University of Idaho Agricultural Education, Leadership, and Communications

  Claire Bardsley transferred to the University of Idaho Agricultural and Extension Education Department in the Fall of 2019 as an Agricultural Education major. She is from Modesto, California where she attended Modesto Junior College and graduated with two associate’s degrees during her time there.   Bardsley dived into involvement on campus when she arrived at the University of Idaho. Snap decision making and going for things presented to her was how she got involved right away at UI. She has numerous involvements within the AEE department and the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences by being involved in Sigma Alpha, Collegiate FFA, helping coordinate AEE Aroma Kits, and being an intern through the department for the Idaho FFA State Convention. Bardsley always wanted to be a teacher, first thinking she wanted to be a kindergarten teacher. She decided to become an agriculture teacher when she was into the pathway at her junior college. Going t

Bethany Newtson is a senior at the University of Idaho with a rich background in both agriculture and education, which has led her to studying agricultural education. She is also pursuing a minor in agricultural communications and leadership. Newtson grew up in Helix, Oregon and owes her passion for agriculture to working on her family's dryland wheat farm. “I’ve walked miles and miles in the fields pulling rye and hoeing weeds, drove tractor since 8th grade, and I have trained a few highschoolers to drive during harvest,” Newtson states when reminiscing of home. She was also very involved in 4-H through showing pigs, completing other fair projects, and helping in her local club and county 4-H office.  Newtson is connected to the UI community through her campus involvement. She is a member of a sorority on campus, Kappa Alpha Theta, serves as an ambassador for the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, and works as a teaching assistant in the welding shop. Newtson loves playing