CPHS ag instructor retires following State FFA Convention

From the thoughts of a wise old owl. In what appears to be my last ag.-FFA article as an ag teacher, I thought it only fitting that I speak from a first-person aspect instead of third as I’ve always done. I got to enjoy my last hurrah as an instructor/adviser – and it couldn't have been better!

Kids are what has made 37 years of teaching all worthwhile ... and spending the last two days of my teaching career with my wife and a fantastic group of Central Plains FFAers made it extra special; it started with kids and ended with kids.

The learning didn't stop – for me or the kids! As CPHS FFAer Callun Rogers put it, "A lot was learned" in two days at Convention-seeing and visiting with a plethora of post-secondary schools offering vast career opportunities, listening to keynote addresses, gaining ideas to implement in our own program, seeing the uniqueness of other Ag-FFA programs by looking through chapter scrapbooks, and listening to state officer candidate speeches and understanding how the process works.

Oh, we also were honored to place second in the state scrapbook contest – an accomplishment that Chyanne Warta and Taylor Sheehy (engineers and creators of the history piece) were ear-to-ear grins with!

It's all out there for the taking – if you’re willing to put in the work! State Convention opened the kids’ eyes – way beyond the fantastic laser light shows, the thousands of blue jackets, and being on the K-State campus. It proved there are so many opportunities for success out there: scholarships, proficiency awards, career options, community involvement, and even earning/becoming a state FFA officer.

As that old owl, I’m glad I had a part in providing present and past generations of kids the opportunity to take part in Kansas’ FFA State Convention. Much of my whole career paralleled FFA's motto – living it, setting the example, and passing on its four key words of learning, doing, earning, and living! In that, I take great pride.

We got to start our teaching together and we were able to finish teaching together – my wife was alongside at my first FFA Convention and 43 years later closed it out with me again. And in between, I’ve had a great deal of tremendous kids experiencing life-changing fantastic accomplishments along the way! From winning the Triple Crown twice, recognizing the top FFA Chapter in the state in 1986 and 1994, to seeing my parents being honored with the Honorary American FFA Degree in Kansas City as well as receiving it myself, to celebrating with two students being elected state FFA officers and plenty of district officers, to being the adviser of the Star Farmer of Kansas in ‘84, and receiving Kansas’ Outstanding Young Ag Teacher in ’85, and experiencing goose bumps every time opening ceremonies was conducted at FFA banquets!

When my students were recognized for the successes they deserved, that's when I loved my job the most! But I think one of the greatest feelings happened at this year's State FFA Convention. Kansas FFA pays tribute to retiring ag teachers by having them participate in Opening Ceremonies with the state officers and I was deeply honored to recite the adviser's part in the third session, not necessarily with over 1,200 there, but rather with my Central Plains FFAers sharing the moment with me!

And to finish where it all began – Manhappiness! It's been a heck of a ride! I wouldn't trade the life of an ag teacher for any other career! Thank you to Central Plains and my other Ag-FFA programs I’ve been a part of: Plainville, Great Bend, and lastly Chase, where I started the program there in 2021. "It couldn't have played out an better!"