A Day in the LIfe of an Ag Teacher

Ever wondered what it's like to be an agriculture teacher? Follow our bloggers as they record the joys, challenges, and everything in between about teaching agriculture in the United States. We've got a good mix of programs, from urban to rural, plus folks teaching in high schools, a college instructor, and even a couple of students who are preparing to get their degrees and venture into the classroom next year.

Click here to read the "A Day in the Life of an Ag Teacher" blog.

Click the photo of each blogger to see their bios or to see only their blog posts.

Meet our Bloggers

Matt Eddy
See Matt's blog posts
Southeast Polk High School
Pleasant Hill, IA
Ag Teacher for 11 years
Hometown: Osceola, IA
BS and M.S. Agricultural Education, Iowa State University

Mr. Eddy’s passion for being an ag teacher is best summarized by a favorite quote of his.
“Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.” Theodore Roosevelt

Getting To Know Mr. Eddy:
My favorite time of day is… Start of the day before kids arrive – I never know how it will turn out, but the potential is exciting.  It’s also quiet and I can organize my thoughts at my desk.

My favorite class to teach is… Ag Science – it’s fun because the kids don’t know anything and everything is new to them.

I love it when the students… React to something I have done/said/showed them and then become curious and the questions start to flow.

Outside of the classroom I enjoy… Family, Billiards and golf (usually only at ag teacher related events)

go back to the map

Wes Crawford
See Wes's blog posts
Sutherlin High School, Sutherlin, OR
Ag Teacher for 4 years
Hometown: Sutherlin, OR
MS Agricultural Education,
HBS General Agriculture and Animal Science  
Oregon State University

Sutherlin High School and the Agriculture Program:
Sutherlin High School is on a seven-period day semester schedule.  In the one teacher ag department each day includes two sections of Introduction to Agricultural Science, which is a freshmen class, Agricultural Biology that meets the sophomore science requirement in the state, Horticulture/Forestry, Advanced Animal Science that juniors and seniors receive college credit for and Ag Welding.  There are approximately 120-150 students enrolled in ag classes.  The Ag Department utilizes an onsite greenhouse and 11-acre land lab for FFA and SAE activities.  In southwestern Oregon livestock are the predominant agricultural commodity.  Forestry and timber have been major economic influences in the past.  Currently viticulture and vineyards are the fastest growing agriculture related operations. 

Mr. Crawford loves being an ag teacher because “I’ve never had the same day twice (or the same class period, for that matter).  I get to meet awkward freshmen and watch the development through their high school experience.  I am a firm believer that agricultural education is the best way to strengthen and support the agricultural industry. 

Getting to Know Mr. Crawford:
My favorite time of day is…at the start of the class period.  Any of them.

My favorite classes to teach are…challenging, advanced courses that take students deep into the learning – places they didn’t think they could go.  But the Introduction to Agricultural Science class is a kick most days too.

I love it when the students…have genuine ah-ha moments or surprise me with their creativity.

Outside of the classroom I enjoy…pointless fiction, technology and all the frustration that comes with it, and outdoor activities with good friends. 

go back to the map

Josh Dahlem
See Josh's blog posts
Stanley High School
Logansport, LA
Ag Teacher for 4 years
Hometown: Stonewall, LA
Bachelor of Science Agricultural Education
Louisiana Tech University
M.Ed Educational Leadership
Louisiana State University-Shreveport

Brief Description of the Stanley High School Ag Program:
Josh is a fourth year teacher at Stanley High School. Stanley High School is on the 4x4 block system. The program offers a variety of courses in the fall from Ag III/Ag Construction combined course with Juniors and Seniors, Ag II with Sophomores, and NCCER Welding I with Juniors and Seniors. In the spring two sections of Ag I with Freshmen and a NCCER Welding I and II combined course are offered. The 2011-2012 school year runs from August 3rd-May 18th. The community is currently the heart of the Haynesville Shale oil/gas reserve so welding is a big industry in the area. The focus is mainly on plant science and the mechanics. Livestock and Forestry are the other two main agriculture industries in the area.

Mr. Dahlem loves being an ag teacher because…
“Every day is different and that I am not always stuck in the classroom. Seeing students who enter the class shy and without a skill and leaving 1-4 years later able to speak confidently in public and have a skill they can take to the workforce are what keep me coming back each year. Another reason I love teaching is my fellow ag teachers across the state. There is never a dull moment when we get together.”

Fill in the blank:

My favorite time of day is…Sunrise

My favorite class to teach is…Ag Construction and NCCER Welding because it is hands on.

I love it when the students…Grasp a concept and you can see the light bulb go off.

Outside of the classroom I enjoy…Hunting, fishing, woodworking.

go back to the map

Kimberly Fogle
See Kimberly's blog posts
W.E.B. DuBois High School
Baltimore, Maryland
Ag Teacher for 2 years
Hometown: Walkersville, MD
Bachelor’s of Science Degree: Secondary Education in the area of Agriculture
Delaware Valley College, PA

Brief Description of the W.E.B. DuBois High School
Kimberly is a second year teacher at W.E.B. DuBois High School and the program is also in its’ second year.  The program has already grown and is currently serving forty-five students in grades 9-11.  In addition to teaching at W.E.B. DuBois High School Kimberly is teaching a CASE (Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education) Course at an inner city school in Baltimore City, MD.   She teachers on a semester 90 minute block schedule that consists of 3 blocks of teaching and one planning block. W.E.B. DuBois High School is located in an urban area with the school district’s farm located nearby in Catonsville, which is in Baltimore County. The Baltimore City Public School System’s farm is called The Great Kids Farm and is utilized by many schools to provide students with hands on experiences. The farm and agriculture program emphasize agriculture sustainability. Over the summer the school was fortunate enough to have the entire courtyard renovated. The courtyard is adjacent to the classroom, which is the only room with door access to the area. The new courtyard holds a strategically landscaped area that will be incorporated in class lessons. It is complete with many raised beds, underground irrigation system, and a new greenhouse equipped with grow lights and heat! I am very excited to incorporate the new courtyard into my lesson! The new program is also in the early stages of an FFA Chapter. The students and Ms. Fogle are eager to start fundraising, planning, and practicing for career development events. 

Ms. Fogle loves being an ag teacher because “I have a passion for school, learning, and teaching, especially when it comes to my love for agriculture. I like to show students how to utilize the environment, preserve resources for future generations, and give back to their community. Being an agriculture teacher is much more than books, pens, and paper it’s solving problems that occur in real life everyday situations and learning the skills needed for career success. My favorite part about teaching agriculture is providing students with hands-on application and the chance to explore agriculture in their area of interest.”

Getting to Know Ms. Fogle

My favorite time of day is… “second block, because I have first block planning and just cannot wait to start the day with my new amazing class of freshmen!”

My favorite class to teach is… “AFNR because there are so many different areas of agriculture that are covered. In AFNR I feel that students are more likely to find something that really interests them.”

I love it when the students… “are in their FFA attire and ready to compete!”

Outside of the classroom I enjoy… “scrapbooking, four-wheeling, and watching truck & tractor pulls.”
 

go back to the map

CACEE FORD
See Cacee's blog posts
University of Florida Agricultural Education and Communication Undergraduate Student
Minor in Soil and Water Science
Gainesville, Florida
Student teaching in the Spring of 2012
Lake Butler High School
Union County, Florida
Expected Graduation: May 2012
Hometown: Arcadia, FL

Brief Description of the University of Florida-Gainesville Agricultural Education Program:
Cacee has been a student at the University of Florida since 2007.  The Agricultural Education specialization at the University of Florida prepares students for exciting and challenging careers in teaching and other related areas.  Specifically, the program prepares students to be certified Agriscience instructors and educational specialists. Students who complete the program of study in this specialization are prepared to meet the Florida Department of Education’s requirements for agriculture teacher certification or for employment in the agricultural business and industry sector. In addition to equipping students with the skills needed to teach effectively, coursework also emphasizes expertise in technical agriculture.  Agricultural Education students complete agriculture courses in:  animal science, horticulture, agribusiness, crop and soil science, entomology, agricultural mechanization, and food science. 

Cacee loves being a student at the Univerity of Florida because “because I am learning how to become the most effective educator I can possibly be and a lifelong learner, both personally and professionally.  Many instructors in my AEC department have personally taught middle or high school agriculture before and use those to help model material they are teaching to us, the students, and therefore, easily relate course content to a real scenario.  I also enjoy the elective courses I have been able to take such as crop and soil sciences.  By taking a variety of courses in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, I am more knowledgeable of Florida’s agriculture and agriculture as a whole.  Being apart of this teacher education program, specifically, is exciting to me because I feel my advisors and instructors truly care about my profession as an educator, now and for years to come.  I know that when I embark on my student teaching experience this spring, I am prepared to teach agriculture courses and have my AEC department as a support system.” 

Getting to Know Ms. Ford:

My favorite time of day is… “when I have my agricultural education specialization class.  Whether it is in the fall at 8am or in the spring at 2pm, I am always extra excited to attend class.”

My favorite class to utilize is… “is public speaking.  I am blessed with the gift to talk to anyone about anything.  If I can utilize my ease with public speaking to help educate someone on an agricultural subject they are misinformed of or need more informing of, I feel I am fulfilling my duty as an advocate for agriculture.”

I love it when the students… “in my undergraduate courses are creative and inspire me!  My fellow classmates and I are preparing for student teaching this next spring semester.  When they create a lesson or share an idea that inspires me ormakes me want to use their lesson or idea it reminds me why I believe that teaching is fun and exciting!”

Outside of the classroom I enjoy… “singing and playing music.  I devote much of my down time to playing on my acoustic guitar and singing songs I have written.  Music is a passion of mine and motivates me in many things I do.”

go back to the map