Wisconsin Agricultural Education and Workforce Development Council (WAEWDC)

Upcoming Meetings

• December 9, 2024

Council Members

WAEWDC is a function of the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) and membership consists of state agency leaders (or their designees) from DWD, the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP), Department of Public Instruction (DPI), Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), Department of Natural Resources (DNR), University of Wisconsin System, Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS), and University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension, as well as appointees from other key organizations and industries, pursuant to Wis. Stats. s. 15.227(15).

Complete List of Council Members

Council Responsibilities

The purpose and function of the WAEWDC, under Wis. Stats. s. 106.40(2) is to:

1. Increase the hiring and retention of well-qualified employees in industries related to agriculture, food, and natural resources.
2. Promote the coordination of educational systems to develop, train, and retrain employees for current and future careers related to agriculture, food, and natural resources.
3. Develop support for employment in fields related to agriculture, food, and natural resources.
4. Recommend policies and other changes to improve the efficiency of the development and provision of agricultural education across educational systems.

In addition, the Council provides advice and assistance to state agencies, educational institutions, and the Wisconsin Legislature on matters related to agricultural education and workforce development. The Council also focuses on the integration of agricultural education and workforce development systems through the coordination of programs, the exchange of information, and the monitoring and evaluation of programs. In addition, the WAEWDC helps attract, develop, and retain the superior workforce required to grow Wisconsin’s production in agriculture, agribusiness, food, and natural resource sectors.