the national association of agricultural educators, inc
TRANSCRIPT
February 2004 Page 1
Kick It Up a Notch!Kick It Up a Notch!Roger Teeple, NAAE President
Is your agricultural education program an “outdated relic, suitable for the classroomrealities of the 1950s?” If not, then it’s time to Kick it up a Notch!
As you have probably read or heard, President Bush’s FY 2005 Budget Proposal doesgreat harm to Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Agricultural Education. He hasproposed to cut federal CTE funding by 25 percent and to eliminate all programs under thecurrent Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act of 1998.
It is time to contact your elected officials. You can contact them by phone, fax, or e-mail. (Regular mail is not recommended due to delays in the Capitol Hill post offices.)
Prepare for your contact by finding out from your local administration the following:1) How much money does your school/program receive in Perkins funding?2) How is Perkins money used in your school/program?3) What local programs, equipment, or supplies would you lose if you did not have
Perkins funding?4) What impact would losing Perkins funding have on your students? (This is
important and you must emphasize this.)In your communications, please tell of the innovative ways you teach your students
with the Perkins funds to prepare them for the 21st Century. Emphasize the importance of thefunding and the effect it has on your students, school and community. Academic integra-tion and preparation for higher education and highly skilled careers are important in thesedays of the No Child Left Behind legislation.
If you choose to write a letter to send by fax or e-mail, keep it concise. Elected officialsdo not want to read long letters – one page should be sufficient. If you choose to call yourelected officials, be ready to answer questions. Have your facts ready and be prepared.
It is time to get parents, advisory councils, alumni, and friends involved. Also haveyour students write letters. The more people we get involved the better. I urge all to go tothe NAAE website at http://www.naae.org and then enter our Capitol Advantage website byentering your zip code at the “Contact Congress” or “Write to Congress” prompts. Fromthis site, you can prepare and send letters to your members of Congress. If you choose touse the sample letter we have on-line, be sure to personalize and customize it to fit your localprogram. You can also find your elected officials’ phone and fax numbers on this website.
With the Easter break for Congress coming up in about one month, consider invitingyour representative and senators to visit your school and program. Showcase your programand students. If your representative or senators are having town hall meetings or othertypes of events in your area, attend and talk with them face-to-face. Remember, this is anelection year – your elected officials want to meet you and learn of your concerns.
It is really important that we all work in concert with one another to maintain, andhopefully even increase, federal funding for career and technical education, which includesagricultural education. Please don’t limit yourself to just one contact. Make severalcontacts and keep them up throughout the year. Every member of Congress needs toreceive 20 to 30 communiqués from ag educators. If we could get this level of participation,we could have a great positive impact of federal support for CTE and agricultural education.
It is time to make an impact and to Kick it up a Notch!
Volume XLVI No. 2 February 2004
The National Association of Agricultural Educators, Inc.300 Garrigus Building • University of Kentucky • Lexington, KY 40546-0215
News & ViewsNews & ViewsSponsored by Curriculum Materials Service, The Ohio State University
Seated left to right: Roger Teeple (NC),President; Jeff Maierhofer (IL), PresidentElect. Standing left to right: Allan Sulser(UT), Region I Vice President; Dr. BillHunter (KS), Region II Vice President;Harold Eckler (MO), Region IV VicePresident; Lee James (MS), Region V VicePresident; and Terry Hughes (NY),Region VI Vice President. Paul Larson,Region III Vice President, was notavailable for the photograph.
2003-04 NAAE Board2003-04 NAAE Board
ContentsKick It Up a Notch! ................................ 1Ideas Unlimited ...................................... 2New Organizational Members ............... 2Teacher Mentor ..................................... 3Teacher Spotlight ................................... 3Teacher Mentor Awards ........................ 4Convention Highlights .......................... 4DEPCO AgriScience ............................... 4FY 2003 USDA SPEC Grant Awards ....... 5Regional Updates .................................. 6Washington Beat ................................... 7ACTE Financial Situation ...................... 7The View From My Front Porch ............ 7Ag Ed Teacher and Program Awards ..... 8Teachers Turn the Key/Young Members ..... 9I Support Learning ................................. 9National Gardening Association .......... 10Popcorn Board ...................................... 10Outstanding Service Awards ................ 10Cooperation/Lifetime/Ideas Awards ..... 11Dates and Events .................................. 12
February 2004 NAAE News & Views
Ideas UnlimitedIdeas UnlimitedKatie Thalman-Silcox, agriculture teacher at North Summit High School in
Coalville, Utah, found a way to put the abstract world of DNA structure in thehands of her students, or at least, on the hands of her students! Thalman-Silcoxmakes DNA pairing hands on by having students construct DNA structures theycan wear as bracelets.
The students use pipe cleaners as backbones and beads as bases, stringingthe first bases and then using their knowledge about pairing to string the secondbases. To receive a passing grade on this assignment, students wear the braceletuntil the next class period, explaining to at least ten people the significance of thebracelet and the basic idea of DNA.
For more information about Katie’s award winning teaching idea, contact herby calling (435) 336-5656 or sending e-mail to [email protected]. Formore information about the NAAE Ideas Unlimited award program, contact theNAAE Office by calling (800) 509-0204 or sending e-mail to [email protected] Thalman-Silcox was the 2003 NAAE Ideas Unlimited award winner forRegion I. The program is sponsored by Delmar Thomson Learning.
DNA Structure Bracelets
www.delmar.com(800) 477-3692
Katie Thalman-Silcox, left, receivedthe NAAE Region I Ideas Unlimitedaward from Dave Rosenbaum, DelmarThomson Learning.
News & Views is published quarterlyby the NAAE, Inc. as a service
to its members through thesponsorship and support of:
The Ohio Curriculum MaterialsService in Columbus, Ohio.
Wm. Jay Jackman, Ph.D., CAE, EditorNAAE, Inc.
300 Garrigus Bldg., UKLexington, Kentucky 40546-0215
Phone: (800) 509-0204or (859) 257-2224
Fax: (859) 323-3919E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site: http://www.naae.org
News & ViewsVolume XLVI No. 2 February 2004
The National Association of Agricultural Educators, Inc.
NAAE is very pleased to welcome three new Organizational Members.
I Support Learning, Olathe, Kansas(http://isupportlearning.com)
Tulsa Welding School, Tulsa, Oklahoma and Jacksonville, Florida(http://www.tulsaweldingschool.com)
Weed Science Society of America, Clemson, South Carolina(http://www.wssa.net)
Please be sure to go to the NAAE website at http://www.naae.org and, fromthere, access the websites of these new organizational members.
New Organizational MembersNew Organizational Members
February 2004 Page 3
“Educators must find a variety of ways to teach, inspire and motivate studentsto action.” At Lyons-Decatur Northeast High School in Lyons, Nebraska, KevinAnderson’s philosophy on education has led him to vary what he teaches and theway he teaches to develop his students into life-long learners. Kevin helps to staycurrent by attending numerous professional development workshops and by readingperiodicals and books.
He focuses on the continual need for change to ensure that he stays currentwith the times and to keep the variety that he believes is key. He also carries thisover to the community organizations he has partnered with, working with differentkinds of businesses to give his students as many options as possible.
Kevin Anderson was the 2003 NAAE Region III Outstanding Young Member.The award is sponsored by John Deere, as a special project of the National FFAFoundation. If you want to learn more about Kevin and his program, call the Lyons-Decatur Northeast High School at (402) 687-2363 or send e-mail [email protected].
Teacher MentorTeacher MentorTed Turner – Covington, Tennessee
www.cevmultimedia.com(800) 922-9965
2003 was the second year of the NAAE Teacher Mentor Award Program sponsored by CEV Multimedia. Teachermentors are those special experienced teachers who go the extra mile to assist early career teachers. An effective mentor/protégé relationship can be the difference in an early career teacher becoming an experienced mentor teacher himself/herself or leaving the agriculture teaching profession prematurely.
The 2003 Region V winner was Ted Turner from Covington High School inCovington, Tennessee. From encouraging his high school students to becomeagriculture teachers to supervising student teachers and advising neighboring highschool agriculture students, there are not many in the western Tennessee agricul-tural education community that have not been mentored by Turner at some point intime.
Two of Turner’s former students, Liz Flanagan and Ann Johnson becameagriculture instructors with his guidance. One of his former student teachers, GlennGoulder, was named the 2003 Outstanding Tennessee Ag Ed Teacher. Turnerreaches out to programs in the surrounding communities, helping teachers byproviding curriculum ideas, demonstrations and workshops as well as simple adviceto help them and their students succeed.
For more information about successful teacher mentoring ideas, contact TedTurner by calling (901) 475-5872 or by sending e-mail to [email protected] more information about the NAAE Teacher Mentor award program, contact theNAAE office by calling (800) 509-0204 or by sending e-mail to [email protected] Multimedia, Lubbock, Texas, sponsors this award program.
Ted Turner (right), TN, receivedthe 2003 NAAE Region V TeacherMentor award. Clayton Franklin,CEV Multimedia presented theaward.
Kevin Anderson (right), Lyons-DecaturNortheast High School, Nebraska, wasrecognized as the 2003 NAAE Region IIIOutstanding Young Member. CherylSalley (center) and Tom Hughes, both ofJohn Deere, presented the award.
Teacher SpotlightTeacher Spotlight
February 2004 NAAE News & Views
2003 Teacher Mentor Awards
Left to right: Scott Mortimer, WA,Region I; Larry Liston, OK, Region II;John C. Hobert, MN, Region III; WilliamS. Wheeler, MI, Region IV; William TedTurner, TN, Region V; Howard C. Hill,VA, Region VI; and Clayton Franklin,CEV Multimedia.
2003 Teacher Mentor AwardsSponsored by CEV Multimedia
Highlights of the NAAE convention included a keynote address by Corey Flournoy (left), sponsored by AppliedTechnologies and the retiring officer recognition sponsored by AAVIM. Retiring president Sarah Osborn Welty was
recognized by Dr. Will Waidelich, right in farright photo, representing AAVIM. Retiring vicepresidents and their spouses were also recog-nized: right couple in near right photo, LarryLong, Region II, and spouse Linda; and JeffMaierhofer, Region IV, and spouse Jenna.
2003 NAAE Convention Highlights2003 NAAE Convention Highlights
February 2004 Page 5
FY 2
003
USD
A S
econ
dary
and
Pos
tsec
onda
ry E
duca
tion
Cha
lleng
e (S
PEC
) G
rant
Pro
gram
Aw
ards
Con
grat
ulat
ions
to th
e fol
low
ing i
ndiv
idua
ls an
d in
stitu
tions
for r
ecei
ving
gran
ts u
nder
the F
Y 20
03 U
SDA
SPE
C G
rant
s Pro
gram
.
Seco
ndar
y Sch
ool A
war
ds
Cec
il M
onte
Gan
tSe
ctio
n H
igh
Scho
ol, A
LB
ridgi
ng G
ener
atio
ns w
ith H
ortiC
OR
PS (C
onne
ctin
g w
ith O
utsi
de R
esou
rces
for P
rogr
am S
ucce
ssD
ina B
roso
wsk
yA
laba
ma S
choo
l of F
ine A
rts, A
LA
rt an
d Sc
ienc
e of A
gric
ultu
re P
roje
ct (A
SAP)
Mic
hael
Yat
esEa
st B
ay H
igh
Scho
ol, F
LA
quac
ultu
re In
tern
ship
for H
igh
Scho
ol a
nd C
omm
unity
Col
lege
Stu
dent
s: R
esea
rch
and
Men
torin
gEx
perie
nces
Ow
en T
hom
ason
Fran
klin
Cou
nty
Hig
h Sc
hool
, GA
Fran
klin
Co.
Sec
onda
ry A
quac
ultu
re P
roje
ct: D
evel
opm
ent o
f Agr
ibus
ines
s Ski
lls to
Gua
rant
ee C
aree
rSu
cces
sH
. Mic
hael
Win
ston
Shel
ley H
igh S
choo
l, ID
The A
G S
olut
ions
Mod
el fo
r Sec
onda
ry C
urric
ulum
Enh
ance
men
tG
race
Goc
heno
urTr
i Cou
nty
Hig
h Sc
hool
, IN
Indi
ana
Futu
re A
gric
ultu
ral S
cien
ce a
nd B
usin
ess T
each
er A
cade
my
Don
na R
emin
gton
Was
hing
ton
Cou
nty
Hig
h Sc
hool
, KY
Mer
ging
Agr
i-Sci
ence
Tec
hnol
ogy
and
Trad
ition
al A
gric
ultu
re E
duca
tion
Rob
ert M
arzo
ffFo
rest
Lak
e A
rea
Scho
ols,
MN
Min
neso
ta B
iote
chno
logy
Initi
ativ
e- A
Col
labo
rativ
e Eff
ort
Step
hani
e M
ann
Cro
fton C
omm
unity
Sch
ools
, NE
Incr
easi
ng th
e Agr
icul
tura
l Lite
racy
of S
econ
dary
Tea
cher
s: A
Nor
thea
st N
ebra
ska E
xam
ple
Ang
ela L
eife
ldM
ead
Hig
h Sc
hool
, NE
Mea
d A
gric
ultu
re S
cien
ces M
agne
t Hig
h Sc
hool
Nan
cy P
ierc
eSe
acoa
st S
choo
l of T
echn
olog
y, N
HPi
onee
ring
Bio
tech
nolo
gy E
duca
tion
in N
ew H
amps
hire
Ran
di H
unew
illSm
ith V
alle
y Hig
h Sch
ool, N
VB
ackp
ack N
atur
al S
cien
ceM
axso
n J.
Sher
man
Can
by H
igh
Scho
ol, O
RA
ltern
ativ
e Gro
win
g Bio
logi
cal E
nviro
nmen
tG
ayla
Kes
sing
erC
anut
illo H
igh S
choo
l, TX
Mec
hani
zed
Agr
icul
ture
: The
Tec
hnol
ogy
of E
duca
tion
(MA
TE P
rogr
am)
Mau
reen
Dep
pman
Patri
cia A
. Han
nafo
rd C
aree
r Cen
ter,
VT
Ver
mon
t Agr
ibus
ines
s Wor
kfor
ce D
evel
opm
ent C
ente
r
Two-
year
Pos
tsec
onda
ry In
stitu
tion A
war
ds
John
Mor
gan
Yav
apai
Col
lege
, AZ
Hyd
ropo
nic
Prod
uce
Cot
tage
Indu
stry
Dev
elop
men
t in
Rur
al A
rizon
aLa
rry
Dut
toC
olle
ge o
f the
Seq
uoia
s, C
AJo
b En
try S
kill
Trai
ning
for S
econ
dary
and
Pos
t Sec
onda
ry S
tude
nts i
n D
airy
Foo
d Pr
oces
sing
Fran
z Rul
ofso
nC
olle
ge o
f the
Red
woo
ds, C
ASt
uden
t Agr
icul
ture
Ent
erpr
ise P
roje
ctJa
mes
A In
glis
Wes
t Cam
pus,
Val
enci
a Com
. Col
., FL
Food
and
Hos
pita
lity
Man
agem
ent
Rob
ert J
. Den
son
Nor
thea
st Io
wa C
om. C
ol.,
IATh
e Dev
elop
men
t of “
Act
ivity
-Cen
tere
d” C
urric
ulum
Mod
ules
for C
lass
room
Inst
ruct
ion
by H
igh
Scho
olA
gric
ultu
ral S
cien
ce T
each
ers
Nea
l Will
iam
sen
Iow
a Lak
es C
om. C
ol., I
AEn
hanc
ing
Aw
aren
ess a
nd T
each
ing
of A
nim
al P
rodu
ctio
n an
d Fo
od S
afet
yPh
il Rei
llyA
llen C
ount
y Com
. Col
., KS
Agr
icul
ture
Car
eer E
duca
tion
Jim
Mol
enaa
rR
idge
wat
er C
olle
ge, M
NR
ural
Men
tal H
ealth
Sup
port
Prog
ram
Mic
hael
Sto
llG
enes
ee C
om. C
ol., N
YG
row
ing A
war
e Ins
titut
eSu
san
Ever
ett
Cla
rk S
tate
Com
. Col
., OH
Adv
anci
ng A
gric
ultu
ral E
duca
tion
Bru
ce K
oike
Ore
gon C
oast
Com
. Col
., OR
Proj
ect P
isce
s: L
inki
ng O
rego
n C
oast
Com
mun
ity C
olle
ge’s
Aqu
ariu
m S
cien
ce C
urric
ulum
to L
i nco
ln C
ount
yM
iddl
e an
d H
igh
Scho
ols
Hol
ly J.
Mor
risLe
high
Car
bon C
om. C
ol., P
AR
egio
nal H
ortic
ultu
re P
rogr
am Im
plem
enta
tion
Tim
othy
C. S
harp
Jack
son S
tate
Com
. Col
., TN
“Pilo
t Tes
t” P
roje
ct to
Val
idat
e an
d Im
prov
e th
e Sk
ill S
tand
ards
as I
dent
ified
in th
e St
ate’
s Agr
icul
ture
Car
eer C
lust
er In
itiat
ive
Ros
a K S
lavi
kV
irgin
ia H
ighl
ands
Com
. Col
., VA
Expa
ndin
g Ed
ucat
iona
l Opp
ortu
nitie
s in
Agr
ibus
ines
s and
Aqu
acul
ture
in S
outh
wes
tern
Virg
inia
February 2004 NAAE News & Views
NAAE President Roger H. Teeple, (828) 686-3852, [email protected] – NAAE President Elect Jeff Maierhofer, (815) 357-5024, [email protected]
Greetings Region III. I hope you all had a blessedholiday season and a very Happy New Year. The NAAEhad a very successful year and recently wrapped up atremendous National Convention in Orlando. Hopefullymany of you had the opportunity to attend the conventionto recharge your batteries, secure new ideas, and connectwith colleagues to help you advance the future ofagricultural education. I extend my sincere thanks to TomHofmann and the rest of Region III for covering for me inmy absence at the recent convention. As most of you havenow heard, my wife is in a battle with cancer, whichrequired me to remain home and take care of things inWisconsin. I am happy to report that we have made itthrough the first round of chemotherapy treatments and thesurgery. We are now doing the second round ofchemotherapy. We certainly have appreciated all thecards, well wishes, and prayers to help guide our familythrough this challenge. To date everyone is doing well.Please keep us in your prayers as the days progresstoward our cure.
Congratulations to Pam Koenen from Minnesota, onbeing elected our new regional secretary. Pam will havebig shoes to fill as Tom Hofmann did a great job. As wemove ahead through winter and into spring, continue yourefforts to stay in contact with your state’s representativesin support of Perkins funding for career and technicaleducation. You have more influence and can apply veryspecific examples on how important Perkins funding is foryour program and state. Keep up your efforts by droppinga note or e-mail to your representatives. Looking forwardto seeing many of you at the regional conference inMinnesota this summer. As always if I can be of anyassistance to you, please call or e-mail. Paul Larson,(920) 730-3820 or [email protected].
Greetings From Region VI. Thanks to everyoneattended the NAAE convention in Orlando. What a greatopportunity we all had to “Catch The Magic” that occurswhen agricultural educators gather to celebrate ourcolleagues’ accomplishments, rejuvenate our energy, anddiscover new areas of agriculture that we can share withour students. Thanks also to the Florida Association forbeing so hospitable and providing excellent tours for all ofus to enjoy. A special thank you to Sarah Osborn Weltyfor providing outstanding leadership to NAAE for the lasttwo years.
It is hard to believe but it’s already time again tocomplete the awards applications for all of the recognitionprograms for the awards that will be presented in LasVegas at the 2004 NAAE Convention. What a great wayto get the attention of both your school and communityleaders! Let them know how good your program is bywinning an award. I encourage state leaders to make surethat there are applications for each award area from yourstate. The “Teacher Turn The Key” debut was atremendous success that gives the opportunity for an earlycareer teacher from every state to attend the NAAEconvention for the first time. Don’t let your state miss outon this teacher retention program.
I look forward to seeing all of you at the Region VIconference in Danville, VA, July 6-9. This looks to be anexciting program at a very affordable price. Comeexperience Danville, VA, “Where the South Begins.”Check out all the details at http://www.aged.vt.edu/VAAE.html.
As always, I’d be happy to support your stateassociation’s efforts in any way I can assist. TerryHughes, (518) 255-5538 or [email protected].
It is hard to believe that a semester of schoolis behind us already. It was great to see many ofyou at the NAAE conference at Orlando. Thanksto those that attended for your hard work in ourregional meetings and in committee work. Wehad a great conference and I hope that each of youtook something back from the conference that willprove useful in your own states and classrooms.Congratulations to all of our award winners againfor their outstanding achievements in theirparticular areas.
Now it is time to get back at it and startmaking plans for those award applications to beprepared and submitted this spring. We want tobe represented well again at the next conference–so urge individuals to get those applicationsprepared and ready to submit. I challenge eachstate to have a Dodge Teachers Turn the Keyrepresentative this year; this is a wonderfulprogram for early career teachers. Let’s all give ahard push on membership this spring and get ournumbers back up and be well represented at theconference.
I am looking forward to a great Region VConference in Black Mountain, North Carolinathis summer. I am sure the North CarolinaAssociation will do a fine job hosting theconference. I will pass on information about theconference as I get it and I am sure Dennis willhave it on our Region V website.
If I may be of and assistance at anytimeplease contact me. Lee James, (662) 285-3205or [email protected].
The New Year brings many different thoughts tothose involved in agricultural education. For some,including my seniors, it’s thank goodness the school yearis half over and only sixteen more weeks of this place. Forsome of my fellow teachers, it may be a New Year’sResolution that they are trying to keep – or one that haslong been broken. As we go through this New Year, maywe all remember that by working together we can allaccomplish more.
Region IV congratulates our new President ElectJeff Maierhofer (IL). Jeff has done a terrific job leadingRegion IV during the past three years and will continue tomake a positive difference in our organization. Welcometo Greg Curlin (IN) as the new Region IV Secretary. Hewill do an excellent job of keeping us organized.
Congratulations to all of the states in Region IV forreceiving the Distinguished Professional StateAssociation Award again and to all of our award winners.The continued leadership and commitment to agriculturaleducation by the state leaders is to be commended. Iencourage you to keep up the good work in these tryingfinancial times. What you do today will make a differencein the lives of our students and young teachers.
Start making plans to attend the NAAE Region IVSummer Conference that will be held in Ohio, June 21 - 23.Kevin Kremer, Tim Niemeyer and the Ohio Association areplanning an exciting conference to be held in Sandusky,home of the world’s tallest and fastest roller coaster.Complete details will be available on the Region IVwebsite, which can be accessed through the NAAEwebsite.
If I can assist you through the year, please contactme. I am pleased to have been elected to be your newregional vice president. Harold Eckler, (573) 633-2525,or [email protected].
Greetings from Region II! Thanks to Larry Long(OK) for his service on our behalf for the last three years.Larry sacrificed many hours for us and I want him to knowthat we appreciate his efforts.
Congratulations to all who were recognized at ourconvention in Orlando. OYM, Jona Kay Squires, OK; OT,Becky Smith, OK; OMSP, Kevin Stacy and David Maxey,OK; OPAP, Dale Beerwinkle, OK; IU, Jason Larison, KS;TM, Larry Liston, OK; OS, Brad Ashpaugh, OK; OC, DJ’sFundraising, OK; and LA, Guy Finstad, TX. I also wantto recognize our Dodge Teachers Turn the Key winnersfrom Region II, Patti Priest (AR), Donna Karspeck (CO),Linda Chase (KS), Jody Perkins (LA), Leslie Morrison(NM), Tommy Milligan (OK), and Margaret Alexander(TX). We are very proud of you!
There are many outstanding teachers and programsin the region that are worthy of recognition. Don’t put itoff! The deadline for applying for this year’s awards willbe here soon. Make up your mind now, and apply!
All of us need to stay up to date on legislativeactivities, both on the national and the state levels. Weneed to speak up as a profession to make sure that thevoice of agricultural education is heard. Even after thecurrent crises are over, we need to continue to makecontacts with legislators and develop relationships withthem and their staffers. Invite legislators to come toyour school for special events. Help them to put a face onwhat career and technical education is, what it can be, andthe difference it is making in the lives of our students.
I look forward to seeing you at our summerconference June 20-23, at the Ramada Inn in GlenwoodSprings, CO. The Colorado association has put in a lot ofwork getting ready. This will be an outstandingconference. Bill Hunter, (620) 672-5641 [email protected].
Region IV Region V Region VI
Region I Region II Region IIIR e g i o n a l U p d a t e s
Thanks to all of you who attended and participatedin the NAAE convention in Orlando. I thought it was ahuge success. Region I was again well represented.Special thanks to those of you who served as chairs anddelegates on committees. I challenge you to keep up theextraordinary work and leadership.
A heartfelt thank you to Elaine Lewis for her twoyears of dedicated service to the NAAE as Alternate VP.Congratulations to Kevin Fochs of Montana on hiselection as the first Region I Secretary. I am lookingforward to working with Kevin this year.
Plans are underway for the Region I meeting inApril at the Ocean Resort Hotel in Honolulu, Hawaii. Forinformation, please contact me, Marty Frick of MSU, orMichael Swan of WSU. We will be having a pre-conference tour to the Big Island on Wednesday April 21.
Congratulations to all the Region I winners at therecent convention. In case you weren’t there or missedthe names they were: OYM, Jolene Christensen, UT; OT,Mike Martin, WA; OMSP, Michael Gowans, UT; OPAP,Charles Bigo, UT; IU, Katie Thalman-Silcox, UT; TM,Scott Mortimer, WA; OS, Michael Schrag, WA; OC,Dorothy & Butch Carlson, WA; LA, Keith Hyatt, ID; andTTTK, Jamie Nelson (MT), Erica Guhlke (ID), DavidWilson (UT), Damien Christensen (WY), Rosealee Livorsi(CA), Marlene Mensch (OR), and Mathew Mounts (WA).It’s not too early to start your own application for nextyear’s convention in Las Vegas.
Remember to contact your legislator this week,thank them for supporting agricultural education orencourage them to do so if they are not. Plant the seed andwatch it grow….
If I can be of any assistance to you or your state,please feel free to contact me at any time. Allan Sulser,(435) 654-0640, or [email protected].
February 2004 Page 7
WashingtonBeat
FY 2005 Executive Budget ProposalPresident Bush’s proposed budget for FY 2005 cuts federal
funding for career and technical education (CTE) by 25 percent.Further, the proposal eliminates current programs under the CarlD. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act of 1998 andreplaces them with a new program called Secondary and Techni-cal Education State Grants that will provide money to localeducation agencies and community colleges through competi-tive grants. Clearly, this change is not good for CTE. As thebudget and appropriations bills go through Congress this year,agricultural educators need to be sure their elected officials
understand that federal support for ag ed comes through the Perkins programs, since aged is a part of the CTE system.Perkins Appropriations and Reauthorization
In the FY 2004 omnibus appropriations bill, CTE actually received a slight increase infederal funding for this year. However, congress will begin work soon on the FY 2005appropriations bills. It will be critical for ag educators to communicate with their members ofcongress regarding the FY 2005 appropriations. The Perkins legislation is scheduled to bereauthorized with debate continuing in 2004 and 2005.What Can You Do?
The best thing you can do to ensure the continuation of federal funding for ag ed is tobe sure your members of congress are aware of your good work and that your federalfunding comes from Perkins. Please make a point to invite your elected officials to visit yourprogram this year. Showcase your quality program! Legislative activity can change veryquickly; visit the NAAE website often to keep up with the latest news and information.
Lonestar was kind enough to describethe view from my front porch, the porchmy ancestors built almost a century ago.I don’t know how they knew the picketfence that spreads in front of the housereflects the moonlight on a clear winternight or how the sun is soaked up bydad’s corn and beans standing tall on theland that has been in the family forgenerations. They did forget to mentionJake Chapman’s Herefords grazing oncorn stalks on the horizon, the emerald“pony patch” that sprawls along the cedarlined lane or the one of a kind Larch thatwaves softly to the neighbors that passby. Looking in or out, my front porch ismy favorite room of the house.
But the view is slowly changing. Thecorn field between the porch and thecattle is owned by somebody from thesuburbs and is farmed by somebodyliving forty miles away. Unfortunately,the sun’s glow is replaced in the eveningby beacons in the eastern sky. They arethe lights from Minooka, Chicago, Morris,and Joliet beaming to disrupt the peacethat makes it special to live here. The
neighbors are joined on E. 29th Road bycommuters to the city, as more peoplemake their home in the valley.
The view from the front of myclassroom is changing too. The room isnow filled with the sons of the owners ofthe farms like the one across the road, thedaughters of those commuters to thecities, and the grandchildren of thoseturning on all the lights. They are youngpeople that don’t know that Herefords eatcorn, Larches are supposed to lose theirneedles in the winter or that this land isactually already “developed.”
I am not so naïve to know that life isgoing to change everywhere over time.However, we as agricultural educatorsmust be on the front lines to educatethose making the changes and preserveour ability to produce a safe food supplywhile earning a living. I am also not soshort sighted to realize that agriculturehappens in the urban areas as well, and Iactually have an appreciation for thoseinvolved in the ag industry on concrete.From my view on the porch, we have a lotof educating to do.
The need has never been greater toreach out of our classrooms, with the helpof our students, alumni, and parents toinform “every man, woman and child”about our food supply. We have heardfor many years about changing curricu-lum, being the voice of agriculture, andmarketing our agricultural educationprograms. But are we doing that? Haveeach of us made a contact from someoneoutside of agriculture that needed alesson or a refresher course? Has anAverage Joe been invited into yourprogram or agricultural event? Does yourlegislator or county board member knowwhen National FFA Week is or whatyou’re doing for National AgricultureDay?
If you’re ever north of Seneca,Illinois, stop by and join me on my porch.I’ll try to get that fence a fresh coat ofpaint this summer. And, if you don’t likeLarch or Herefords, there’s a little boy onthe inside that will melt your heart.
The View From My Front PorchThe View From My Front PorchJeff Maierhofer, NAAE President Elect
….Now I look out from my front porch at this panoramic view,I can sit and watch the fields fill up with rays of golden sun
Or watch the moon lay on the fences like that’s where it was hung…
ACTE Financial SituationACTE Financial SituationIf you are a member of ACTE, you are
aware that ACTE is going through adifficult time financially. Attendance atthe ACTE convention was down consider-ably in 2003. Further, since conventionattendance was down, hotel reservationswere down. As such, ACTE did notrealize revenue from the convention–revenue that was budgeted to payoperating expenses of the organization.And, ACTE is looking a potentially largepenalties from unused hotel rooms.
To get through this difficult time,ACTE has accessed each member $30.The NAAE board encourages ag educa-tors to pay the $30 assessment to ACTE.NAAE has made an organizationalcontribution to ACTE to representsupport for the assessment.
ACTE is critically important to thecontinuation of federal support for careerand technical education. Our professioncannot afford to not have ACTE.
Please support the assessment.
February 2004 NAAE News & Views
2003 Outstanding Middle/Secondary Ag Ed Program Awards2003 Outstanding Middle/Secondary Ag Ed Program AwardsSponsored by Case IH
Left to right: Dennis Hehn, CNH; MichaelDan Gowans, Lone Peak High School, UT,Region I; Kevin Stacy and David Maxey,Oklahoma Union High School, OK,Region II; David R. Laatsch, Beaver DamHigh School, WI, Region III; Tim Rellerand Mike McCrory, Clopton High School,MO, Region IV; Raymond N. Caviness,Eastern Randolph High School, NC,Region V; and Jason E. Hughes, St. MarysHigh School, WV, Region VI.
2003 Outstanding Postsecondary/Adult Ag Ed Program Awards2003 Outstanding Postsecondary/Adult Ag Ed Program AwardsSponsored by Syngenta
Left to right: Charles H. Bigo, Provo HighSchool Adult Ag Ed Program, UT, RegionI; Dale Beerwinkle, Caddo Kiowa Technol-ogy Center, OK, Region II; Tad Mueller,Northeast Iowa Community College, IA,Region III; Bruce Henrikson, ParklandCollege, IL, Region IV; Owen Thomason,Franklin County Young Farmer Program,GA, Region V; Michael Reed Shultz, Midd-West Young Farmer Program, PA,Region VI; and Sarah Hull, Syngenta.
Left to right: Mike Martin, WA, Region I;Becky Smith, OK, Region II; Andrew E.Rowe, IA, Region III; Bill Kittinger, IL,Region IV; Al Griffin, AL, Region V; DebSeibert, PA, Region VI; and Sarah Hull,Syngenta.
2003 Outstanding Ag Ed Teacher Awards2003 Outstanding Ag Ed Teacher AwardsSponsored by Syngenta
February 2004 Page 9
Right to left: Cheryl Salley, John Deere;Jolene Christensen, UT, Region I; JonaKay Squires, OK, Region II; Kevin L.Anderson, NE, Region III; Tate Forbush,MI, Region IV; David Nixon, SC, Region V;Mia J. Haaland, CT, Region VI; and TomHughes, John Deere.
2003 Outstanding Young Member Awards2003 Outstanding Young Member AwardsSponsored by John Deere
Region IKari Williams, AZRosealee Livorsi, CAErica D. Whitmore, IDJaime R. Nelson, MTMarlene Mensch, ORDavid F. Wilson, UTMatthew Mounts, WADamein Christensen, WY
Region IIDonna Karspeck, COLinda Chase, KSJody Purvis, LALeslie D. Clark, NMTommy W. Milligan, OKMargaret Alexander, TX
Region IIIAmy Driftmier, IALaura Zehnder, MNKevin L. Anderson, NE
Region III (continued)Craig A. Zimprich, NDKristin M. Hanson, WI
Region IVLindi Kocher, ILTravis Scherer, INMelanie Block, MIJoAnn Pfeiffer, OH
Region VAlicia Tomlinson, GAPatrick Lemoine, MSBrian C. Stewart, NC
Region VIRachel Anderson, NYLawrence M. Way, PAKate Hawkins, VA
2003 Teachers Turn the Key Awards2003 Teachers Turn the Key AwardsSponsored by
Dodge Division and DeimlerChrysler Corporation
Dodge Division and DeimlerChrysler Corporation
U.S. Ag Ed ListservIf you want to keep up-to-date with all current information in
agricultural education and NAAE, subscribe to theU.S. Ag Ed Listserv!
Go to the NAAE web site at http://www.naae.org for details.
U.S. Ag Ed Listserv
February 2004 NAAE News & Views
GrowingWith SchoolGreenhousesA working green-
house presentsmultiple learningopportunities. Ourrange of greenhousemodels and sizes fit any program or budget.Send for NGA’s FREE School Greenhouse Informa-tion Packet:• 4-page Greenhouse Brochure listing all our models and
accessories• Our exclusive 24-page Guide to School Greenhouses (an
$8.00 value)• 4-page Fundraising Tips packed with ideas for how to
finance a school greenhouseMail the coupon or visit www.kidsgardening.com/greenhouses
For a FREE School Greenhouse Information Packet, fill outcoupon and mail to National Gardening Association, Dept.NAAE, 1100 Dorset St., South Burlington, VT 05403.
NameSchoolAddressCityState ZipPhoneE-mail
*Offer expires June 30, 2004
2003 Outstanding Service Awards2003 Outstanding Service AwardsSponsored by the Animal Agriculture Alliance
Left to right: Michael P. Schrag, WA,Region I; Brad Ashpaugh, OK, Region II(accepted by Craig Smith); RichardDouglass, NE, Region III; William Bartow,MI, Region IV (accepted by Ron Worth);William T. McGrew, MS, Region V; ClairZerby, PA, Region VI.
Help your students learn more witha subject they love... Popcorn!
The Popcorn Boardnow offers lessonplans that use popcornas a teaching tool,covering a range ofgrade levels andsubjects, fromagriculture science,math, social studiesand business to health,nutrition and the arts.
Visit us on the Web today at www.popcorn.org andmake popcorn a part of your teaching strategy.
Popcorn Makes Learning Fun
Good Times are Poppin’ with PopcornFREE Lesson Plans –– www.popcorn.org
NAAE is grateful toPioneer HiBredInternational for theirsupport of the 2003 NAAEConvention, as a specialproject of the NationalFFA Foundation.
Thanks to Chevy Trucks andGM Powertrain for providinga major donation to the schol-arship auction at the 2003NAAE Convention. Thiscontribution was made possibleby the National FFA Foun-dation.
February 2004 Page 11
2003 Lifetime Achievement Awards2003 Lifetime Achievement AwardsSponsored by the National Pork Board
Left to right: Keith Hyatt, ID, Region I(accepted by Richard Dozier); Guy Finstad,TX, Region II (accepted by DennisEllebracht); Philip Miller, NE, Region III;P. James Faust, OH, Region IV; CharlesP. Griner, GA, Region V; CharlesCramer, MD, Region VI; and DavidMeisinger, National Pork Board.
Left to right: Dorothy and Butch Carlson,Stewart’s Meat Market, WA, Region I;DJ’s Fundraising, OK, Region II (ac-cepted by Dick Lowe); Patrick Plonski,Past Executive Director, MAELC, MN,Region III; Greenstone Farm CreditService, MI, Region IV (accepted by BillFowler); James Bowers, MS FFA Leader-ship Training Center, MS, Region V; Dr.
Kerry Hoffman-Richards, ThePennsylvania StateUniversity, PA,Region VI; and JohnLiipfert, Forrest T.Jones and Company.
2003 Outstanding Cooperation Awards2003 Outstanding Cooperation AwardsSponsored by Forrest T. Jones & Company
2003 Ideas Unlimited Awards2003 Ideas Unlimited AwardsSponsored by the Delmar Thomson Learning
Left to right: Katie Thalman-Silcox, UT,Region I; Jason M. Larison, KS, Region II;Tony Boehm, ND, Region III; BrianMatchett, MI, Region IV; MikeBartholomew, NC, Region V; Sally W.Shomo, VA, Region VI; and DaveRosenbaum, Delmar Thomson Learning.
February 2004 NAAE News & Views
Join the U.S. Ag Ed Lists
erv.
Details a
t http://w
ww.naae.org.
NAAE, Inc.300 Garrigus BuildingLexington, KY 40546-0215Phone: (859) 257-2224Toll-free: (800) 509-0204Fax: (859) 323-3919E-mail: [email protected]: www.naae.org
NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE
PAIDCOLUMBUS, OHIO
Permit No. 711
PAS Conference –– March 10-13, 2004 –– Green Bay, Wisconsin
ACTE National Policy Seminar –– March 14-16, 2004 –– Washington, DC
NAAE Region I Meeting –– April 21-24, 2004 –– Honolulu, Hawaii
NFRBMEA Conference –– June 6-10, 2004 –– Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
NAAE Region III Meeting –– June 15-17, 2004 –– Chaska, Minnesota
NAAE Region II Meeting –– June 20-23, 2004 –– Glenwood Springs, Colorado
NAAE Region V Meeting –– June 20-22, 2004 –– Asheville and Black Mountain, North Carolina
NAAE Region IV Meeting –– June 21-23, 2004 –– Sandusky, Ohio
NAAE Region VI Meeting –– July 7-9, 2004 –– Danville, Virginia
NAAE and ACTE Conventions –– December 7-11, 2004 –– Las Vegas, Nevada
Dates & EventsDates & Events