Long days and hard hours are the reality for the life of an agriculture instructor. September 22 is National Teach Ag day. A day where ag teachers are celebrated and a place to advocate for agriculture education in school systems. I myself am a product of a small town agriculture program and an ag teacher that pushed me to become who I am today. To celebrate agriculture instructors across the nation I came up with a few reasons anyone would be crazy enough to teach ag to a bunch of high schoolers.

1. Impact someone future

I don't think people realize how much ag education and FFA impact them until they leave the program. Through FFA I met some of my very best friends and developed my leadership skills to become a better student and a better person. All of this happens because a ag teacher traveled across the state and nation taking students like myself to career development events and leadership conferences. The impact that my time in FFA has had on my future is unmeasurable.

2. Be a Mentor for Students

Throughout High School there was a lot of people who looked up to my ag teacher. He was able to help numerous students get into college, find their career path, and make plans for after high school. As an ag teacher, or any teacher for that matter, students look up to you. They follow the way you act, how you communicate with other people, and how you carry out your job. Teachers are able to be a positive aspect in a student life.

3. Travel the Nation

I cannot begin to count how many hours we spent in the back of the ag truck heading to contests or conferences. Some of my greatest high school memories were spent in the backseat of a white chevy truck at 5 a.m. heading to a livestock judging contest talking with our ag teacher. Through FFA I have been able to see the state while traveling to Washington D.C., Louisville, KY, and Indianapolis, Indiana, just to name a few.

4. Spread Knowledge about Agriculture

Even being raised in a rural community, there are always kids who do not understand or know about agriculture. Ag teachers bridged the gap between producers and the public in teaching students about how their food is raised and why we use the techniques we do.

5. Make a difference

The biggest reason anybody would become an ag teacher is make a difference. Looking back I dont think I told my ag teacher thank you nearly enough. The impact that they had on my life is unmeasurable. From being a role model and mentor, but above all a friend. As a teacher you have a huge job ahead of you. The pay isnt the greatest, the hours are long, and you have to make a huge sacrifice of your personal life, but the impact that you have on your students is something that not many people get the chance to do. To all the ag teachers in the nation, we thank you.