NAAE News & Views -- February 2016

From the President

Terry Rieckman

NAAE President 2015-2016

Are You Coming or Going?

I remember my father asking me this question many times as a young man. His meaning was slow down, take a breath, and spend some time with those who matter the most.

MORE >>

Growth Energy Makes Major Commitment to NAAE Upper Division Scholarship Fund

Upper Division Scholarships Will Double in Dollar Amount, and More Will Be Awarded

Student members will have more and larger scholarships available starting this year, thanks to a commitment from Growth Energy to provide $90,000 in funds over the next three years.

Details>>

Paul Larson: Outstanding Teacher Uses Award to Build Recognition for Ag Program

There are a lot of ways you could tell the story of Paul Larson, agriculture teacher at Freedom High School in Freedom, Wisconsin. You could start with how, when Larson came to Freedom 29 years ago, the program was on the verge of extinction. Knowing that makes it even more impressive that today Larson’s agricultural education program reaches 200 students each year, and has the most advanced high school aquaculture facility in the state.

Ideas Unlimited: Teach Soil Texturing with Candy

Put that clearance candy from Valentine's day to good use with Cory Wedel's Ideas Unlimited-Winning Idea! Watch a 1-minute video explaining the lesson. (Special thanks to this summer's communication intern, Shelby Cooper for creating these videos!). The NAAE Ideas Unlimited Award is sponsored by Cengage Learning | National Geographic Learning.

NAAE Teacher Mentor:
Mike Sheppard, South Kitsap HS, Washington

Mike Sheppard was selected as the 2015 NAAE Teacher Mentor for 2015. He’s been teaching agriculture for 16 years, and was nominated for the Teacher Mentor by his co-workers, both of who came to teach with Mike straight out of college.

Get Mike’s take on what it means to be a mentor, what he misses about being a new ag teacher, and what kind of mentoring he thinks works best.

Congratulations to NAAE Greenhouse Grant Recipients - Sponsored by International Greenhouse Company

Congratulations to Katrina Stewart, agriculture teacher at Bevier C4 High School in Bevier, Mo., and Russell Stoker, agriculture teacher at Keya Paha County Schools in Springview, Neb.

These members were selected to receive a $2,000 grant from NAAE to either construct a greenhouse or enhance their current greenhouse facilities.

The NAAE Greenhouse Construction/Enhancement Grant program is sponsored by International Greenhouse Company as a special project of the National FFA Foundation.

2016 Award Applications are Available

Get a jump start on your NAAE awards application. The 2016 application instructions and supporting information for all NAAE awards is now available on the NAAE website. Although the online submission form is not yet open, applicants can use the materials that are available to create everything they'll need to upload once it opens. Regional award winners will be honored at the 2016 NAAE Convention in Las Vegas, November 29-December 3.

Go to award applications page>>

Take Your Ag Ed Skills International with Farmer to Farmer

If traveling overseas and helping farmers in developing countries learn appeals to you, consider signing up for the Farmer to Farmer program through NAAE. This is a 5-year initiative that relies on technical assistance from U.S. farmers, educators and others to help farmers in developing countries improve productivity, access new markets and conserve environmental and natural resources.

Learn more>>

Host a Location for 2016 National Teach Ag Day

The National Teach Ag Campaign is looking for up to four sites to serve as satellite locations for the 2016 National Teach Ag Day celebration (Thursday, September 22). The satellite sites will be featured throughout the live event to showcase current and future agriculture teachers. The satellite locations will be assigned a host facilitator (current or former Teach Ag ambassador) who will help coordinate on site discussions and technical logistics.

Details>>

NAAE's News & Notables Blog

Our members make the news. A lot. That’s why we’ve started the NAAE News & Notables blog on Communities of Practice, to highlight stories about our members that have caught our attention:

Here’s what’s been posted in the last few weeks:

We know there are more great stories out there. Read something that should make the blog? Send a link to NAAE Communications/ Marketing Director Julie Fritsch, and we’ll post it!

NAAE Regional Conferences

Regional Conferences are great opportunities to network with other leaders in agricultural education from your part of the U.S. Conferences usually last 2-3 days and include ag tours, professional development, association business, and social events.

Region 1 - April 26-29, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
more info and registration
Region 6 - April 29-30, Trenton, New Jersey
Region 2 - June 19-22, College Station, Texas
Region 3 - June 21-23, St. Cloud, Minnesota
Region 4 - June 23-30, Cincinnati, Ohio
Region 5 - June 26-29, Athens, Georgia
hotel information

Washington Beat

Ag Ed Strand of the ACTE National Policy Seminar

NAAE and the National FFA Foundation are co-hosting the ag ed strand of the ACTE National Policy Seminar this year, February 29 - March 2, in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. We will be covering the registration fee for one representative per state agricultural education association to participate in this important conference. Details are here.

350 Businesses, Employer Associations, and Education Groups Call for Perkins Reauthorization

A national coalition of stakeholders interested in the reauthorization of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins) has sent a letter to Congress calling on lawmakers to reauthorize this important law in final session of the 114th Congress.

National Teach Ag Campaign

Something for Everyone

At the National Teach Ag Campaign we are always looking for new ways to engage future and current teachers, teacher educators, supporters and the general public. This year will be no different. Please review some of the opportunities we will be offering over next 12 months and be sure to keep an eye out for new additions.

Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education (CASE)

Registration is Open for This Summer's CASE Institutes

If you're considering adding a CASE course to your agricultural education program next year, now is the time to register for a CASE Institute.

These 50 to 100-hour intensive professional developments are held mostly in June and July at a variety of locations across the United States. Completion of an institute is the only way a teacher can become certified to use the CASE curriculum, but according to CASE certified teachers, participants come away with much more than a set of lessons.