#AgEd2Malaysia: Kristi Mensen’s Final Reflection

August 7, 2018August 4, 2018 Kristi J MensenAgriculture

Today I left, from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and will return home after a 28-hour flight to Dyersville, IA. As the #AgEd2Malaysia team had arrived in Malaysia 27 days ago. Our time has flown by- just as I was told it would. Our study abroad program has been an experience. I have tried to replace or come up with another word or perhaps a better word than experience. Yet, each time I try to come up with a better word I scratch it out. I think this is because there is no adjective to describe my experience in teaching and studying in a foreign country.

Over the course of this trip, I have often heard and found myself saying it is a “life-changing experience.” This may be true for some, but not for me. Every time I have been abroad studying the experience has taught me to bring myself to the world and bring the world to myself. For this typical exchange, it is something very different. I am the same person with additive perspectives. Studying abroad in Malaysia has provided me with teacher enrichment, opportunities that have empowered me to engage globally, and learn the intricacies. Studying abroad has given me a greater sense of the world and my place within it.

During my time in Malaysia I lived in Johor Bahru at the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Kuala Lumpur, Sabah, Malacca, and FELDA Ayer Hitam Kluang with a host family. I was fortunate to interact with so many different nationalities, cultures, and lifestyles; no two people were alike. I am certain after what I have experienced that I have been fortunate enough to receive everything I could ever ask for in my life, and will never take the luxuries in my life for granted.

The month spent in Malaysia was full of knowledge about tropical fruits, religious values, wildlife, and Malaysian secondary schools. I have prepared, instructed, and reflected for forms 2-5. (high school) The teams made up of one student from UTM, one per-service candidate, and one teacher candidate objectives where to always have cooperation, creativity, and innovation for the agricultural topic assigned to the Malay students.

During the classes I wanted to see the students become successful by showing engagement, collaborating with their peers, and the obvious one; excitement. Reflecting post workshop was beneficial to me, questioning myself what did I do to become a better Agriculture Educator? The impact of connection is so crucial for students. I want to be able to relate to the students; knowing the topic was relevant to the scholar. While I am sad to leave my UTM family and friends, I am feeling a lot of mixed emotions right now, but I most strongly feel a sense of appreciation and gratitude. Thank you #AgEd2Malaysia participants, Jeff Zimpleman Iowa Sister States Scholarship, and UTM for the experience abroad in Malaysia.

Ms. Kristi Mensen (@kristi_mensen) is a
pre-service agriscience educator candidate
at Iowa State University (@AgEds_IaStateU)
who graduated from
Hawkeye Community College
(@GALC_Hawkeye, @HawkeyeCollege)!

Day 22: Teaching to Inspire – Our Final Malaysian Teaching Experience

July 31, 2018 Darla Joanne RombergerIn-Country Sharing

During our group reflection on Monday evening, Shelby, Thomas, and Nisa asked us the question:

“Why do we teach?”

Members of our group quickly responded with the following phrases:

“Pass on knowledge to students”
“Give every student the chance to succeed”
“Inspire students to find their passion”

*Melissa assists students to select the materials to create a poultry digestion mural.*

This question resonated with the group as we had just finished our last teaching episode at Dato Lela Maharaja Vocational College. Our 3 teaching experiences scaffolded from teaching Form 2 students (14 years old), then hosting an Agriculture Day for 60 secondary students, to finally teaching students (16-19 years old) at a Vocational Agricultural College. At Dato Lela Maharaja, students are part of a specific agricultural program (Agronomy, Poultry Agro-Industry, Ruminant Agro-Industry, Agro-Mechanization, Aquaculture, Ornamental Horticulture, Architectural Landscape, or Agriculture Food Processing). Our 6 teaching teams each chose a content area and were tasked with preparing a 90-minute lesson for a group of students. During our planning, we needed to consider that students may have advanced content knowledge, may (or may not) be confident in their English communication skills, or may have covered the topic of our lesson previously in their studies. Nonetheless, our teaching teams collaborated and utilized teaching strategies centered around student engagement, inquiry, and project-based learning.

*Ruminant Agro-Industry students label their* petri dishes and read the biosecurity scenarios they will replicate

Drawing upon past teaching experience from an inquiry-based curriculum, two teachers decided to utilize an activity they implement in their secondary Agricultural Science programs in the United States. Melissa Grant, Indiana AgriScience Teacher, and Darla Romberger, Pennsylvania AgriScience Teacher, are both Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education (CASE)-certified in the Agricultural Science—Animal course. Melissa’s group consisting of Manny Catala (@MCatala35), Azira, and Ain provided instruction to the Poultry Agro-Industry group while Darla’s group of Mikaella Koster (@MikaellaKoster) and Fatin instructed the Ruminant Agro-Industry class. Knowing that both lessons needed to be challenging, engaging, and somewhat flexible, the CASE-certified teachers decided to utilize inquiry-based lessons from the CASE curriculum and conduct each lesson in a Malaysian classroom.

*Poultry Agro-Industry class with completed Digestion Murals.*

The poultry instructional team led a class of Form 4 students (ages 15-16) and focused their lesson on internal anatomy and physiology of poultry animals. After briefly introducing the function and appearance of internal organs, students created digestion murals of a broiler chicken (Project. 5.1.4.) utilizing assorted craft supplies. Before creating the mural, students needed to justify how each craft item accurately represented each organ. Melissa noted, “It was awesome to see students in a different country enjoying the same activity that my students do in Indiana.” The students loved being out of their seats collaborating and creating a poster that they could display to other students in the program.

*After washing a boot with water and a disinfecting solution, a student swabs a petri dish to observe bacterial growth between both biosecurity treatments.*

The ruminant instructional team led a class of 19-year-old students (that would graduate with a Vocational College diploma at the end of the year) and concentrated on the topic of biosecurity and the effectiveness of various biosecurity practices. After a brief introduction about the various control points in a biosecurity plan, students replicated various scenarios on a farm to evaluate the effectiveness of biosecurity practices (Activity 3.3.2. Biosecurity: Managing Risk). The class had already discussed the concept of biosecurity, but our group was confident in the problem-based activity we had planned. The instructional team explained the purpose of a nutrient agar petri dish and gave instruction on how to label, swab, and seal a petri dish with parafilm—all new concepts for this group of students. Students then predicted which biosecurity scenario would result in the least bacterial growth and therefore be the most effective practice to reduce the spread of disease. At the end of the lesson, I reflected, “It was rewarding to see project-based learning and inquiry strategies come to life in a Malaysian classroom and hope that I inspired these students to ask questions and become more engaged in Animal Science content.”

After teaching in Malaysia and the United States, I’ve realized that teachers across the globe teach for the same reasons—to inspire, motivate, and share knowledge with students, regardless of what country we teach in. When tasked with teaching a class of Malaysian students, I instantly thought of all the barriers we would have while teaching (language, content, etc). However, I quickly remembered why I enjoy teaching—sharing my passion for animal agriculture with future generations of students. This motivation will continue as we enter our classrooms next fall and continue to motivate, inspire, and share knowledge about global agriculture and our second home—Malaysia.

Ms. Darla Romberger (@DJR_131) [Cumberland Valley High School (@FlyCVEagles)] is a secondary Agricultural Science Teacher (@CV_AgSciences) & FFA Advisor (@CV_FFA1954) in
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania!

Day 21: Meandering Around Melaka!

July 30, 2018July 30, 2018 Kaitlin LiszkaCulture

We were given a nice break from our routine this weekend when we traveled to Melaka and were set lose to travel and explore the city to learn what we specifically were interested in. The group collectively went on many different adventures including touring different museums and historical sites, going shopping, eating food, touring the river, exploring the Shore Sky Tower, and even catching a movie at the theater.

For my first adventure of the day, I somehow was talked into climbing the Shore Sky Tower. With the observation deck 43 floors up, the Shore Sky Tower is the tallest building in Melaka, at 163 meters or 535 feet. From the top we got a beautiful 360 view of the city, making for some great pictures. I kept my distance from the edge though, and definitely did not participate in the picture on the glass! I wasn’t afraid to check out the cool fish they had for you to feed though!

After finding some lunch, my group headed to some museums, like the Baba and Nyonya Musuem, where we learned about Chinese wedding ceremonies. Our fascinating fun facts included:

Seeing the chair that the bride and groom would sit in to meet each other for the first time at the beginning of their 12 day wedding ceremony.
Having a young male with a compatible horoscope to the couple roll around on the marriage bed so that the couple could have many children, and the oldest be a male.
That the couple essentially played footsy at their first official meal together, and whoever got their foot on top first was the head of the household.

Then we saw the ruins of St. Paul’s church. Originally built on the hill in 1521, it is the oldest church building in South East Asia. It received the name, St. Paul’s church after the Dutch took over Melaka in 1641, and was used as a church until 1753. In 1824, when the British took over the city, they used the church for ammunition and gunpowder storage, allowing it to further deteriorate to the ruins that it is in today.

What we thought would be the wrap up our evening was a boat tour down the river where we saw a traditional Melaka village, murals, and many beautiful bridges.

It really was getting caricature pictures drawn though and attracting a crowd of people because of the music we played and were singing/ dancing too while we waited for the completed artwork.

Though I didn’t ride one, I have to mention, a large part of the culture of the city included bikes with carts to two passengers that were all decked out to a theme with light and music. Some of the popular themes included, Hello Kitty, Frozen, Minions, etc.

Ms. Kaitlin Liszka (@KaitlinLiska) is a pre-service agricultural education candidate (#psuaged20) at The Pennsylvania State University (@TeachAgPSU).

Bonus Blog! Oh, The People That You’ll Meet!

July 30, 2018July 30, 2018 Carson T LetotCulture

When you travel to a new country, you’re supposed to meet its people. Eat its food. Walk its streets, and breath its air. We’ve done that in Malaysia for over three weeks. But there’s something that people don’t often talk about because we tend to think that we are on the journey alone, or just within the confines of our group. What about the other people around you in a country who are ALSO not from there? What about the other tourists? The other students studying abroad? The other business people working overseas? I wonder who they are and if they feel the same way as me. Do they like to get to a hotel and hunker down till it’s safe to step a foot out in a straight line towards the nearest McDonalds? Do they open yelp as soon as they get wifi and make plans to hit the top three restaurants in the first three hours? Or do they just walk out into the unknown and let the breeze and the traffic signals carry them to the experiences that come with a roll of the metaphorical dice?

I think about these people because even if they’re from Germany, China, or Australia, they’re probably not very different from me. In fact, from what I’ve observed, they’re a lot like me. Case in point: a couple from Holland and a couple from Germany. Oh and some Americans….

We met a couple named Jack and Sara. They were on a boat with a group of us riding back from an island off the coast of Kota Kinabalu. Jack and Sara were/are on a trip going from Borneo to Brunei, and then home. We caught them in week 3 of the trip and they were as animated and friendly as anyone we could have dreamed up. Jack especially was incredibly excited to tell us about his excursion in the US back in early July when he witnessed the 4th of July through the haze and bustle of Los Angeles. We all had a good laugh at the spectacle that is our independence day, and how theirs in Holland is not a significant departure from the one we hold dear. They drink, they party, and they wear a lot of orange; the national color. What could people who speak another language and live over 3000 miles away from us have in common? Almost everything.

Jack and Sara come from a similar place to us culturally, but what about when they get here? What do they think? Anna and Stephan let us know in about 30 seconds at the airport.

We ran into them in line checking bags and both they and our group had a great laugh at the large family ahead of us who didn’t get tags for their bags. We both connected with grins when they realized they had to get out of line and then connected with chuckles when they left grumbling, and thus saving both of us upwards of 10 minutes waiting in the queue. (It was a big family.) Stephan and I proceeded right into some small talk, as one does whilst queuing and he commented on my height saying “and here I thought I’d be the tallest person I’d see in all of Sabah.” I replied humbly that I thought the same thing, but knew there’d be someone from Denmark or Germany who’d have me beat. Is there a culture in the world who DOESN’T appreciate irony? What a magical uniter of nations. Meeting Stephan was enjoyable, but brief. Meeting Zooey and Kelly, however, gave more time for connection and even collaboration.

Zooey and Kelly waited on a bench at the reception area of the Mari Mari cultural village. I didn’t want to assume, because well, most people here in Malaysia who look like us, are not Americans, but these two seemed like a sure bet, and sure enough, they were! But it wasn’t until later at a restaurant on the waterfront that we made an authentic association.

What were the chances that we’d pick a place to get some food at the end of the day, and run into the same people we’d seen at the village? Apparently good. We talked, and laughed and even though they weren’t coming from an exotic place like the one we’re in right now, they still had a wealth of banter to offer. We stuck around until late, and agreed that if we went snorkeling the next day, we’d let them know and try to plan together. At the jetty the next day, right before we left the ticket counter to go to the dock, who should be standing in front of us? None other than Zooey and Kelly. We snorkeled together and just happened to pick up some strategies for proper fish viewing from Zooey.

The cherry on the cake? Zooey’s grandmother lives in K.L. and her mother is Malay. Her father? American. Just the right person to give us a perspective that has adornments of both cultures. She spoke about what her grandmother has witnessed in the country since she was little, and what she herself thinks about Muslim traditions and how they work for her at a school in the US. Meeting them was as refreshing as it gets. They were American sure, and I’d be lying if I said a little part of me wasn’t thinking of them as a “port in a storm.” But as I reflect back on our time in Sabah and our time with them, I think that they are yet another piece of the trip that has built us up into better travelers, scholars, and global learners. We know that everyone has a story to tell, and when we listen, we learn.

Carson Letot (@Letot_Carson) is a secondary agriscience teacher
from Montague, Michigan.

THE National Curriculum – Learning Day 20!

July 29, 2018July 29, 2018 mlk491In-Country Sharing

We have been in Malaysia for 20 days or so. Even though our time here is almost up we are only just beginning our adventures back home and personally.

Lots of things have changed on this trip for all of us. Personal perspectives have changed as well as education as an entirety. We have learned a lot about the Malaysian education system compared to the US education system. For example, secondary teachers in Malaysia do not get the chance to choose where they get to teach, they are placed. Not only are they placed in a school but they are also unable to leave their job if they decide they do not want to teach anymore. Malaysia also has a national curriculum that they teach from. Comparing this to the US you are probably thinking that that is so different and maybe even what you would classify as weird.

As we continued our trips through the different SMK schools [Public secondary education in Malaysia is provided by National Secondary Schools (Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan, SMK)], we have started to understand how the national curriculum works. We realized that when they said national curriculum, they really meant national uniformity. We have observed two different schools both doing the same hydroponic lab. In the demonstration performed by the students, they both used “Solutions A” and “Solution B” as the nutrients that they added to the water. there were also two different aquaponic systems that we had taught at previous schools about.

As a pre-service ag teacher, I really don’t understand the stress that I may or may not be getting myself into as a future teacher, but I am willing to find out and try. I will probably wonder what it is like to have a national curriculum that you have to follow. I also wonder what it is going to be like to create my own curriculum.

Here is to a future of teaching!

Mikaella Koster (@MikaellaKoster) pre-service teacher candidate
Iowa State University (@AgEds__IAStateU).

Bonus Blog! Discovering the Dairy Industry in Malaysian Borneo

July 27, 2018July 27, 2018 Darla Joanne Romberger, tsg5162 and Kristi J MensenAgriculture

Since we arrived in Malaysia 18 days ago, we had not seen a single dairy operation in the state of Johor (bottom left of map), which is the southern-most point of peninsular Malaysia (and Asia). We have recently traveled to the state of Sabah (top right), which is on the island of Borneo and has a climate more suitable for dairy production. The operation we visited is situated at the base of Mount Kinabalu, the highest point in Sabah. Nestled upon nearly 400 acres in the rural town of Kundasang at nearly 6,000 feet above sea level, the farm remains comfortable at a temperature of 77 degrees Fahrenheit year-round.

9,000 miles away from home on the opposite side of the world, dairy enthusiasts from the #AgEd2Malaysia team enjoyed a visit to DESA Dairy, an operation home to 600 head of Holstein-Friesian cows, heifers, and calves. In addition to processing their own milk from 200 lactating cows into gelato, ice cream, cheese, and bottling their own milk. DESA Dairy also expanded its business plan to build an impressive agri-tourism facility.

Upon arrival to DESA dairy, adjectives such as “innovative, progressive, and model operation” came to mind as we met our tour guide overlooking the parlor. Our guide (who had a B.S. degree in Tourism & Management) was quickly bombarded with questions such as average milk production, reproduction techniques, milking frequency, and nutrition. Here are some quick facts:

Biosecurity practices are implemented and enforced. Our vans drove through a tire wash and we stepped in a foot bath prior to accessing the barns
Tire wash upon entering DESA Dairy
DESA Dairy is a closed-herd as the operation has only purchased cattle twice (from Australia and New Zealand)
3x per day milking (never received a definite Rolling Herd Average (RHA), but the tour guide mentioned that these Holsteins can easily produce 25 liters/day, a progressive 94 lb/day)
The operation uses a double 20 Delaval parallel parlor
Artificial insemination is utilized with only the top-ranked bulls (our tour guide didn’t know breeding priorities, but we can assume milk production)

2 modern free-stall barns greeted the group upon arrival to DESA Dairy at the foothills of Mount Kinabalu in Kundasang, Sabah.

The free-stall barn was identical to a modern dairy barn in the United States, complete with a rotating cow brush. All cows were equipped with activity monitors around their neck, indicating that DESA values technology and information to help make informed breeding, milking, and health decisions from the data provided by the activity monitors. Automatic scrapers removed manure to a nearby lagoon while cows enjoyed clean cow mattresses covered in sawdust, an acceptable practice in the United States.

Cows received a feed that appeared like a TMR (total mixed ration) and via observations/information from the tour guide, we could conclude that cows received a mixture of dried hay (imported from New Zealand in super-compact bales), corn, bean sprouts, a high moisture green-chop hay, and protein pellets.

DESA Dairy farm has maintained premium quality milk by implementing good farming practices, advanced technology, machine hygiene and maintenances, and dairy monitoring of milk quality. This dairy operation has established food safety assurance management throughout the processing line, which has allowed the company to sell dairy products. DESA Dairy sells nine dairy products consisting of fresh milk, flavored milk, goat’s milk, natural yogurt, fruit yogurt, yogurt gelato, mozzarella cheese, Camembert cheese, and DESA Farm cheese.

Cow comfort was a high priority at DESA Dairy. Note the rotating spin brush, modern free-stall design, and salt block along the gate.

Halal processing of products was very evident at all food facilities in Malaysia. DESA Dairy was no exception and included the words “Fresh, Hygenic, Halal” in all of their marketing.

And the question you’ve been asking yourself… what about the milk prices?

This is a question that can’t be answered simply from the tour information (again, we had above-average knowledge compared to the normal tourist groups). The tour guide did tell us that DESA dairy sells 1 liter of milk for 5.7 Malaysian Ringgits ($1.43 per liter, which equates to $5.38 per gallon). However, DESA is unique because they process all of their milk and don’t sell to the market. In an attempt to locate statistics specific to the number of dairy cattle, milk prices, etc. in Agriculture in the Malaysian Region, statistics reference “livestock rearing” with the major species being chicken and broiler production. Cattle for milk production are not mentioned on any data tables, indicating that dairy production is not a major economic driver in Malaysia like it is in Pennsylvania.

The value and commitment from DESA food products has established their name in many households throughout Sabah, Malaysia. Their products of consumption are safe and halal status. Their commitment to a halal status is a preferred supplier of choice among people buying their products. The reason being is because 65% of their customers are Islamic. This may bring up the question, “Who or what makes the makes the meat Halal?” There are three certified Halal checkers on duty throughout the process. This is to make sure slaughtering is done according to the Islamic law. One could find Halal checkers before slaughtering and two checkers after slaughtering.

The organization of DESA Dairy was also admirable and very similar to large dairy operations. The tour guide continuously made reference to different “departments” that existed within the business structure. A total of 150 employees are engaged in the operation of the following departments: Finance, Farm Crew, Marketing, Maintenance, Processing, and Transportation. Although this number may seem high for the total number of animals on the operation, we know that 9 cows support 1 job in the dairy industry in Pennsylvania, so a similar sentiment is observed at DESA Dairy as well.

This team bonus blog entry was authored by:

Ms. Kristi Mensen (@Kristi_Mensen), Iowa State Pre-Service Agricultural Education Teacher Candidate
Mr. Thomas Gabel (@Gabel_Thomas, Penn State Pre-Service Agricultural Education Candidate
Ms. Darla Romberger, @DJR_131), rockstar Pennsylvania secondary Agriscience educator.

Reflecting on a New Family – Much Love on Day 19

July 27, 2018July 27, 2018 tsg5162In-Country Sharing

The world is so much more than what we see in our own backyards.

Being nineteen years old, the opportunity to travel over 9,000 miles away from home can be quite intimidating. As I was finalizing my preparations prior to the experience, one overwhelming fear came over me. What will the people of Malaysia be like? Fear of the unknown can be a powerful thing, but it is when we test that fear, that we can discover beautiful possibilities.

While I was terrified to spend a month in a new country, having a group of kind, caring, and skilled participants from the United States helped me to calm my nerves slightly. The very moment we stepped off the airplane into Johor Bahru, my fears evaporated.

These past few weeks have been filled with laughter, learning and a lot of love, due in large part to all of our friends at the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. Every single day, we have been shown the utmost hospitality, but it does not stop with our friends.

Two days into the experience, the team decided to embark upon a bike tour of UTM’s campus. However, one small problem arose, I never learned how to ride a bike. But never fear, as the man, the myth, the legend, Wan Mohammad Ali Wan Mohammad Zaharuddin (better known as ALI) was there to teach me the ways of bike riding. My trainer soon became played out amidst constantly trying to keep my bicycle upright as I struggled to balance. This is when a random family took time out of their day, to teach a stranger to ride a bicycle. The next hour was spent with this family and Ali cheering me on as I made progress but still have much to learn. How likely would that happen back in the United States? Through our experiences here, it is almost a normal occurrence.

A great day improving my bicycling skills with new friends!

I will fully admit that my knowledge of Islamic faith was filled with only the what was shared in our U.S. daily news cycles. I had shared the same apprehension when discussing their religion when asked about it. I was completely wrong to think that way.

Famous actor and playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda once stated in a speech given at the Tony’s that “Love is Love is Love is Love is Love,” and this statement has never meant more than it has during this trip.

Because people are people. From every corner of this Earth, there are individuals out there, who only want to make the world a better place and share their love. We all want to be loved and need to do more to find these people and break out of our scared shells caused by only seeing what is in our backyards. I consider myself blessed to have been able to find some of the greatest people on this trip.

A group dedicated to improving the world through agricultural education! (At our first school visit, SMK Telok Kerang!)

There are good and bad people in every religion and faith in the world, but we cannot let the bad overshadow the good. No matter how many differences can be spotted, this experience has allowed my new family to grow, with members of many different faiths. I cannot wait to see how every single individual on this trip shares their love going forward. Here is to a strong finish and more adventures to come with this family even after our experience concludes.

Thomas Gabel (@gabel_thomas) is a pre-service agricultural education candidate (#psuaged22) at The Pennsylvania State University (@TeachAgPSU).

Our Visit With SMK Mat Salleh – Day 18 School Adventures

July 27, 2018 Shelby D FaulknerAgriculture

On Wednesday, July 25, we visited SMK Mat Salleh. This school sits with a picturesque view of the mountains in Sabah. The agriculture program at this school began in 2015 and uses standards set forth by the Malaysian Ministry of Education.

When we arrived, we were greeted by dancing students and were immediately taken to the agriculture building. At the building, students greeted us and began explaining their hydroponics and fertigation systems. The students sell the lettuce that they grow and the money is used for classroom expenses. Afterward, we were able to spend time learning from students about soil textures, as well as, making natural fertilizers and pesticides. The students were so confident and I was wowed by their presentations!

After the presentations, we were able to lead the students in an ice-breaking activity. We were able to interact with the students and learn more about them. Afterward, we were served a delicious lunch. Following lunch, we were able to talk with students more. I was fascinated by a sign that I saw outside of a classroom that read, “Every Tuesday is English Day. Please Speak English. Learn English and speak to the world”. I asked the students about this sign and they said that on Tuesdays their teachers will only teach them in English and they are expected to respond in only English. I found that fascinating and wonder what that would be like if we required our students to speak in only Malay one day a week in the United States? I know I would have to practice for hours to be able to teach effectively in a language other than English!

I love the entrepreneurial spirit that Malaysian teachers strive to instill in their students. It’s reassuring to me that at the end of the day, even halfway across the globe, teachers are striving to develop the best human beings that they can. Teaching is not an easy profession, but we, as teachers, are all in it together.

Ms. Shelby Faulkner (@ShelbyDFaulkner) is a third-year secondary agriscience teacher/FFA advisor at Ridgemont HS inMount Victory, Ohio.

Ms. Kristi Mensen (@kristi_mensen) is a pre-service agriscience educator candidate at Iowa State University (@AgEds_IaStateU) who graduated from Hawkeye Community College (@GALC_Hawkeye, @HawkeyeCollege)!

Jessica Weyer (@JessWeyer) is a secondary agriscience teacher from Pennsylvania.

“Why do we teach?”

Ms. Darla Romberger (@DJR_131) [Cumberland Valley High School (@FlyCVEagles)] is a secondary Agricultural Science Teacher (@CV_AgSciences) & FFA Advisor (@CV_FFA1954) in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania!