It's a Small World After-all: Attending the NAAE Convention

Quick statistics on my experience at NAAE Conference

• 2.991 miles from my house in Torrington, Connecticut to the National Association of Agriculture Educators Convention in Anaheim,California 
• 9 the people in my cohort who made this trip an experience
• 6 the hours it took for us to fly from Philadelphia to Los Angelos, Ca
• 3 the number of incredible professors who helped make this trip possible and meaningful 
• Priceless: The knowledge gained and people I met along the way

What is NAAE,FAST and ACTE?

Agriculture Teacher's Creed

NAAE is the National Association of Agriculture educators. This is my professional organization as an agriculture teacher. FAST stands for Future Agriculture Science Teachers and is part of the National Teach Ag! Campaign. There are several FAST Symposiums across the country including a larger one at the NAAE conference.

ACTE is the Association of Career and Technical Education. Several teacher education groups falls under this organization including NAAE. NAAE holds their conference in conjunction with ACTE.

Workshop Highlight:

Inclusion workshop
By Dr.Vincent

My favorite workshop of the week was with Dr.Vincent from University of Kentucky on inclusion in the classroom.In this workshop we discussed how to be aware of all students background and how to ensure students all feel welcome. This can mean attending school activities and sitting with family members of that student, attending a church event for a religion you may not associate with or being exposing kids to new foods on school trips. Being inclusive is something I have an interest in and something I want to try my best at as a new teacher.

FAST Participation:

Jess and me getting ready
for FAST! 

I was blessed to be able to be apart of the FAST Symposium. I had a really awesome roommate from the University of Kentucky and got to interact with about 70 other future agriculture teachers from about a dozen universities. The most important take away from being surrounded by these individuals all week was we are all about to experience student teaching and we all have the same fears. I was able to connect with people outside of my cohort on ideas for lessons and fears we shared as we entered the classroom in January. This was a powerful piece to show me I am not alone.

Importance of team bonding

PSU Ag Ed '20 at FlightDeck

 Throughout the week I definitely felt overwhelmed with new material either pedagogical or content wise.On Thursday night we went to a flight simulator as a cohort with our university supervisor, Dr.Curry, and flew planes while trying to shoot each other down. This was the perfect way to decompress before the next day of travel. I definitely needed a night with my people where I felt comfortable enough to reflect on what had happened so far this week but, to be myself without fear of judgement. I know my cohort is the perfect set of people for that! This also made me realize that when I plan trips such as State and National FFA Convention to make sure I plan time for my students to decompress with a fun activity in the area.

To next years cohort:

My cohort with
PA ag teachers

When you plan to attend NAAE convention next year remember these simple tips.

1. Attend workshops outside your comfort zone. I went to one on blood samples and turf grass. I gained a ton from them and connected with those teachers. It helped me plan my plant science and microbiology units!
2.  Meet as many people as you can: back to being outside of your comfort zone. Meet people and build relationships. You never know how you can help each other or where you will end up teaching some day

Tying it together:

I could go on and on about this trip because it truly was an experience. I had no idea that a speech I listened to by Ellen Thompson as a State FFA Officer in D.C would give me the experience to work with her all week at the FAST Symposium at NAAE Convention. This trip made me realize that I do love agriculture education and I am in the right place.

Watching the sunrise with PSU Ag Ed '20