The last step to prepare for our adventure is to pack our bags with everything we might need! On my teaching journey, I will be needing to pack up all of my resources and experience to bring with me into the classroom! Since Agriculture Education is based on the 3 circle model including classroom education, FFA, and Supervised Agriculture Education, let's go through each of these categories and see what experiences I will be able to bring with me to help me on the teaching journey ahead!
1. Agriculture Classroom Instruction
Way back in 7th grade, little young Jenna found herself sitting in an intro to agriculture class that sparked her passion for the agriculture industry! I loved learning about plant science, animal science, and even mechanics in that class. That led me to take many more exciting classes like greenhouse management, food science, and aquaculture.
Later at Penn State, I have been able to take some pretty interesting agriculture classes that will surely be helpful for me to reflect on while teaching! Some of my favorites have been international agriculture, entomology, and horticulture! From making floral arrangements in the greenhouses at Penn State to visiting Cornell and sticking my arm in the rumen of a cow, I am really grateful for the variety of classes I have been able to learn from and apply to my future classroom.
2. FFA
For those of you who know me now, it might be hard for you to believe that I was a very shy girl growing up! I was able to break out of my shell and develop skills in public speaking and basic conversation skills because of the FFA Organization. I started off in very basic competitions in middle school and worked my way up the officer ladder. In my senior year of high school, I was fortunate enough to be selected to serve as the New York State FFA Treasurer. My teammates and I traveled all across the state facilitating workshops, visiting schools, and delivering conferences throughout the year! At our state convention in Rochester NY, I delivered my retiring address in front of thousands! I have so much appreciation for this organization and would not be where I am today without the role it has played in my life!
3. Supervised Agriculture Experience (SAE)
Growing up in a very rural area, I grew up always spending my time outdoors. My family always had a huge garden and always had beautiful flower beds around the house. This experience served as my very first SAE. When I was 14, I then got my first job at our local ice cream parlor and worked towards my second SAE. There I not only helped make the ice cream but was able to develop customer service skills. I then worked towards a few other SAEs in FFA Leadership as well as in Equine Science where I worked at a horse farm for 2 years. All of these experiences have surely taught me so much about the agriculture industry and have given me hands-on practical experience.
The bags are all packed with these amazing opportunities and experiences I was able to have in my lifetime. These will most certainly help me in not only preparing lessons for student teaching but will also supply me with the tools needed to be a leader in the classroom. I have not only learned a vast array of agriculture knowledge but have developed the skills necessary to be a successful teacher. Now that the bags are packed, we are ready to go! Stay tuned next week to see where the destination will be for student teaching will be so we can get this journey started!
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