By Madelyn Ostendorf
Ashley Wolfe (’06 MS agricultural and life sciences education) has spent the last 19 years teaching Grinnell High School students about soils, animal science, agricultural leadership and fostering an environment of education in and out of the classroom.
Wolfe was on Iowa State University’s campus Nov. 11-12, participating in the Department of Agricultural Education and Studies’ Teacher in Residence Program. Made possible by a gift from Jane and Richard (’76 PhD agricultural and life sciences education) Carter, the program aims to connect Iowa agricultural education instructors with current students, faculty and staff in the department.
While on campus, Wolfe spoke to student clubs and classes of agricultural education students about her industry experiences, giving them a chance to ask questions and gain insights.
“The Teacher in Residence Program allows future ag teachers to see what being an educator really looks like,” said Mike Retallick, professor and chair of agricultural education and studies. “They have the opportunity to learn, ask questions, and hear from a person who was in their shoes not that long ago. It's a unique perspective that offers our students a glimpse into their future.”
Wolfe did not expect to become an agriculture teacher. She thought she would take the experiences on her family’s Natoma, Kansas, farm and become a nutritionist. She didn’t seriously consider education as a career until a high school teacher nudged her in that direction.
“I thought I was going to go into animal nutrition, but I had a teacher that said, ‘If you've ever even thought about teaching, get your teaching license,’” Wolfe said. “He told me that if I didn't end up liking what I was doing, I could have teaching in my back pocket. So I did it, I took his advice. I shifted to the ag ed route, and I just never looked back.”
Taking a chance is something Wolfe tries to instill in her students every day. Though many of them may not pursue a career in agriculture, Wolfe believes that giving them that education is still a vital part of their learning.
“These kids are a huge part of why I have stayed at one school for so long,” she said. “It is so important to teach them skills. In this day and age, there's so many people that are disconnected from agriculture. Half the kids I teach probably won't ever go into the ag field, but they're going to be consumers. It’s important to teach them this, so that they can go as an educated consumer.”
Though the landscape of agriculture and agricultural education is changing, Wolfe said it's as important as ever for young people to become teachers. She was excited to come back to campus and see how much has changed, how much has stayed the same, and how many students are training to be the next generation of educators.
“My best advice is the same that was given to me,” Wolfe said. “Just get the teaching license and go do it. Give yourself some grace in the first year or two, and you’ll never go back once you’ve found your footing.”