Nashville was my wife's first national conference and she was amazed at the different types of professional development programs that educators could attend. I hope every educator there went home with and idea or information that improves their program.

I am excited about my role in our professional organization and look foward to working with Ray, Greg and the rest of the Board, along with all of Region II members promoting Agriculture Education. One of the major topics at Nashville was the Teach AG Day campaign. I encourage every Region II teacher to tag one student to be your replacement. It is our responsiblity to be the bridge for the best and the brightest in our programs into the field of Agricultural Education. Talk about your profession with your students, step up and open your programs to student teachers, get invloved in our professional organization. These are all ways you can be that bridge for the future of Agricultural Education.

We are alway talking about promoting Agricultural Education in the political arena. The National Policy seminar is a great way for you to get to know your legislators. I know it falls on a busy time in Oklahoma and other states, but I hope you check your schedule for March 8th-10th and join other advocates for Agriculture Education in Washington D.C.  For more information about the Ag Ed Strand of the National Policy Seminar, click here.

A friend sent me this quote by Teddy Roosevelt. "Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." How blessed we are to be in a profession where individuals DO work hard at work worth doing!

As I traveled around the country this summer, I met so many people who did outstanding jobs in many facets of Ag Education. Summers for me usually start off with State FFA Convention. What a team effort goes into making a successful experience for our students! It's stressful at times, but the outcome it always worth the hard work that goes into it.

Region II summer conference was held in Canyon, TX in June. The teachers, state staff, and faculty of West Texas A&M University did an outstanding job! Many thanks to ALL who helped make it successful, especially Buddy Wallace, VATAT President, and Ken Carr, Cowboy Poet / Cook. It takes a lot of effort to put on a summer conference, but it's always worth it - for the teachers who participate, who learn new skills, get new ideas, and understand a little more about the various cultures in our country. Thank you for your hard work.

Leadership Camp and teacher inservices were next. Thanks to all those who coordinated activities, chaperoned cabins, and prepared the banquet. Well done. And to the teachers who wrote the new curriculum rather than sneaking off to play golf - thanks for a job well done!  Your hard work will benefit our students and communtities.

The board met in Washington D.C. in July. What a bunch of dedicated professionals! I know their lives are full, but they go above and beyond for the good of our profession. Thanks to the staff - Jay, Alissa, Julie, Linda, and the others for all their tireless work. One thing I look forward to at the meeting is the release of NAAE Award Winners. Congratulations to all who have gone above and beyond!

The Region II winners include:

• Outstanding Young Member - Gaea Wimmer, KS
• Outstanding Teacher - Mark Sneary - OK
• Outstanding Middle/Secondary Ag Ed Program - Pontchatoula High, LA
• Outstanding Postsecondary / Adult Ed Program - Great Plains Technology Center, OK
• Teacher Mentor - Tim Vanover
• Ideas Unlimited - Lee Weis, KS
• Lifetime Achievement - Floyd Jenkins, LA
• Outstanding Cooperation - Rep. Dale DeWitt, OK
• Outstanding Service - Larry Long, OK
• Teacher Turn the Key - Bethany Marsh, CO, Mandy Kern,  KS, Devin Grissom, OK, April Offolter, OK
• Upper Division Scholarship - Mary Shivers, New Mexico State University.

As the bell schedule gets engrained into our heads and the hustle and bustle of young people go through our doors, let us not forget to give thanks for the best prizes of life - a job worth doing, and the opportunity to positively effect the lives of each person we come into contact with each day.

Have a great school year!!

Hi, all. School is out for the summer.

The Region II conference in Canyon, TX looks to be another great one. The teachers and state staff have been working hard to make it a memorable experience. If you have not signed up for the conference yet, you can still do so, but a late fee is involved. As you know, budgets are tight right now. It would be a great help to our hosts to have a clear meal count. There are a little over 180 teachers and family members registered as of yesterday. So, please register as soon as possible.

For those who have never attended, here are a few pointers:

You can find the conference schedule at http://www.naae.org/affiliates/regionsIVI/docs/Region2_schedule_reg.doc , along with the registration form.

We have workshops and educational tours to facilities in the area of the conferences, as well as business meetings.

You have the opportunity to represent your state on a regional NAAE committee.

You have the opportunity to judge award applications from our region and another. You get to see what other teachers are doing in other parts of the country.

You have lots of opportunities to network with other teachers- formal as well as informal (the dinner table, around the pool, after-hours get togethers). We all know that that's where you get the best ideas!

The atmosphere is professional causual (we've coined that term ourselves). It's relaxed, but we get down to business when it's at hand.

It's family friendly. There are lots of things for your spouse and children to do in the area while we're occupied (We do meet up for meals.).

I can promise you that you'll never meet a better bunch of people anywhere.

Hope to see you there!

Kathy