Morehead State prepares the next generation of agriculture educators
Located in the mountains of eastern Kentucky, Morehead State University has always taken pride in its location, its service region, and its giving back to the professions that help shape its economy. One of many ways it does this is by helping to better prepare future generations of farmers through its agricultural education program.
MSU’s Agricultural Education program blends teacher preparation with real-world agricultural experience in a very applied, hands-on way. Students learn both agricultural content knowledge and the skills needed to become effective educators, including curriculum design, instructional strategies, classroom management, assessment practices, and leadership.
Shelby Roberts (Class of 2014), instructor of agriculture in the Department of Agricultural Sciences, said students also gain a solid foundation across agricultural systems, including animal science, plant science, agribusiness, and agricultural mechanics for preparation to teach across multiple areas.
“Students aren’t just learning how to teach...they are actively preparing to run full agricultural education programs in schools, including classroom instruction, FFA leadership, and supervised agricultural experiences,” Roberts said.
In addition to traditional coursework, agriculture education students engage in field experiences in schools early and often, work through lesson planning and teaching practice, and participate in student teaching placements where they take on full classroom responsibilities.
Through student organizations like the Ag Ed Society and program-related experiences, they also gain exposure to leadership development, professional preparation activities, and real agricultural education events that connect classroom learning to practice. When they are not gaining experience outside the classroom, students have one of the best hands-on learning tools for success right near campus: the Derrickson Agricultural Complex, also known as the University Farm.
“Having access to the University Farm allows students to experience agriculture in a way that is immediate and tangible. It provides a living laboratory where students can connect instructional content to real agricultural systems, whether that is livestock, plant production, or other agricultural practices,” Roberts said. “It also gives future teachers ideas and confidence in how to bring hands-on, experiential learning into their own classrooms.”
MSU’s agriculture education program recently hosted its first Spring Break Agriculture Exploration Day Camp for elementary students in grades K–5 on MSU’s campus. The camp was designed and led by agriculture education majors, with support from elementary education majors, providing a collaborative teaching experience across disciplines. In addition, agriculture students from Morgan County helped in developing interactive games used during the camp.
Campers took part in hands-on lessons, games, and agriculture-based crafts focused on helping them understand where their food comes from and the role agriculture plays in their daily lives.
“This camp provided an opportunity for our students to take what they are learning in the classroom and apply it in a real-world setting while serving our community. At the same time, we were able to create a meaningful and engaging experience for local youth and support families during Spring Break,” Roberts said.
MSU’s agriculture education program serves as the gateway toward becoming a secondary agriculture teacher and FFA advisor in middle and high schools, which Roberts said is in strong demand across Kentucky and the region. Beyond traditional classroom teaching, graduates also pursue careers in extension education, agricultural industry training and development, CTE program leadership, and nonprofit or government roles related to agriculture and youth development. Many also continue into leadership roles within agricultural education or graduate studies.
Roberts said, “The combination of education coursework, agriculture content, and extensive field-based experiences creates a very well-rounded teacher preparation pathway.”
Agriculture education is also offered as an option through MSU’s newly expanded Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program. Through a new tuition model, it is the most affordable MAT option in Kentucky. It is designed for individuals with a bachelor’s degree in any field who want to transition into teaching. The program serves as an alternative pathway into the profession, helping working professionals enter the classroom while addressing the ongoing teacher workforce needs of Kentucky’s school districts.
Find out more about MSU’s Department of Agricultural Sciences, email agsi@moreheadstate.edu or call 606-783-2662.
Photo: MSU’s agriculture education program recently hosted its first Spring Break Agriculture Exploration Day Camp for elementary students in grades K–5 on MSU’s campus.
