Guest author Katie Martin is the ag education instructor/FFA advisor at the Winston R-VI School District. Martin is also an active member of MOFB and currently serves on the state Promotion and Education Committee, where members strive to find and build avenues to help educate youth and consumers about agriculture.
School is back in session!
The halls and classrooms are filled with chatty students, some of whom haven’t seen certain friends since school let out in May. The office phone is ringing off the hook with parents asking questions. The cafeteria hallway is filled with the aroma of today’s lunch. The sound of bouncing balls can be heard just outside the gymnasium. Teachers are also returning to the classroom after a well-deserved break, many having spent hours over the summer attending professional development sessions to grow in their profession.
But some teachers didn’t wander too far from their departments for an extended break. I’m referring to agricultural education instructors and FFA advisors – a special breed of educators dedicated to shaping young minds and teaching the importance of our nation’s most important industry: agriculture.
A unique aspect of many Missouri ag teachers’ jobs is working in the summer on an extended contract to stay connected with students. They often visit them at their home farm, places of employment, fairs, camps or leadership events, or at school while they work on projects. They attend workshops available through the National Association of Agriculture Educators and the Missouri Vocational Agricultural Teacher Association Summer Conference to recharge before returning to the classroom and shop.
Getting back into the fall school routine for ag teachers means submitting FFA rosters, organizing fundraising efforts, planning for the National Convention or Barnwarming, and, of course, teaching content that includes hands-on learning experiences.
National Teach Ag Day is celebrated each September to celebrate the impact agricultural educators make in the lives of their students and allow others to see that what they do truly matters. On Thursday, Sept. 17, give special thanks to those who teach about the importance of agriculture.
According to the 2026 Missouri Agricultural Education Fact Sheet published by the Agricultural Education Division of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, 30,454 students were enrolled in agricultural education programs across Missouri, with agriculture classes offered at 365 high schools, career centers and community colleges.
Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAEs) enhance these students’ opportunities by allowing them to apply what they learn in the classroom. Personalized to each student and based on their career interests and aspirations, SAEs help students explore careers, refine career choices, understand real-world career expectations and develop skills for success in the agriculture industry.
Organizations like the FFA help prepare students for career success through agricultural education, ensuring members are career-ready when they graduate from high school. Many who have proudly stood in an ag classroom may still know the first line of the FFA Creed by heart: “I believe in the future of agriculture, with a faith born not of words, but of deeds…”
Missouri Farm Bureau members:
You don’t need a certificate or degree to teach others about the importance of agriculture. You just need to live it through your words and actions. Seek opportunities to share your knowledge and wisdom about something you’ve learned along the way. Together, we can continue to believe in the future of agriculture.
