5 Reasons We're Thankful for Our Agricultural Teachers

As Thanksgiving approaches once again this year, there's always much to be thankful for - maybe it's time with family and friends, a great dinner, or and even better dessert. Before we chow down on our turkey and stuffing, we wanted to give you 5 reasons we're thankful for our Ag Teachers.

1. Ag Teachers know a lot. Whether it's teaching six subjects a day, helping you build that perfect window display for Farm Show, or dispensing useful life advice, Ag teachers truly are as wise as an owl. I can't think of any other teacher who knows as many quick fixes, spur-of-the-moment solutions, and random knowledge.  As an added bonus, they're definitely not shy about sharing any of it! We're thankful for our Ag teachers' wisdom!

2. Ag teachers make sacrifices for their students. Each one of us can probably think of at least a dozen times our Ag teachers have forgone time in their personal lives (yes, they have those!) to lend a hand. From fruit sales to chapter meetings to watering plants in the greenhouse, they're dedicated to it all. We're thankful for the sacrifices our Ag teachers make to ensure every student gets what they need!


3. Ag teachers have an incredible passion like no other. They teach the same things to students every sing day, have the patience of a stone statue, and still get as jazzed about the material as me when I scoop that first slice of warm pumpkin pie. It takes a special type of excitement to be able to explain the steps of photosynthesis multiple times a day, every. single. year. They're passionate about the material they teach, which means they will do anything they can do to share that passion with their students. We're thankful for our Ag teachers' passion!

4. Ag teachers care about their students. Whether they show it or not, Ag teachers have big hearts. Their students are important to them, and Ag teachers truly care about their success. Remember numbers two and three? This is where all that comes from. We're thankful for those big hearts! 

5. Ag teachers are shaping the future. The Ag classroom is a unique place where students can find what they're passionate about and grow as leaders in the world that lay in front of them. We're thankful for all that our Ag teachers do to prepare our students for success. 

These are the people supporting our students every step of the way through their education. These are the people instilling a solid work ethic, good morals, and a sense of responsibility in our students. These are the people willing to help our students get to where they need to be. The list of great things our Ag teachers do goes on and on, and it really wouldn't be feasible to try and think of every single thing to be thankful for! Instead, I want to pose a simple alternative... thank an Ag teacher this week!

 

Hunter Kauffman

Team Leader, @TeachAgPSU Communications

Wildlife and Fisheries Science

College of Agricultural Sciences