Future Farmers, Future Leaders

We’ve also attended Farm Science Review, National FFA and Ohio Legislative Leadership conferences and conventions and numerous career development events, and hosted an awards ceremony, a state leadership event, a blood drive for our community, and our annual fruit sale fundraiser. Along with the usual content standards and exams, we’ll also complete woodworking and welding projects in the shop. There’s never a dull moment.

Leadership Development

The National FFA Organization shapes the leadership portion of our model, and every student is a member. While not all my students will become farmers, they will all develop an appreciation for the agriculture industry.

The FFA work involves career development events that cover everything from soil judging to food science and technology, livestock judging — and job interviews. The students plan events like blood drives, a Farm Day for younger students (complete with petting zoo) and even a Drive Your Tractor to School Day. I remember one shy freshman coming out of her shell to speak in front of the entire school during a Veterans Day program she helped plan, introducing veterans who spoke in the auditorium. That’s a real win.

Experiential Learning

To round out the three-circle model, my students undertake a “supervised agricultural experience” — we call it the SAE. Students combine their resources and interests to plan and implement their projects together: They document their time, income and expenses, paychecks and learning objectives, and they exhibit their SAEs at the county fair. They also contribute 10 hours of community service each year.

I love seeing their projects, it’s an absolute favorite part of my job:

HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR KILEY has had a garden for two years, learning the patience, care and consistent daily attention it takes to grow plants — and how rewarding it is to see literal growth and success based on her effort.

SENIORS Kyndall, Averi, Skylar and Olive work at Sunset Ridge Lavender Farm harvesting lavender, preparing products and working with customers. They have learned about plant care, responsibility and the importance of communication skills for future leadership and career opportunities.

SENIOR ABIGAIL has been working with horses and training them — learning how to teach horses and handle major ups and downs, both mentally and physically. She showed at the local county fair and at the 2025 Quarter Horse Congress.

SENIOR KAI caught a steer at the 2024 scramble — a rodeo event where livestock are released into a ring and participants snatch ribbons from the animals for prizes. He raised the steer for about 10 months, then showed and sold it at the county fair. Kai learned patience and work ethic through the daily routines of grooming, feeding and caring for this animal, and placed fourth in the market show at the fair.

SOPHOMORE MILLIE raised market goats, learning to manage money, keep records, manage her time and be responsible for daily care. She showed and sold her goats at the annual county fair.

After the students graduate, the success continues. Kacie, who graduated in 2021, is now teaching high school agriculture in southern Ohio. Emily, a 2018 graduate, is our family’s veterinarian and has been out to our farm to help with our livestock and my son’s fair goats. Cooper runs his own landscaping/lawn care business and coaches football, basketball and baseball. He even employs some of my students for their SAEs.

Among our other graduates: Maleigha, a labor and delivery and IVF nurse; Jenny, a zookeeper; Madison, a kindergarten teacher; and Evan, a mechanic in the Army. These students, and so many others, have gone on to do great things in their lives and in our society. They work in all different industries — accounting, medicine, education, agriculture, the military and more. It is such a rewarding feeling to see their success.

This is what keeps me going — I get to guide these students through new experiences and toward lifelong learning. When students question if they should take an ag class — especially if they don’t live on a farm — I say, “Did you eat food today? Did you wear clothes today? You used agriculture today!” My students understand how relevant these classes can be, they learn by doing, and they know their new skills will transfer to future careers.

I often say that if you’re concerned about the future of our country, spend a day with a group of FFA members; they’ll eliminate that concern pretty quickly. They might make your hair turn gray in the process, but you’ll be laughing and impressed none-the-less. These students are hard workers, communicators, problem-solvers and helpers.

As unionists, we all work for the greater good; as teachers, we get to leave a positive impact one student at a time, with a ripple effect that reaches into families, communities and society as a whole. Connecting with other career and technical education teachers has taught me just how big an impact we can have.