Educational Blogging: Advocating Our Passions

Writing this blog has taught me that there is so much in agriculture to be taught. So far, I have dived into the opportunities for non-farm kids within 4-H and FFA. However, I have not gone into the daily agenda of an Agricultural Educator. I am still a college student, so I do not know this for certain but I think I have an idea of what it is like. A blog post for Norfolk High School in Nevada written by Ag teacher, Mr. Jonathan Anderson, goes into detail of "A Day In The Life Of An Ag Room." He discusses the activities at each hour such as an FFA officer meeting at 7 am and 1st period Introduction to Agriculture starting at 8 am and so on. Educational blogging in my opinion is advocating for your passion whether it be in agriculture, art, music, elementary, secondary, etc. 

Two red hands typing on a laptop with notepads, pens and other items. 

While reading my peer's blog posts, I have learned that mostly all of us have the same goal which is to share our ideas and passions. Three of my favorite blogs were written by Anna Loy, Alexis Lynch, and Olivia Phillips. In Anna's "Ms. Loy's Educational Ploys" blog, I found the "Stop Trying to be PC" blog very interesting and relatable. She discusses the word "disabled" versus "person with a disability." I had not known that there was a difference in the two terms. This is relatable to me because I had a learning disability from elementary school until high school and how I recovered because of my agricultural education and upbringing-- which I may discuss in a later blog. Moving on to "Alexis' View of the World (of Education!)" blog, "Standardized Testing and Students with Disabilities" caught my eye. In her blog she states, "For students with moderate to significant disabilities, standardized tests are absolutely not appropriate." I relate to the struggles of standardized testing because I was one of those kids who needed help or extra time to complete a test. Lastly, "LIVin the Ag Teacher Life" by Olivia Phillips was very relatable because she and I have the same major as well as a similar background. "The Home and The School" caught my eye because she goes into how every child's home environment can determine the type of behavior in a classroom. The type of discipline and rules at home can factor into whether a student is successful or not. I love her statement, "I have high hopes that parents of young children and future parents will understand that school does not end when the bell rings in the afternoon and that their involvement can change the path of their child's life." This is very relatable to my personal growth and development and it is definitely something to keep in mind as a future teacher (and possibly parent). 

Educational blogging is a practice that should be done by all teachers and educators because it allows for us to build off of each other. I have not been a blogger for very long (not even two months...hehe), but this is something that I plan on doing as a teacher. From reading the blogs of my peers, I have gotten the idea to post my story as an agricultural student with a learning disability in a later blog post. Throwing ideas and research information around in blogs is advocating for our passion: education for all. Who knows what else I will write about? - the possibilities are endless.

4-H and FFA Opportunities for Non-Farm Kids: Life Skills

As previously mentioned in another blog, agriculture-based youth programs include opportunities

Group of students judging a class of Hereford cattle.

including livestock programs with show projects and judging teams. Not many people know the life skills that are taught behind the scenes. The journal article by Chad Martin and Clint Rusk also details life skills provided through these programs, specifically livestock judging. It states "They learn to develop a thought process through the assimilation of concepts identified with proper evaluation practices. Through active preparation for the contest situation, called "work-out" sessions, participants become associated with and learn to adjust to pressure situations." Oral reasons are a great example of a life skill as it provides public speaking skills while defending their decisions. Oral reasons describe contestants' thought process in the selection of the livestock or cuts of meat. Additionally, "participation on livestock judging teams is credited with improved critical thinking, improved organization, delivery, and accuracy of written and oral communication processes." 

Another journal article written by Larry D. Gutherie and J. Lee Majeskie detail Dairy Judging in more detail. They describe livestock judging to have benefits in "personal growth: team skills, interpersonal relationships, critical thinking skills, self-discipline, situation analysis, decision-making skills, organizational skills, verbal expression, and defense of decisions." Whether students grew up with an agricultural background, "nondairy farm youth learn about the importance and magnitude of the dairy industry, and many of them continue their involvement in the dairy cattle judging programs as volunteers." Given these points, not only are students learning the information needed to identify an ideal animal or cut of meat, they are learning more about each industry within agriculture along the way which teaches them to be logical agricultural advocates. Students coming from a non-agricultural background to being in a judging team of four will be a great experience for anyone. Are there other clubs that teach life skills? Yes. Will my child learn these same skills in another club? Possibly. As someone who grew up with an agricultural background, I think it is amazing when my classmates grew up in the city and have come to UT to major in agriculture. It shows how wonderful the agriculture industry really is because it teaches so many things including the life skills needed for the workforce.