“You have so much potential and talent. You can use your connections to take you anywhere in the world and make a lasting impact. Why are you going to be a teacher?”
The above is an excerpt from a conversation that I have had with numerous people. Teaching wasn’t always my career of choice. For six years, I was set on majoring in Agricultural Communications, attending a school with one of the top programs in the nation, and owning a livestock marketing business while freelance writing. A few experiences volunteering with students and dabbling in marketing led me to an important discovery; I hate technology, and I love people.
It was my junior year of high school before I realized that I was tagged to teach agriculture. With my mom, a former agricultural education teacher, filling in for my ag teacher while she was on maternity leave, I had a unique experience. What started out as me using my study hall to help teach livestock judging to the introduction to agriculture class turned into a semester long, unofficial TA experience. Between team teaching with my mom to creating and teaching a whole unit by myself, I discovered the value of helping students realize their potential.
Agricultural education teachers and FFA advisors wear many hats . They go from teaching welding and veterinary science to working in a greenhouse and teaching leadership theory every day. Don’t be surprised when the ag teacher is the first one at school to coach the parliamentary procedure and agronomy teams before school, listens to Greenhands practice the FFA Creed during lunch, practices with demonstration and agricultural sales teams after school and finds time to pick up pizza for the FFA meeting that night. They give up holidays and anniversaries to help prepare their students for a project or competitive event.
For some students, the ag room becomes their haven. Not only are their agricultural classes ones that they are truly interested in, but they know that they are valued and not judged for who they are in that room. They may have a difficult home life or not fit in with their peers. Ag teachers can have a tremendous impact on their students by creating an accepting environment in their classroom and in their FFA chapter.
Ag teachers get to discover student interests and potential, sometimes before the students realize it. They can guide their students down a path towards a career that they will succeed at and enjoy. They can push their students to take on leadership roles within the chapter, district, state, and nation. A good teacher ignites a spark and kindles the flame within their students, and follows through.
Teaching agriculture is not for the faint of heart. Being knowledgeable in a variety of subjects, sacrificing family time to help students, and the nice pay that an industry job offers can add up. There is a severe shortage of agricultural education instructors across the country. If you had a positive experience in agricultural education as a student, enjoy serving others, and want to make a difference in students’ lives, consider teaching agriculture.
Yes, I am talented. I’ve been successful. I have connections in industry. But I am not throwing that away by becoming an agricultural education teacher. In fact, I plan to utilize my talents, knowledge, and connections to enhance my future students’ abilities to be successful.
It’s a profession that demands a hectic schedule and investing in students, and I can’t wait to take on the role of being an agriculture teacher.
