Ag teacher SpotlighT
Taylor Plank - Lewis Cass High School
1. Why is agricultural education important to you? I was not the best student in high school but my ag classes kept me engaged and coming to school. My Ag Teacher, Mike Appleton, was always fun and entertaining and I loved his class. Other teachers in the school seemed miserable when they taught their subjects. Mike always seemed passionate about his subject and his students.
2. What is you favorite part about your job? I get to teach about things I have actually experienced in my life and share those experiences with my students and make an actual difference in their lives. Sometimes telling stories that pertain to the lesson are more important than the lesson itself. For example, I wasn’t a very active FFA member in high school and didn’t judge livestock. In college, I joined the livestock judging team and now I raise and sell livestock and judge livestock shows. Moral of the story; I should have been on the livestock judging team in high school and been a more active FFA member because it ended up being my whole life between being an Ag teacher and a livestock producer and livestock judge. Being able to share my shortcomings in high school and admit to the kids that I was wrong back then helps me to motivate my students to participate and get involved. Watching kids grow up and succeed in just the 5 short years that I interact with them is enjoyable as well. Lots of satisfaction comes from being a positive mentor and coach in the lives of others.
3. What is one piece of advice you would tell your younger self? You’re more likely to become a professional in the Ag world than you are a professional athlete. Get involved with FFA, become an officer, participate in more contests, and think about what will actually help you in the long run.
4. What is you favorite CDE/LDE? Livestock Judging
5. What has been the most challenging part so far as an agriculture teacher? Accepting that no matter how bad I want to win an event or contest, the kids may not want to put in the work that it takes to do so. Essentially, “Kids will let you down.” I can think of countless times when kids have signed up for contests or events then at the last second said they couldn’t go. How do you react to that in a way that shows you are upset or disappointed without turning the kid off to your program??
6. What has been the best part of being an agricultural teacher? Interacting with students and just having a general sense of enjoyment from my job. Some days are really long and challenging and at times there may be a million things going on at once; but it makes the days where nothing is going on that much more enjoyable when I can relax and go golfing on a summer day or go to a sheep show with my family.
7. Who or what influenced you to become an agricultural educator? My Ag Teacher, Mike Appleton, who I am now fortunate to co-teach with.
8. What is the best part about being an FFA advisor and why? I get paid to have fun and interact with students. It keeps me young but it also gives me an avenue to be competitive while also bettering those around me.
9. How long have you been teaching? This is my 10th year.
1. Why is agricultural education important to you? I was not the best student in high school but my ag classes kept me engaged and coming to school. My Ag Teacher, Mike Appleton, was always fun and entertaining and I loved his class. Other teachers in the school seemed miserable when they taught their subjects. Mike always seemed passionate about his subject and his students.
2. What is you favorite part about your job? I get to teach about things I have actually experienced in my life and share those experiences with my students and make an actual difference in their lives. Sometimes telling stories that pertain to the lesson are more important than the lesson itself. For example, I wasn’t a very active FFA member in high school and didn’t judge livestock. In college, I joined the livestock judging team and now I raise and sell livestock and judge livestock shows. Moral of the story; I should have been on the livestock judging team in high school and been a more active FFA member because it ended up being my whole life between being an Ag teacher and a livestock producer and livestock judge. Being able to share my shortcomings in high school and admit to the kids that I was wrong back then helps me to motivate my students to participate and get involved. Watching kids grow up and succeed in just the 5 short years that I interact with them is enjoyable as well. Lots of satisfaction comes from being a positive mentor and coach in the lives of others.
3. What is one piece of advice you would tell your younger self? You’re more likely to become a professional in the Ag world than you are a professional athlete. Get involved with FFA, become an officer, participate in more contests, and think about what will actually help you in the long run.
4. What is you favorite CDE/LDE? Livestock Judging
5. What has been the most challenging part so far as an agriculture teacher? Accepting that no matter how bad I want to win an event or contest, the kids may not want to put in the work that it takes to do so. Essentially, “Kids will let you down.” I can think of countless times when kids have signed up for contests or events then at the last second said they couldn’t go. How do you react to that in a way that shows you are upset or disappointed without turning the kid off to your program??
6. What has been the best part of being an agricultural teacher? Interacting with students and just having a general sense of enjoyment from my job. Some days are really long and challenging and at times there may be a million things going on at once; but it makes the days where nothing is going on that much more enjoyable when I can relax and go golfing on a summer day or go to a sheep show with my family.
7. Who or what influenced you to become an agricultural educator? My Ag Teacher, Mike Appleton, who I am now fortunate to co-teach with.
8. What is the best part about being an FFA advisor and why? I get paid to have fun and interact with students. It keeps me young but it also gives me an avenue to be competitive while also bettering those around me.
9. How long have you been teaching? This is my 10th year.
