University of Idaho Agricultural Education, Leadership, and Communications

Mountain Home High School Ag instructor, Kya Vines, shares the unique experiences that led her to pursue a career in agriculture education and why she loves this profession.  I am a proud alumnus of Mountain Home High School (MHHS) where I have returned to start an Agriculture Science program. In the fall of 2017, I taught the first agriculture class for MHHS. I teach Personal Skills Development, Introduction to Livestock Industry, Agriculture Mechanics, Zoology Fish and Wildlife, Agriculture Welding, Advanced Agriculture Welding, and Agriculture Fabrication. I am very proud to teach agriculture and be an FFA advisor. Though I did not go through an agriculture program in high school myself, I found I was destined to be an agriculture teacher. It wasn’t until I toured the University of Idaho my senior year did I know that being an agriculture teacher was even a career! This job takes dedication and perseverance but is the most rewarding project I have ever been a part of....

To celebrate the past, present, and future agriculture educators a group of students passionate about teaching agriculture came together on September 20, 2018, to celebrate National Teach Ag Day. The Department of Agricultural and Extension Education hosted an afterparty event that shared with student’s fun ways to implement Virtual Reality into the classroom. In addition to the 16 attendees from the University of Idaho, students from Oregon State University, Penn State University, and Kansas State University joined the fun via conference calls. Needless to say, the event was a hit! The event was split into two parts. The first was an interactive lesson from a Doceo Center intern, Farahan, about virtual reality glasses and using google maps in the classroom. Google glasses were provided to all participants so they could learn firsthand the benefits of such technology. In the second part, students heard from Alan Willmore, Jerome High School agriculture teacher, on how he uses virt...

Summer break provides students with a much-needed break as well as an opportunity to dive into new opportunities by taking advantage of internships and jobs. For these four AEE students, classes may not have been in session, but they were still immersed in learning and new experiences. Mary Kate Myers Class Standing: Senior Major: Agricultural Sciences, Communication, & Leadership Position: University of Idaho’s States’ 4-H International Exchange Program Intern In my internship, I helped with placing Exchange Delegates with host families all over the state of Idaho, as well as conducting home interviews with families and contacting references for the families. I worked as part of a team to assist with delegates arriving in the United States and meeting host families, along with picking up delegates that stayed in North Idaho on the way to Boise for departure. We had 36 delegates come to Idaho from Japan and South Korea. While this was my summer internship I hav...

This year, we are excited to welcome back Lizbeth Wilder (formerly Bumstead) and TyAnn Tellefson to the Agriculture Communications team! They are very excited to kick off the school year and share with you all the latest happenings in the Department of Agricultural & Extension Education, Idaho Agriculture Education, and Idaho agriculture.  Liz Wilder is a senior pursuing a degree in Agricultural Science, Communications, and Leadership with a minor in Agribusiness. Liz grew up in Pullman, Washington where she was involved in 4-H and FFA. Upon graduation in December, Liz and her new husband, Brett, will move to Billings, Montana to begin the next chapter of their lives. Liz is currently serving as a CALS Ambassador, Collegiate FFA’s President, and Sigma Alpha’s President. Her favorite memory as a student at the University of Idaho was cheering the Vandals to victory at the Potato Bowl. TyAnn Tellefson is a sophomore double majoring in Agricultural Science, Communicatio...