Agricultural Education thrives at the University of Idaho

University of Idaho offers a wide variety of opportunities for Ag Education students.
By: Capital Press

The Agricultural Education program at the University of Idaho continues to be a leader in teacher education in agriculture. The faculty in the Department of Agricultural and Extension Education work with undergraduates and graduate students preparing to become secondary agriculture teachers.

University of Idaho Agricultural Education majors have numerous opportunities to gain experiences throughout the year. Students assist with the FFA District and State Career Development Events, assist with the Idaho and Washington FFA State Leadership Conferences, and help run events at the National FFA Convention each fall. Four professors in Agricultural Education coordinate National FFA Career Development Events at the convention.

Agricultural Education majors also participate in the undergraduate research program in the department. Ag Ed majors’ research projects have been presented at the university research symposium, regional and national research conferences. Teacher Candidates also participate in the Collegiate FFA Chapter in the department which was recently recognized as the Club of the Year in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.

Our students do amazing things at the college and university levels. Maggie Elliot of Prosser, Washington, received the CALS Outstanding Freshman Award. Seth Pratt, former National FFA Officer from Blackfoot, Idaho, was recognized as the CALS Outstanding Senior. The department’s faculty has also been recognized for their outstanding service. Dr. Allison Touchstone received the R.M. Wade Excellence in Teaching Award in the college in 2014 and Dr. Jeremy Falk received the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Teaching Award of Merit in 2015.

The Agricultural Education program continues to graduate outstanding Teacher Candidates for agricultural education positions. Eighteen Teacher Candidates are being placed in Idaho, Washington, Oregon and Alaska schools for their student-teaching in 2015-2016. Recent graduates are teaching agriculture or science in Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Colorado, North Dakota and Alaska.

The Agricultural Education program at the University of Idaho continues to produce outstanding secondary agricultural teachers/FFA Advisors for schools throughout the Pacific Northwest and across the country. Come join us at the University of Idaho.

 http://www.capitalpress.com/SpecialSections/Education/20150514/agricultural-education-thrives-at-the-university-of-idaho

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