After helping out on his family’s farm from a young age, Derek Steven Hight of the Viborg-Hurley FFA Chapter in South Dakota decided to purchase a baler to launch his own custom baling business. He has a hard time keeping up with the demand now, adding another baler and hiring his first employee in 2014. Hight hopes to use the profits of his business to pay for college and eventually own his own farm. He is supported by his parents, Mark and Alice, and his FFA advisor, John Rist. This award is sponsored by TransCanada.

As a longtime customer of Taulbee Feed and Suppy, Collin Dunaway from the Felicity Franklin FFA Chapter in Ohio jumped at the chance to work there during his freshman year. This position allowed him to develop computer skills, practice superior customer service and learn sales techniques. He also increased his knowledge of feed and nutrition, which will allow him to improve animal health and nutrition in his own cattle herd. He is supported by his parents, Todd and Shawnna, and his FFA advisor, Holly Jennings.  This award is sponsored by Fastenal and Provimi North America.

A member of the Boise City FFA Chapter in Oklahoma, Megan M. Trantham owns and operates a livestock show feed distribution business called Trantham Feed. What started as a small local feed business quickly grew to a business that supplies feed, additives, as well as supplements so that customers can choose from a range of protein and fat content. She has expanded her market reach from six local clients to more than 60 clients in five states. Owning a show feed business has given Trantham a new perspective on the feed and show industry that will aid her as a future agricultural education teacher.  She is supported by her parents, Brent and Angela. This award is sponsored by Crop Production Services.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Maggie Hovermale of the Westfall FFA Chapter in Williamsport, Ohio, is employed at a local honey operation where she processes honey, beeswax and bee pollen. She is involved in all aspects of the processing operation, including production, packing, storage and sales. After working at farmers markets every weekend for a summer, her superior customer service skills and product knowledge created enough buzz around the products to boost sales for the farm by seven percent. She has learned that processing high-quality products takes hard work, practice and dedication. She is supported by her parents, Dan and Joy, and her FFA advisors, Rick Metzger and Rachel Scior. This award is sponsored by CHS and Sealed Air Corporation.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Erik Lovvorn of the Bowdon FFA Chapter in Georgia works at his family business as an electrician. He does thermal imaging and electrical work at local plants and industries. Through his supervised agricultural experience (SAE), he has learned to run and cut conduit, pull wire, terminate motors and control panels, and more. Lovvorn is supported by his parents, Anne and Max, and his FFA advisor, Ryan Ayers. This award is sponsored by Lincoln Electric and Parker.

Since both of her parents earned degrees in agricultural education, there was a good chance that the passion would rub off on Ashley Carol Zimmerman of the Spencer FFA Chapter in Wisconsin. She has always enjoyed assisting in the classroom, doing everything from developing educational materials to creating curriculum to teach elementary school students about the importance of agriculture. Zimmerman, who plans on becoming an agricultural education instructor and FFA advisor, has also coached FFA Creed speaking and prepared public speaking.  She is supported by her parents, Cheryl and Mark, who is also her FFA advisor. This award is sponsored by The James F. Lincoln Arc Welding Foundation and Tulsa Welding School.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Zach Hasting of the Covington FFA Chapter in Ohio got his start in his SAE by working alongside his father and grandfather. Starting his own business, he purchases damaged antique tractors before repairing and restoring them. He has worked with hydraulic transmissions, clutch systems, electrical systems, distributors magnetos and coolant systems. Hasting is supported by his father, Mark, and his FFA advisor, Jessica Helsinger.  This award is sponsored by Briggs and Stratton Corporation, Inc.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

While some young girls play dress-up, Kellie Mae Einck of the South O’Brien FFA Chapter in Paulina, Iowa, was learning about horsepower and torque traveling the country with her truck driver father. Taking what she learned from her father, Einck completed a degree in diesel technology while still in high school. She has learned welding and fabrication, intake and exhaust systems and more. She is supported by her parents, Lee and Paul, and her FFA advisor, Erik Kumm. This award is sponsored by Tractor Supply Company and Universal Technical Institute.

The Region III Outstanding Agriculture Teacher is Paul Larson from Freedom High School in Freedom, Wisconsin.
Since becoming the agriculture teacher at Freedom High School in 1987, Paul has grown the program from fewer than 50 students to a thriving 200 students each year. He incorporates curriculum that includes a wide variety of topics to meet his students’ interests and five courses that fulfill science credits. Paul infuses his lessons with math, science, and language skills, and shows his students how the things they learn apply to real life.
Funding for the agriculture program, which includes a state-of-the art aquaculture facility, has been generated largely from the support of the community.
Paul recently became a National Agriscience Teacher Ambassador, a program he credits with changing his instructional style and re-invigorating his passion for teaching. His willingness to continue to grow professionally, as well as the importance he places on collaboration with stakeholders have been pillars to his success in the agriculture classroom.
Congratulations to Paul Larson for being selected as the NAAE Region III Outstanding Agriculture Teacher.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Tracey Hoffman has been the agriculture educator at Ovid-Elsie High School in Elsie, Michigan since 2003. She credits the program’s subsequent success to the immense support of her school’s administrators and the community.

Over time, the program has evolved to offer science-based, specialized courses as well as an agriculture literacy course for eighth graders. She has evolved her program to meet the interests of these students, and as a result has seen the program thrive.

Tracey encourages her to students to be active both in the classroom and in related out-of-school experiences. Tracey fully incorporates the three-circle model of agricultural education.

Tracey’s ability to master the multitude of diverse roles required of an agriculture teacher make her effective at managing classroom instruction to communicating with community stakeholders, she makes sure that the students are at the center of the agriculture program.

Congratulations to Tracey Hoffman for being selected as the NAAE Region IV Outstanding Agriculture Teacher.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download