FFA involvement shaped career as agricultural educator

CLAY CITY, Ind. — Golden Owl Award finalist Kenna Slough was inspired to be an agricultural educator for a combination of reasons.

She shared five of those with AgriNews:

1. My love for any and all things related to agriculture.

2. I wanted to make a difference in the lives of young people like my ag teacher did for me.

3. My mom was also a teacher.

4. The diversity of the curriculum.

5. The greatest support group a teacher could learn from — the agriculture teachers in the state of Indiana and across the country through the Indiana Association of Agricultural Educators and National Association of Agricultural Educators.

Slough lives on a cattle, sheep and grain farm in Owen County with her husband. She has three adult children.

She currently teaches agriculture structures, fabrication and design, principles of agriculture, animal science, food science and landscaping.

Her involvement with FFA shaped her career as an educator.

“I was a seven-year FFA member,” she said. “I started out at Purdue as an animal science major. It wasn’t until the end of my sophomore year at Purdue when I was elected as the state FFA sentinel that my goals changed.

“That year of service influenced my decision that ag teaching was where I needed to be, and my junior year I changed my major to agriculture education. I’ve been teaching ever since.”

FFA provided Slough with leadership opportunities and the ability to reach outside of her comfort zone.

Slough answered a few questions from AgriNews to share more about her journey.

Q: What’s your favorite part about being an FFA adviser?

A: Having memorable, fun adventures with the members during conventions, contests, recreational or service activities. Also, I love interacting with other FFA advisers across the state and in my county.

Q: What’s one challenge in agricultural education today, and how are you helping students overcome it?

A: I am in a one-teacher department and I find the challenge to be that not all students are able to take an agriculture class because of scheduling or they may have taken all of the classes that I offer in their pathway and have none left to take, because I am not able to offer them.

So, to overcome not being able to take an agriculture class, I work with them to take a Supervised Agricultural Experience program class in the summertime and interact with them then. I love interacting with the students in their work environment.

Q: If you could describe your teaching style in three words, what would they be?

A: I asked my students this question and they said “hands-on teaching.”

Q: What’s your favorite FFA event or tradition?

A: My favorite FFA event would be the National Day of Service. My favorite tradition would be farmer/teacher/parent breakfast during FFA Week.

Q: What’s one item you always have in your classroom or ag shop?

A: Metal.

Q: If you could send a message to all your current and former students, what would it be?

A: I cherish all of my interactions with my students, young and old, good or bad. They have shaped me into the teacher and FFA adviser I am today. They have taught me that everybody learns differently and that you have to adjust to the needs of your students.

Furthermore, I would like to say that I am proud of them and glad that I could be a part of their educational path, whether they chose a career in agriculture or not. Lastly, be the leader, citizen and parent that your community needs.