Feature Friday: How Ag Ed is Important to Students

Kara Watson, a student at Illinois State University, was happy to talk with me about her choice as a career path and what led her to that decision! Kara is a super involved student who enjoys all facets of agriculture. She wants to be a high school ag teacher and an FFA Advisor. If you have any questions or comments for Kara, be sure to post!

Kayla: Did you grow up around agriculture?
Kara: I grew up in Rantoul Illinois a town just north of Champaign where the agricultural industry is very prevalent. I personally did not have a heavy agricultural background like my peers. I grew up in a rural area but not on a farm. I got my love of agriculture from my father who helped farm for my extented family and also worked on a cattle farm with my mother before I was born.

Kayla:Why did you decide to study agriculture? & Why is it important to you?
Kara: I decided to study agriculture during my time spent as an FFA member through high school. I learned all of the aspects of the agricultural industry and realized just how much it affects everyone's day to day life. I knew that agriculture was my calling and I stuck to it. I knew I never wanted to do anything else.

Kayla: What is your major & your intended career after graduation?
Kara: My major is Agricultural Education and I plan on becoming a high school agriculture teacher and FFA Advisor.

Kayla: What do you feel is the biggest issue facing the agricultural industry today?
Kara:I feel the biggest issue affecting the agricultural industry is misinformation. There is a lot of propoganda against the industry with false information that is given to the public which causes an unfortunate attitude toward agricultural science and progress. Companies and even celebrities are out there influencing the public negatively about our prized industry. It is our responsibility as agriculturalists to show the public that we are doing great things for society and that they should welcome the progressive achievements that we have made.

Kayla: How are you involved within your community and school? (Even High School?)
Kara: In college:

I have been involved with Collegiate FFA and PAS (Post Secondary Agriculture Students Organization) where I have acted as a officer for two years. I was on the National PAS qualifying QuizBowl team. 
Collegiate FFA/PAS was voted outstanding Small RSO of the Year for the ISU Campus last year.

I am also an ISU Agricultural Ambassador where I help the Agriculture Department with student recruitment.

In High School:
I was named the Rantoul Exchange Club Student of the Month for December 2007
In:
FFA
Student Council
Interact (community volunteering organization)
HelpPeers (a group that helped elementary school students with drug an alcohol awareness along with mentoring.)
Soccer Team
Wrestling Stats

Kayla: What do you think the most important part of Agriculture Education is?
Kara: The most important part of Agriculture Education, in my opinion, is understanding of the industry. There are three essential parts of Ag ED which are Classroom Instruction, SAE (Supervised Agricultural Experience), and FFA. A student cannot have full understanding without each of the 3 essential parts. SAE's get the student out there and learning with hands on experiences, the FFA helps build leadership skills and breaks barriers between students and industry leaders, and classroom instruction helps lay the foundation of science, business, and mechanization.