Agriculture is not just for the boys anymore.

In an area that was traditionally male-dominated, the percentage of female students has increased steadily and rapidly.

“In 1965, when I was a new faculty member, there were almost no women,” said David Topel, dean of the College of Agriculture. “In 1987, 421 of the 1,895 students were women [22 percent]. By 1997, the number had increased to 1,087 out of 2,812 students [39 percent], and the number today is higher yet.”

Some agriculture students also have felt the change taking place.

“When I started out as a freshman, I felt like a minority in the lectures since there were so many males,” said Robin Lange,a junior in agricultural business.

“It’s still dominantly male, but it’s much more even than it was before,” Lange said.

There are many reasons for the significant increase in female enrollment, Topel said.

“We put together a recruitment program that was somewhat geared toward women,” he said. “Our undergraduate students went to high schools around the state and told about their experiences in the College of Agriculture and the opportunities available for women.”

Although Topel said he feels the recruitment program was mainly responsible for the increases, he also believes the 4-H extension offices located in Iowa counties have made an impact.

“Through 4-H, females are exposed to agricultural opportunities,” Topel said.

Topel said he thinks that the number of women in the College of Agriculture will continue to rise and possibly surpass the number of men, as it has already in some areas of the college.

“Around 60 percent of our pre-veterinary medicine students are female,” he said.

Topel also noted that times are changing in the College of Agriculture.

“Agricultural occupations are just not traditionally for men anymore,” he said.