The recruitment process for the 2012-2013 class of the LSU AgCenter’s Louisiana Young Ag Producers Program has begun, according to Bradley Leger, the program’s coordinator.

LaYAPP is a one-year, intensive classroom and hands-on, mentor-based experience that introduces junior and senior high school students to the options available to them in the areas of food and fiber production and encourages them to enter the agriculture profession.

“This program provides knowledge and resources that will ultimately lead them to entering their choice of an agricultural production enterprise,” Leger said. “Candidates must demonstrate a sincere interest in entering the profession, agree to attend the summer institutes held in 2012 and 2013, and complete 50 internship hours with a qualified mentor during the 2012-2013 school term.”

Paul Coreil, LSU AgCenter vice chancellor and director of the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service, sees the program as an opportunity to get young people interested in careers in agriculture.

“The face of agriculture is changing. The number of producers is decreasing, and their average age is increasing, so it is important that we present students with information about careers in production agriculture,” said Coreil.

Coreil also pointed out the importance of agriculture and forestry to rural economic development and increased food and fiber demands required to sustain a growing world population.

“The demand for food is expected to steadily increase over the next 40 years, which means encouraging career interest in agriculture and forestry is essential to our future,” he said.

The 2012 Summer Institute will be held July 23-27 on the LSU-Baton Rouge campus. In addition to the AgCenter, major sponsors of the program include the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation and the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry.

The program is entering its third year, with the 10 members of the 2011-2012 class currently engaged in internships with their mentors, Leger said. This group of students has a wide range of production interests, which include beef, rice, vegetable production, horses, swine, crawfish, goats and specialty crops.

“We had a great pool of highly qualified candidates from which to choose,” Leger said. “And we are confident that these young agriculturists will have a great impact on the future of our state’s agricultural industry. We look forward to selecting the members of the incoming class.”

Information on the application process can be obtained at www.lsuagcenter.com/layapp. The application deadline is February 1, 2012.