“Looking back to my high school days, agricultural education played an important role in determining what I wanted to do in my life. My agriculture teachers, Noel Pack and Callie Hobbs, pushed me to go above and beyond each day. Throughout my classes I was able to cultivate my true passion for agriculture and determine I wanted to study in college, which ultimately is a way for me to give back to the agriculture industry by further pursuing my passion for production agriculture and sales. The impact that agricultural education, FFA, and my advisors have left on my life will continue to contribute to my success in life.”

“I teach agriculture for all the typical reasons – a passion for production agriculture, FFA leadership opportunities and the legacy I wish to continue sharing that my family and agriculture teacher shared with me.

But I teach agriculture mostly for the chaos and ‘Ah-Ha’ moments; the excitement when students walk in my room and see a rabbit sitting on the front desk, the days students learn to cast fishing rods and tie on hooks for the first time, and the beauty of the greenhouse in April when students have worked so hard to grow a sellable product.

I enjoy watching Greenhands turn into State Degree and American Degree recipients, the thrill of a first-time contest winner, and seeing the determination in a senior knowing this is their last shot. I teach agriculture for the kid who has never held a baby lamb and the one who has a story from the stockyard every Monday morning. I’m here for the early mornings and the late evenings because I know what those invested hours turn into.

I teach agriculture hoping I can make a difference in students, our community and in the agriculture industry. I feel like I have a purpose in my classroom – that’s enough for me.”