University of Idaho Agricultural Education, Leadership, and Communications

Maggie Elliot is a 2018 graduate of the Agricultural and Extension Education Department with a degree in Agricultural Science, Communications, and Leadership. After graduation, Maggie began working on her master's degree, which she received in December 2019 from Texas Tech University. She has since made her way back to the University of Idaho. Maggie is now filling the role of the Director of Recruitment and Student Engagement for the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS). Some of Maggie's tasks include organizing marketing campaigns, facilitating the CALS Ambassador program, and meeting with prospective students. Maggie Elliot grew up in Prosser, Washington, a community deeply woven in agriculture. She worked many jobs in different commodities such as cherries, wine grapes, and apples. Maggie believes that these summers were, "all experiences illuminating what a beautiful story agriculturists have to tell." She says that people care about where their food...

Kylee Fisher graduated from the University of Idaho in May of 2019 with her B.S. in Agricultural Education. Originally from Burns, Oregon, Fisher served as the Oregon FFA State Secretary in 2014-15 before coming to U of I, and she notes that her experience in FFA changed her life. Her FFA experience, combined with a passion for agriculture and people is what spurred her decision to become a high school agricultural teacher. She is now in the midst of her first year of teaching at Columbia High School in Nampa, Idaho. Fisher says that everything she learned during her time in Moscow and through the agricultural education program at U of I has been helpful in transitioning into teaching agriculture to high school students. This includes classroom management, writing curriculum, and knowing the different sectors involved in agriculture. Fisher stated that she did not realize how much “behind the scenes” work teachers do. Currently, Kylee Fisher teaches wide variety of classes: Introductio...

The University of Idaho College of Agricultural and Life Sciences recognizes an outstanding individual each year who has brought honor and recognition to the college. Awards are presented yearly ad more than one may be given. After receiving nominations, the CALS Alumni Board selects the recipients. For the Alumni Achievement Award, nominees must be a graduate of the University of Idaho College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, must have a career in agriculture, family and consumer sciences, or a related field, graduated within the past 15 years, and must have made an exceptional career and/or community service record thus far.  Pat Dixon received his B.S. in Agricultural Education in 2005 from the University of Idaho. Born and raised on a small potato and cattle farm in Idaho Falls, Dixon has always had a hand in agriculture. He spent his childhood caring for cattle and spending tie with family on the farm. "I worked on the farm as a hydro aluminum transfer technician throu...

Nate Kieffer is a Junior studying Agricultural Education from Reardan, Washington. Nate was exposed to agriculture at an early age; he grew up and continues to go home to his family’s farm and ranch in Rearden. The time spent on the family’s black angus operation is what kick-started his  passion for agriculture.  In high school he became active in his local FFA Chapter where he ended up serving as vice president. Nate competed at the National FFA Convention in Ag Issues when he was a senior. The positive experiences he had with FFA and his passion for agriculture were the main influence in why he chose Agricultural Education as his degree. Nate is very involved on campus and academically. He is a member of the Beta Phi chapter of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity; he has served as VNR of Finance. Nate is an American Indian Scholarship Recipient and an American Indian Scholar.  His passion towards FFA is still prevalent, as he is currently a Washington FFA Emerge facilitato...

Olivia Murphy-Sweet is originally from Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania and attended Penn State where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Education with a minor in International Agriculture. Olivia was a military kid, so she spent her childhood traveling throughout the United States and other parts of the world. These experiences combined with an opportunity to travel to Belize during her undergraduate education helped her realize she wanted to join the Peace Corps. Olivia lived and worked in a rural village, Botou, in Tambacounda Senegal where she worked as a Sustainable Agricultural Agent. Olivia completed four grants during her time with the Peace Corp: a waterline installation project to a remote part of the village that was not receiving any water, Michele Sylvester Scholarship which provided 26 young women the opportunity to further their education, a computer project that provided five laptops to help create a learning center, and Botou School Wall project that aided i...

We want to congratulate the 2018-2019 State Officer Team on a year of great work!