Join the National Teach Ag Campaign
• I am a student
• I am a teacher
• I am neither — but interested
Tagging a future agriculture teacher is easy once you know where to look and you have the resources to support the tagged individual. As a community member, agriculture teacher, alumni affiliate, or stakeholder you play an important role in identifying the next generation of agriculture teachers. Here are some great ways to identify and Tag a future agriculture teacher:
Agriculture Teachers/State Staff/Post-Secondary Faculty
Alumni Affiliates/Community Supporters/Agribusiness
Many current and soon-to-be agriculture teachers have indicated they chose agricultural education because their agriculture teacher said they should. Use our letter templates to let someone know they would make a great agriculture teacher.
Nomination Letter Example from Community Member
Nomination Letter Example from Ag Teacher
In an effort to attract high school students into the agricultural education profession, many states have implemented a Teach Ag workshop. The workshops are usually conducted during the state FFA convention and facilitated by university faculty and/or current agriculture teachers. Some workshops are open to all interested students while others are invitation only after being nominated by an agriculture teacher.
Get Involved:
Ag Ed Related Career Development Events (CDE)
Apprentice programs are a great way for high school students to get exposed to a career field before they commit. Students who are considering Ag Ed have a couple of opportunities through the National FFA Organization to learn about and get a taste for being an agriculture teacher.
Agricultural Education Proficiency Area Entrepreneurship/Placement
Related to education and extension, including, but not limited to: youth mentoring, agricultural education departmental assistants, PALS mentors and student coordinators, students developing and conducting informational materials and presentations for civic organizations and school aged youth, and students who are involved in SAEs surrounding educating the public about the broad topics of agriculture, agriculture education and the FFA.
Ag Ed Career Development Event (CDE)
Several states have implemented an Agricultural Education CDE. The Ag Ed CDE is designed to provide students with the opportunity to explore a career in agricultural education, to develop a framework of the learning process, communicate an unbiased presentation, and utilize a lesson plan for proper teaching outcomes. At this time Arizona, Oklahoma, Indiana, Louisiana, Texas, New Jersey, New Mexico, and Florida have an Ag Ed CDE.
For more information about these CDE areas contact your state FFA leadership or state agriculture, food and natural resources (AFNR) supervisor. A complete list of FFA state websites can be obtained here.
Please feel free to email additional scholarship opoprtunities that relate to those majoring in Agricultural Education to Ellen Thompson, National Teach Ag Coordinator, so they can be posted here.
Future agriculture teachers need a fan club. They need you to support them along the journey. Here are some great ways to help them along the way.
Professional development can play an important role in job satisfaction, especially for agriculture teachers. Given the plethora of subjects in which agriculture teachers must be proficient, professional growth is vital to retaining a quality teacher.
As an alumni member and/or community supporter you can assist the agriculture teacher in attending these learning experiences by offering scholarships to cover registration and travel. You may also want to show your support of such activities by lobbying the school administration on behalf of the teacher. Many school districts are decreasing or eliminating professional development funds for teachers.
Here is a list of some of the great professional development opportunities offered nationally. Most states also have a summer conference along with state-level continuing education programs. Talk with your agriculture teacher and see what you can do to help them achieve their professional development needs that they will in turn bring back to the students, school, and community.
For more opportunities provided by NAAE, visit the Professional Development section of this website.
Former FFA members and interested adults are a natural resource of help and support for FFA advisors and their students. A National FFA Alumni Affiliate helps to rally the local community around agricultural education and FFA activities.
FFA Alumni Affiliates also provide a helping hand to FFA advisors in coordinating activities for the local FFA chapter.
Being an agriculture teacher is extremely demanding. One key to retaining a quality agriculture teacher is helping them lighten the responsibility load. Here are some great ways to support your local agriculture teacher:
Need additional ideas or don't see what you are looking for? Email ethompson.naae@uky.edu
National Teach Ag Campaign
One Paragon Centre
2525 Harrodsburg Road, Suite 200
Lexington, KY 40504
800-509-0204
859-967-2892