Inaugural agricultural education program held at OSU

The purpose of the academy is to encourage and promote the teaching of high school agricultural education as a positive and promising college major and career choice, said Jon Ramsey, resident teacher coordinator in the department of agricultural education, communications and leadership.

“The format of the academy focused on different aspects of the profession throughout the week beginning with a look at the purpose of agricultural education in secondary schools,” Ramsey said. “The history of OSU was emphasized through tours and interactive presentations. The goal of the academy was to expose students to the opportunities available at OSU.”

Luther, Edmond and Wellston agricultural education programs were highlighted to showcase the different programs across the state, ranging from urban to rural settings and including multi-teacher programs.

Ramsey said the art of teaching was highlighted through teacher demonstrations and the diagnosis of the teaching process.

“All of these activities, combined with one-on-one interaction and practice teaching, provided an in-depth look at a career path and the preparation required to become an agricultural education teacher,” Ramsey said.

Blake Jackson, Hartshorne High School, said he enjoyed touring the OSU campus and becoming familiar with the college environment.

“This academy has given me a greater appreciation of the hard work that ag teachers put into a successful agricultural education program,” Jackson said. “It also gives me an increased desire to go and make a difference in the youth of Oklahoma and become an agricultural education teacher.”

Academy participants will be eligible for a $1,000 scholarship upon their acceptance and enrollment at OSU. Their major must be agricultural education for the scholarship to be awarded.

“There is a shortage of agricultural teachers in Oklahoma,” said Jim Leising, head of OSU’s agricultural education, communications and leadership. “In the next four years 42 percent of Oklahoma’s agricultural education teachers will retire; and there are (currently) not enough teachers to fill these positions.”

Leising said the academy is a long-term effort to address the agricultural teacher shortage by recruiting outstanding agricultural education students from across the state who demonstrate the motivation and potential for becoming great teachers.

“I have been involved in agriculture my entire life,” said Amy Peel of Wetumka High School. “I can’t see myself not being involved in the FFA organization, even when I take off my blue-and-gold jacket. This is why I want to be an agricultural education teacher, so I can continue my involvement on a different level.”

The program is targeted toward FFA members who want to pursue a career as a high school agricultural education teacher and FFA adviser; has the academic credentials to be admitted as an incoming freshman at OSU; and has the desire to develop the knowledge, skills and dispositions expected of an agricultural education teacher to meet the needs of a diverse society.

The Future Agricultural Education Teachers Academy and Scholarship Program is held in conjunction with the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, Chesapeake Energy Corporation, Oklahoma FFA Foundation and the Oklahoma Alumni Association.

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REPORTER/MEDIA CONTACT: 
Katie L. Reim
Communications Specialist
Agricultural Communications Services
Oklahoma State University
140 Agriculture North
Stillwater, Ok 74078
Phone: 405-744-6792
Fax: 405-744-5739
E-Mail: katie.reim@okstate.edu

Oklahoma State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, State and Local Governments Cooperating: The Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, or status as a veteran, and is an equal opportunity employer.