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Jul 13, 2009 5:21 PM by
Ellen Thompson
Great Question!
Minnesota completed it's 2nd Change Lives-Teach Ag workshop at our State FFA Convention this year. It is has been a huge success and we are now able to track these students over the next several years to see if they do stay in the Ag Ed profession. I'll try to give you a brief summary of what we have done. I will also forward your question to Angela Fredricks, the recruiter for the Ag Ed college at UMN. She was the main organizer and will likely have specific documents you may need. We modeled our workshop after many other states.
In the late winter Ag teachers (and we included Extension people this year as well) were encouraged to nominate 9th and 10th graders (juniors and seniors are welcome too).
The student and the parent were sent a personalized letter inviting the student to the "invitation only" workshop at State Convention.
The advisor is also asked to write a note to the student about why they chose them as a good candidate to be an Ag teacher.
The Workshop Format
Sunday afternoon of State Convention - the first day for MN, it does not conflict with anything else
The students are put into groups by placing a sticker on their name tag. The color of the sticker coincides with their group.
A young energetic Ag teacher and Undergraduate student are assigned to each table as well.
The day starts with an introduction of the presenters (Angela and Undergrad student)
The Ag Teacher leaders introduce themselves and share a quick snippet as to why they love being an Ag Teacher. State leaders who are also present introduce themselves (state supervisor, FFA staff, University prof, Assn. leadership, etc.).
The students then watch a short 5 minute PowerPoint that has quotes from Ag teachers and other famous teaching quotes mixed in with video segments from MN Ag teachers talking about their love for the profession.
Students are then given a one page list of personal characteristics. They are asked to cross off 5 they think you don't need to possess to be an teacher. Ex. wealthy, famous, good looking. I know come on right? 
They do this individually.
The students keep narrowing this list down until they have 8-10 characteristics that are essential to being an Ag Teacher. From that list the students work together with the whole group at their table and agree on 5-6. From that 5-5 they draw a picture of what an Ag teacher looks like with those characteristics. Ex. Caring, in the picture maybe the Ag teacher is helping an elderly person cross the street. Or they have an oversized heart.
The groups share their picture.
Around the room are topics related to being an Ag teacher. SAE, FFA, Helping Students Succeed, Ag Ed Family, I can't recall them all right off hand.
Each table group picks one and using some totes with props are charged with designing a one-minute You Tube video about that topic with the resounding them Change Lives-Teach Ag!
They are given about 20-30 minutes to design their video. Then the videos are presented and taped and put on You Tube. I believe they are on You Tube for viewing. Change Lives Workshop MN 2009 or something.
The final component of the workshop is a Q & A of the students and the teachers.
The students leave with a folder on all the regional schools with an Ag Ed program, the letter from their advisor, a T-shirt and a lanyard.
There is a follow-up session in the fall with emails and letters from state officers, state leadership and the like.
Food and refreshments are provided as well.
If you have more specific questions, I would be happy to try and answer them. Otherwise I hope Angela will be in contact with you and send you the documents MN has created.
It is a really valuable tool for recruiting and spreading the Ag Ed message.