Career Center students attend University of Missouri Teach Ag Academy

The Department of Agricultural Education and Leadership in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) at the University of Missouri recently held a three day Teach Ag Academy. The Academy is for high school students interested in becoming Agricultural Education teachers. Twenty students statewide were selected to be a part of the Academy. Battle High School seniors, Lily Grant and Thomas Fenner from the Columbia FFA participated in the event.

Participants interacted with Mizzou faculty, Montgomery County Ag Ed Instructor Jonathan Hoer, CAFNR Coordinator of Student Services Laura Denker, and DESE Director of Agricultural Education Leon Busdieker. Students experienced what it is like to be an Ag instructor through lessons from the Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education and demonstrated their own teaching skills by teaching to their peers. By staying in dorms, students had the chance to experience the University of Missouri campus atmosphere and received a behind the scenes peak at Mizzou athletics.

 Agricultural Education continues to grow in the state of Missouri and across the nation. Academies like the one at the University of Missouri are an example of how a concerted effort is in place to recruit, develop, and retain great teachers in agriculture. 

Morgan Borts, Lily Grant, Clara Knipp and Jaelyn Bergmann

Morgan Borts, Thomas Fenner, Clara Kniff and Jaelyn Bergmann

Students hear speakers talk about teaching Agriculture