Everyone has that one teacher that changes their educational career whether it is for better or for worse. If you ask any dedicated agriculture student about their Ag teacher and they will say that they have influenced them in one of the best ways possible; they showed them a passion for agriculture and helped them grow leadership skills. Currently there are not enough Ag teachers to fill all the positions needed in America, but we need Ag teachers to help shape the minds of the “future of agriculture.” There are so many things that we should thank our Ag teachers for like teaching us and training us to be the “future of agriculture” but here are 11 other reasons to thank your Ag teacher:

1)They are more dedicated than most of their students

Not saying all students are like this, but when your going over photosynthesis in Ag and Biology it can get a little boring. Ag teacher’s on the other hand can teach the same thing over and over and they still love every part of it.

2)They have a life outside of school(shocker) and they still make time to help you whenever you need it.

Most Ag teachers have a lot going on outside of school like workshops and federation meetings. But other than FFA and Ag they have families and most of the time they are married and have friends that they want to hang out with. So when you forgot about your SAE and you have to call them remember they have a life too and we need to respect them.

3)Ag teachers teach a lot more than what's on the curriculum

Whether your Ag teacher is teaching you how to dance or how to talk to the guy you like, they will literally try to teach you everything they know even if you're not going to be tested on it. They're stationed by the owl because they have wisdom and knowledge and they aren’t afraid to share it with anyone, I mean anyone.

4)They can literally be your best friend

Ag teachers are the coolest, most of them aren't that much older than you and so they get all the "hip slang" we use. They know what Snapchat is and if they want to post a selfie on Insta then they can, and you're probably going to like it because they're your favorite teacher. Most Ag teachers will want to hear all the gossip about what's going on in their students lives, so you could literally gossip or tell them anything. They also have a lot of the same interest as you so y'all can recommend stuff to each other like TV shows or restaurants or places to travel to. #GilmoreGirls

5)You can talk to them about anything

Chances are you have embarrassed yourself in front of your Ag teacher, depending on what it was they will more than likely bring it up again and talk to you about it. That's just one of the many things your Ag teacher will talk to you about, because they are basically your therapist and sometimes you can be there's. They might rant to you about what's going on in life or all the struggles teachers go through daily (like another teacher). More than likely you will talk about the same topics but you tell them about your struggles as a student. Either way they always know what to say to make your day better.

6)They will encourage you, even when no one else will

Have you ever thought about doing something that no one thought you should do or could do and there was only one person you wanted to talk to because they always have faith in you and believe in you; that's your Ag teacher. This is my first time writing on "The Odyssey" and a lot of people told me I shouldn't because I wouldn't have time to and I wouldn't enjoy it. Who was it that told me it was a good idea and sounded like it was cool, my Ag teacher. No matter if you are thinking about trying something new or competing in a CDE that you have never heard of they will be there to encourage you.

7)They plant seeds in your life

Get it! Planting seeds because they are an Ag teacher. Seriously though they just want to see you grow through life and they try to help you in anyway they can. That may be talking to a college and giving an amazing letter of recommendation, or something as simple as pairing you and the guy you like to do something or secretly talking to him and giving him hints that you like him. Ag teachers are pretty embarrassing a lot of the time but they only want what's best for you.

8)They leave an impression on you

99.9% of the time it's going to be a positive impression. The reason it's 99.9% is because there is always that one guy in the back who hates school in general and doesn't really care if he learns anything or not. Ag teachers will often say "If you don't get anything out of this class, the only thing I want you to get is that you know where your food comes from and you realize there importance." Whether your Ag teacher has left an impression on you that you want to be an Ag teacher or want to pursue something in agriculture, they left a positive impression on you. Even if you're not going into agriculture they gave you encouragement to do whatever you want to do in life.

9)They inspire so many people

Not only do Ag teachers inspire their students they inspire the world. A lot of Ag teachers friends look up to them because they have so much going on in their life and somehow they can balance everything, but a huge reason they look up to them is they inspire the next generation of vets, politicians, teachers, leaders, researchers, farmers, they inspire the people who are going to change the world. No one would be where they are without the people who got them there, their parents, God, and most of the time their Ag teacher. No one forgets the teacher that changed their life.

10)They made high school a lot more bearable

"Best 4 years of your life." For some it is, but for others they get the terrible schedule with classes with people they don't like and the teacher who gives hours and hours of homework, so they don't have time to enjoy high school. Everyday I would look forward to going to the Ag room at the end of the day, because I would learn about something I really enjoyed with people who were nice and enthusiastic and a teacher who loved her job and we all loved that class. Ag gave us something to look forward too while sitting in math and learning something about triangles all you thought was "OK, 2 more hours till Ag, that's 8 more 15 minutes I can do this." Ag teachers helped us with homework and just helped us get through the day.

11)They are the definition of role model

What can you find wrong with an Ag teacher? Nothing, does that mean they are perfect no, they forget deadlines, they get angry, they say stuff they shouldn't, they have flaws everyone does, but they are the perfect role model. They are at school a lot longer then students are, they get a lot more done in the same amount of time than other students and teachers. They are masters at time management, they put up with everything that goes on in their life and their students. They have the patience of I don't know what to work in a high school with a lot of teenagers that know everything. They are always there for you no matter what. They will pick you up when you fall (after they stop laughing). They are the real person to look up too, not celebrities who get paid millions of dollars (oh did I mention how Ag teachers well all teachers are underpaid and barely make enough money to survive). You ask any Ag teacher why they teach, it's not for the money, or the glory if one of their students succeeds in something, it's for the difference they make in each students life they touch.

Thank you to all the Ag teachers out there and the future Ag teachers for changing the world and changing our lives.

Thank You Mrs. Haigler for inspiring me to write this and for inspiring me everyday to continue what I'm doing. You are my role model and I wish I could do a lot more for you because you have done so much for me so Thank You from the bottom of my heart, you really are the definition of a blessing.

P.S. You'll always be my favorite teacher Mrs.Byrd ain't got nothing on you.