Thank You Teachers

Four new Illinois agriculture education teachers were recently recognized by the IAA Foundation as recipients of an Illinois Agricultural Education Teacher Grant.

Beef production spans generations in the Hanson and Kuipers family in Iroquois County where they operate a forage-based program utilizing a paddock grazing system along with growing corn, soybeans and wheat.

When Doug Hanson returned to his home county to teach high school agriculture in 2001, he saw a trend in the local economy and wanted to try to make a difference.

Agriculture educators play a crucial role within their communities by investing countless hours to prepare and empower students for successful careers in the industry.

As a father and now a grandfather, one of the most bittersweet moments is watching your kids and grandkids climb onto the bus for the first day of school each year.

Richard Lyons of Harvel is the recipient of the 2024 Illinois Leopold Conservation Award.

For Du Quoin native Luke Davison, being named manager of the Du Quoin State Fair was like coming home again.

Emilie Carson always knew she wanted a career in agriculture. Her journey in 4-H and FFA led her to her dream job — an agricultural educator at Hamilton Heights.

With 23 years under his belt as a teacher of agriculture at John Wood Community College, Mike Tenhouse is looking toward the future.

Indiana Farm Bureau members volunteer each year to teach nearly 60,000 students in pre-K through 12th grade about agriculture.

The 2023 Indiana Farm Bureau Book of the Year is “I LOVE Strawberries!” — a book about a girl’s love for the fruit and her journey to learn more about growing it.

Cassie Wallpe, agriculture educator at Batesville High School, says it takes many things to be a good ag teacher.

One comment by his FFA adviser changed Jeff Maierhofer’s career direction that resulted in 34 years of teaching agriculture and advising the Seneca FFA Chapter.

A young girl’s love for horses and FFA was the impetus for a rewarding career teaching agriculture.

Here are letters submitted by students from our “Thank You, Teachers” contest.

Despite the urging from her high school ag teacher, becoming an ag instructor was not in Miranda Buss’s career plans.

Growing up just outside West Lafayette, Indiana, home of Purdue University, Rob Rhykerd had his sights set throughout high school on a career in engineering.

For Jana Poliska Knupp and her family, the conversations around and about agriculture and farming come easily.

When we were planning the inaugural “Thank You, Teachers” edition last year, we had a strong feeling we would be doing this again. There were so many more stories left for us to tell.

Agricultural classes at Rolling Meadows High School are oriented toward teaching life skills and providing opportunities for students.

Learning through hands-on activities is the focus of the agricultural classes at Marquette Academy in Ottawa.

While Steve Hallett’s journey to Purdue University took “a rather meandering path,” as he describes it, the idea to start a student farm at Purdue occurred more suddenly.

First-year ag teacher and Tri-Point FFA Chapter co-adviser Kaylee Shouse entered the University of Illinois on-track for a career in elementary education.

Among the goals of agricultural educators is to open their students’ eyes to the industry’s diversity and countless opportunities, many of which would not have been known had it not been for a teacher.

Read our letters submitted by students and parents to Agri-News for our 2023 Thank You Teachers special edition