March 27, 2020 at 3:05 p.m.
Support our agriculture educators
Letter to the Editor
To the editor:
Agriculture surrounds our everyday lives, from the food we eat to the clothes we wear, it affects us on a daily basis.
However, sometimes we don’t know how it affects us. With a little effort we can learn how agriculture affects us, our community and our ever changing world. But how do we get this education and experience?
The answer is agriculture teachers.
They are the ones who bring out the best in us, teach us skills needed to understand agriculture — skills that will help us down the road like communication and leadership — and inspire us to inspire others.
Ag teachers don’t get the appreciation that they deserve. They are the ones behind the curtains making sure the show runs smoothly. They are the ones that take the hits that hurt the most.
With consolidation happening at Jay County High School, it has put a real strain on the agriculture program, which is one of the best and biggest in the state. It is so crucial that we support this amazing program and the stellar ag teachers that make it the way it is.
You may be asking, “Why does agriculture even matter?”
To put this into perspective, the agriculture industry is one of the top 10 industries in the United States. It also affects our state by $39 billion a year. To break it down even more, the ag industry is also the top industry in Jay County. No matter where you go or what you do, agriculture will always be right around the corner.
I cannot stress enough how important it is to have knowledge about agriculture. No matter what you do in life, being knowledgeable about agriculture will be something you always use. Knowledge about agriculture is never wasted. It can be used and applied to so many things in life.
When you hear the word agriculture, you immediately think of farming. That isn't the case though. It is not just farming and it is not just about ag. Agriculture educators teach an array of skills that don’t have to do with agriculture, skills like communication, leadership, teamwork and perseverance. The things ag educators teach can’t be learned or experienced in any other class.
Currently, there is a national shortage of agriculture teachers. We are short 200 to 400 teachers, which affects tens of thousands of kids. Kids like me aren’t getting to experience ag classes and FFA. They lose out on such valuable skills that can only be taught by ag teachers.
We must support our ag teachers, our ag program and FFA for this very reason. We can’t lose them or this knowledge gained from them. They hold the future within their teaching. The future generations count on them.
It is like a chain. Our community is a chain and the ag teachers, ag program and FFA is a link in the chain. If we don't give them support, that link breaks and so does the chain. The whole chain is only as strong as its weakest link.
Our agriculture teachers do so much for their kids, their community and the ag industry. In such a close-knit community, we all support each other. Jay County’s ag teachers give back to the community that has constantly given to them and their program. They teach kids like me the importance of community and involvement and how everyone can make their impact. Jay County wouldn’t be the same without them.
Agriculture educators invest so much of their time, money and effort into the personal development of their kids. It is time that we invest in our ag teachers, so that we can invest in our future generations. I urge this amazing community to show support toward our ag educators.
I would like to personally thank the following current and retired agriculture teachers who have inspired and taught me so much. Thank you to Bob Lyons, Matthew Lyons, Nancy Kunk, Melissa Wolters, Cody Linville, Brittany Kloer and Seth Swallow. Your impact on my life has allowed me to grow as an individual and has shaped the person I am today.
Lucas Lyons
Rural Portland
Agriculture surrounds our everyday lives, from the food we eat to the clothes we wear, it affects us on a daily basis.
However, sometimes we don’t know how it affects us. With a little effort we can learn how agriculture affects us, our community and our ever changing world. But how do we get this education and experience?
The answer is agriculture teachers.
They are the ones who bring out the best in us, teach us skills needed to understand agriculture — skills that will help us down the road like communication and leadership — and inspire us to inspire others.
Ag teachers don’t get the appreciation that they deserve. They are the ones behind the curtains making sure the show runs smoothly. They are the ones that take the hits that hurt the most.
With consolidation happening at Jay County High School, it has put a real strain on the agriculture program, which is one of the best and biggest in the state. It is so crucial that we support this amazing program and the stellar ag teachers that make it the way it is.
You may be asking, “Why does agriculture even matter?”
To put this into perspective, the agriculture industry is one of the top 10 industries in the United States. It also affects our state by $39 billion a year. To break it down even more, the ag industry is also the top industry in Jay County. No matter where you go or what you do, agriculture will always be right around the corner.
I cannot stress enough how important it is to have knowledge about agriculture. No matter what you do in life, being knowledgeable about agriculture will be something you always use. Knowledge about agriculture is never wasted. It can be used and applied to so many things in life.
When you hear the word agriculture, you immediately think of farming. That isn't the case though. It is not just farming and it is not just about ag. Agriculture educators teach an array of skills that don’t have to do with agriculture, skills like communication, leadership, teamwork and perseverance. The things ag educators teach can’t be learned or experienced in any other class.
Currently, there is a national shortage of agriculture teachers. We are short 200 to 400 teachers, which affects tens of thousands of kids. Kids like me aren’t getting to experience ag classes and FFA. They lose out on such valuable skills that can only be taught by ag teachers.
We must support our ag teachers, our ag program and FFA for this very reason. We can’t lose them or this knowledge gained from them. They hold the future within their teaching. The future generations count on them.
It is like a chain. Our community is a chain and the ag teachers, ag program and FFA is a link in the chain. If we don't give them support, that link breaks and so does the chain. The whole chain is only as strong as its weakest link.
Our agriculture teachers do so much for their kids, their community and the ag industry. In such a close-knit community, we all support each other. Jay County’s ag teachers give back to the community that has constantly given to them and their program. They teach kids like me the importance of community and involvement and how everyone can make their impact. Jay County wouldn’t be the same without them.
Agriculture educators invest so much of their time, money and effort into the personal development of their kids. It is time that we invest in our ag teachers, so that we can invest in our future generations. I urge this amazing community to show support toward our ag educators.
I would like to personally thank the following current and retired agriculture teachers who have inspired and taught me so much. Thank you to Bob Lyons, Matthew Lyons, Nancy Kunk, Melissa Wolters, Cody Linville, Brittany Kloer and Seth Swallow. Your impact on my life has allowed me to grow as an individual and has shaped the person I am today.
Lucas Lyons
Rural Portland
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