He must have realized that he needed someone that could teach animal science digestion principles, read financial balance sheets, teach vegetative plant cuttings and differentiate the instruction for each of his students – all in a day’s work." (from Kelly Rivard's post on The Face of Agriculture Education)
I was watching Ag Biz Weekly by Orion Samuelson and Max Armstrong and right at the end of the July 4 show, Orion shared a speech he gave for the Illinois Association of the National FFA Organization. I listened closely and remembered all the things I had done as an ag teacher and I felt very good about it.
Watching two grand daughters show their pigs at the Clinton County Fair this week reminded me of all the pigs my sister and I raised and showed. I remembered all of the students, sometimes over 30 in one year, I taught how to raise and show a pig as a part of the Supervised Agricultural Experience. I remembered the joys and challenges of helping my own three children learn the same thing.
Teaching agricultural education is the most challenging and rewarding endeavor I've ever undertaken. It has given me a retirement where I've been able to do what I wanted to in the first place and that is to farm. Teaching ag is a lot more than sows, cows, and plows, it's helping kids grow up with a set of skills and maturity most parents would envy for their kids.
I am proud to be an ag teacher. I am more proud our oldest son is even a better ag teacher than I was. That is what life is all about; eaching your potential in a positive, moral, grown up way.
Hat's off to agricultural education and the dear ag teachers that make it possible.
"My thoughts" on HyMark Highspots, July 2013.
Ed Winkle
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