Ferguson College of Agriculture

STILLWATER, Okla. – The Oklahoma State University Department of Agricultural Education, Communications and Leadership hosted the 16th annual Future Agricultural Education Teacher Academy June 13-17, 2022. This program was designed to encourage and promote the teaching of high school agricultural education as a positive and promising college major and career choice.   

 

The program is for high school juniors or seniors with a desire to attend OSU and pursue a career in agricultural education. From a pool of applicants, 15 participants were selected to take part in this year’s event. The academy is predominantly hosted at OSU’s Stillwater campus and allows students to experience campus life and learn about the agricultural education program. Attendees also spent the week visiting agricultural organizations across Oklahoma.

 

Various university and industry leaders worked with students at the event. Jacey Fye, executive director of the Oklahoma FFA Foundation; Scott Nemecek, state FFA adviser; and Rob Terry, department head for the OSU Department of Agricultural Education, Communications and Leadership, were all in attendance.

 

“It is really cool to have people like Jacey Fye, Mr. Nemecek and Dr. Terry to come and interact with the students. This offers great exposure into the leaders of agricultural education,” said Emily Sewell, FAETA coordinator.

  

The academy is facilitated by four current agricultural education instructors and two current OSU agricultural education undergraduates who serve as interns. Each day has its own theme, which includes: teaching a lesson, experiencing OSU, touring Oklahoma agricultural education programs, and learning about Oklahoma agriculture.  

 

“On our last day, we had a reception for attendees that was like a signing day,” Sewell said. “It was celebrating their future careers as ag teachers, which I think will help with recruitment and retention. It was also a really sweet celebration to end the academy.”

 

The OSU Department of Agricultural Education, Communications and Leadership in the Ferguson College of Agriculture is dedicated to developing well-rounded agricultural professionals, educators, communicators and leaders through academic, research and extension and outreach efforts. Learn more at aged.okstate.edu.