Hobbies and interests outside of teaching: Horseback riding, hiking, home improvement/renovation, working on my property, spending time with my dogs!

What do you love most about being an ag teacher? Everyday is exciting and different! You never know what the day will bring, whether it is teaching science experiments, coaching speaking practices, weighing lambs, attending meetings with your peers, or more!

What is your biggest challenge as an ag teacher? Not being able to do everything I want to do in a day! I can always think of about a million more things to do at the end of each day, but there is never quite enough time to do them all! 

What have you learned thus far in your teaching career that you wish you would have known when you first began teaching? You will never, ever stop learning as a teacher! Every single day, you will learn more about yourself, your job, and your students that will help you grow. And just when you think you’re starting to figure it out, you’ll learn even more! Know that you as a teacher are a constant work in progress, and don’t expect to know everything, ever!

What advice would you give a novice teacher entering this profession now? Ag teachers and FFA advisors wear a lot of hats. We do paperwork, and project visits. We’re busy, competitive, and a little crazy. We’re drivers, coaches, agriculturalists and professionals. But don’t forget that at the end of the day, you are there to help as many students as possible in as many ways as possible, and that is really all that matters. 

What personal qualities or abilities do you think are important to being successful in this profession? There are so many qualities and traits that help ag educators, but the most important one in my opinion would be reflectiveness. Being reflective allows you to understand yourself as an educator and a person and mold your teaching style and program to what works for you! It also helps you learn more about what works and what does not work in the many tasks we complete. Reflectiveness is a quality that really helps you learn and improve as an educator and person.

What most prepared you for being an agriculture educator? What most prepared me for being an agricultural educator was having tons of work experience! There is so much to learn as an ag teacher and FFA advisor, but having a strong work ethic is so beneficial. Student teaching really showed me this as well! If you know how to work hard, prioritize things, be efficient, and get the job done, you’ll be in a much better spot!

If you could relive one of your most memorable days as a teacher, which day would it be and why? One of my most memorable days as a teacher was on the last day of school of my first year. I was taking down all of the thank you’s and notes I had received from behind my desk. Once they were all down, I put them in a pile. I was blown away by how many notes and thank you’s I had received from my students and others. It made me feel so appreciated, and really reminds you why you’re doing what you’re doing. I put all of them on a poster I hung on my wall and plan to do this each year. It’s these little moments that remind you how amazing the profession really is!

Describe ag teaching in one to two words. Wild Ride!