NC) Agriculture course at Borders College?
Answer: (a) 12

3. Why did Borders College struggle to get enough students for its rural skills program in the past?
Answer: (b) Not enough girls were applying

4. Why does Mr. Johnson think it’s important to attract young people to the agriculture industry?
Answer: (c) There are job opportunities available

5. What has the UK government’s Environment, Food and Rural Affairs committee warned about?
Answer: (c) There might not be enough workers for farming

6. What has the Scottish government done to support women in agriculture?
Answer: (b) Started a Women in Agriculture taskforce

7. What is the agriculture pathway program at Borders College?
Answer: (d) A program for school pupils interested in agriculture

8. What is the National Farmers’ Union Scotland (NFU Scotland) happy about?
Answer: (a) The increase in interest in the agriculture industry
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. The Scottish government has started a Women in Agriculture taskforce to help more women make a difference in the sector. (Answer: True)
2. Stephanie Crozier, a 16-year-old who grew up in a city, is one of 12 boys studying the National Certificate (NC) Agriculture course at Borders College. (Answer: False)
3. 46% of students on agriculture courses run by Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) are now women, which is an increase from last year. (Answer: True)
4. Less young women in the Scottish Borders are choosing to study agriculture courses. (Answer: False)
5. The UK government’s Environment, Food and Rural Affairs committee has warned that there might not be enough workers for farming, which could cause permanent damage. (Answer: True)
6. Many students on the agriculture courses have shared their positive experiences and dreams of having a farming career. (Answer: True)
7. Borders College used to easily get enough students for its rural skills program, but now they have their lowest ever numbers, with nearly no teenage girls being part of the student body. (Answer: False)
8. Andrew Johnson, the head of urban skills at Borders College, believes it is unimportant to attract young people to the agriculture industry. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧