Student Teaching Day 1: Farm Show field trip

Myself with our 9 Keystone Degree Recipients

 I tell people that I was basically raised at the PA Farm Show Complex. My grandfather served as the livestock office manager there for 30 years, which overlapped with my childhood. I still remember being a young kid riding around in the golf cart with him. The past few years, I have followed in his footsteps and worked in that same office. With my family history at the PA Farm Show, it was fitting that my first day as a teacher would be spent there chaperoning students

Central Columbia brought down a full bus load of students, about 55 total and all grades, for Farm Show. This ends up being most of the active chapter. Mr Brown did not assign any particular scavenger hunt or related activity for them, but let them roam free from drop off to pick up. I thought this was a good approach because the students on the trip were trustworthy, it limited our headaches, made a better accepted experience for students, and we had other fish to fry that day. I definitely wasn't thrown in to the first day as far as leading students. Mr Brown is so well prepared that the day went smoothly and I could, for the most part, enjoy the day and get to know students.

Mr Brown and Mr Turner with senior Alyssa Yoder, state star in placement

The highlight of my day was seeing one of our students win state star in placement. I was at Central the day she was scrambling to get things ready for regionals that night. Mr Turner had to pull some teeth with her to get things completed, but in the end her records were through enough and she interviewed well enough that she took home the star. In short, it was the perfect example of times ag teachers push students to a potential they might not see in themselves. Fun Fact, Alyssa is only the 4th state start Mr Brown and Mr Turner have had in their combined 40+ years!

The biggest take away from the day was the feeling of community within ag ed. I'm now that guy who walks around and stops every few minutes to talk to someone he knows. Trust me, I was raised by those people, so to be "that guy" feels good. I talked to many ag teachers I have already met, and met many new ones as well. This teaching thing seems like more of a perfect fit every day, and I can't wait to get in the classroom!