The Sleepy Eye Ag Department celebrated National Teach Ag Day on Thursday, September 15. Pictured l to r – front row: Alex Confer, Grecia Navarro, Chloe Howe, Kaytlyn Romberg. Middle: Robert Romberg, Katelyn Tauer, Lily Kallevig, Brissa Hernandez, Gavin Fischer. Back – Conor Strong and Logan Ludewig.
By Kyle Capacia, FFA Reporter
Thursday, September 15, was National Teach Ag Day, which is celebrated across the nation to recognize the agricultural education profession. Mrs. Hoffmann, Ms. Emmett, and Mr. Hendrickx are always encouraging their students to explore careers in agriculture, one of those being an Ag. Teacher!
They “tagged” 20 individuals in grades 8 -12. Those students were given a Tagged to Teach Ag. T-shirt that Mrs. Hoffmann designed. Students that have been previously tagged were encouraged to wear their Teach Ag Shirt on Thursday and were given prizes for coming to the Ag. room. The prizes included: t-shirts, hats, sunglasses, Hootie owls, and more.
Congratulations to these students for being Tagged to Teach Ag!
8th Grade: Gavin Fischer, Leah Kucera, Robert Romberg, Sydney Zarn
9th Grade: Alex Confer, Ari Krizmarzick, Logan Ludewig, Kaytlyn Romberg
10th Grade: Jose Castorena, Brissa Hernandez, Chloe Howe, Lily Kallevig, Antonio Ruiz
11th Grade: Leo Fernandez, Jon Peterman, Katelyn Tauer
12th Grade: Nolan Domeier, Alex Dominguez, Grecia Navarro, Conor Strong
Some Agricultural Education statistics from our region of the United States include:
- $41,660 average base starting salary
- 22 average number of extended/summer contract days
- 46 new agricultural education positions
- 20 new agricultural education programs
- 119 positions to fill
- 96 of last year’s 124 agricultural education graduates are in Region 3 currently employed as agriculture teachers
- Agricultural education programs are offered in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
Right now there is a big need for more students who are interested in and passionate about agriculture to pursue a career as an agricultural educator! National Teach Ag Day draws more attention to the shortage of teachers and hopefully inspires students all over the country to become Ag. Teachers!
“LOVE WHAT YOU DO, DO WHAT YOU LOVE— TEACH AG!” Mrs. Hoffmann, Ms. Emmett, and Mr. Hendrickx