Inspired by watching her dad teach high school agriculture and advise her school’s FFA chapter, Kaylee Steele couldn’t be more excited to follow in his footsteps by taking over the CHS’s Ag and FFA programs this upcoming school year.
“Growing up, his classroom and the FFA program were a big part of my life,” she said. “I got to see firsthand the impact an agriculture teacher can have on students and their families. As I got older and became involved in agriculture and FFA myself, I realized I wanted to have that same kind of impact on students. My experiences as an FFA member and through college ultimately confirmed that teaching agriculture was the path I wanted to pursue.”
Background
Steele grew up in Utica, Minnesota and attended Lewiston-Altura High School. As an FFA member, her most rewarding Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) project was sheep entrepreneurship.
“Raising and managing my own sheep taught me that agriculture and farming come with both highs and lows. Income isn’t always steady, and there are times when expenses come before the money comes in. It gave me a realistic understanding of the business side of agriculture while also teaching me valuable lessons about responsibility, time management and staying committed even when things don’t always go as planned.”
After high school she was off to South Dakota State University to pursue a degree in Agriculture Education and minors in Animal Science and Agronomy.
While there, she studied abroad in Vietnam.
“It was an incredible experience and gave me the opportunity to see agriculture and different production systems from a completely different perspective.”
Steele completed her student teaching at Russell-Tyler-Ruthton and also did an internship at Chatfield Public Schools. She graduated from SDSU this spring. She chose Cleveland as her first teaching job because she sees the potential in both the students and the FFA program.
“I saw an opportunity to help build an agriculture program and FFA chapter that students are excited to be a part of and proud to call their own. I want to give students opportunities to explore the many different areas of agriculture through hands-on experiences, FFA, leadership, and career exploration. I’m excited to work alongside the students to build something that reflects their interests and gives them a place to learn, grow and get involved.”
Steele is excited to dig in, but she also understands there is a lot to learn.
“It definitely feels a little surreal. I spent the last several years being the student, and now I get to be the person standing at the front of the classroom. One of the things I’m most looking forward to is learning alongside my students and building a classroom and FFA program that they are proud to be part of.”
Ag classes
When it comes to the classroom, Steele will be teaching Introduction to Agriculture for both 7th and 9th grade, Woods/Welding, Food Chemistry and Work Based Learning.
But her favorite subject to teach is animal science.
“I grew up raising and showing livestock, so working with animals has always been a big part of my life. I enjoy teaching students about different species, production systems and careers within the livestock industry while also giving them opportunities to learn through hands-on experiences. I also love showing students that animal agriculture affects everyone, not just farmers. From the food we eat to the clothes we wear and many everyday products we use, animal agriculture plays a role in all of our lives.”
While her classes will have a daily lesson plan, she also wants her classroom to be a place where students feel comfortable asking questions and sharing their ideas.
“I’m a very “go-with-the-flow” teacher. If a student has a question about agriculture, I’m always willing to stop and talk about it, even if it takes us in a direction I didn’t originally plan. Some of the best learning can come from those unexpected questions and conversations, and I want my students to know that their curiosity is always welcome in my classroom.”
She hopes by the end of the school year that her students have gained a broader perspective of agriculture and understand it has a place for everyone, regardless of their background or previous experience.
“I hope students leave my classroom knowing agriculture is much bigger than farming and that there are so many different careers, interests and opportunities within the industry. Whether they are growing up on a farm or have never been around agriculture before, I want them to see that they can find a place where they belong and make an impact.”
FFA program
Steele wants to focus on rebuilding and strengthening the school’s FFA chapter while giving students more opportunities to be involved.
“My biggest goal is to make Cleveland FFA a place where every student feels like they have a place. I want them to have opportunities to compete, travel, attend conventions and conferences, participate in service projects, develop leadership skills, and simply have fun with their classmates. I also want students to have a voice in what our FFA chapter becomes. My hope is that by the end of the year, students can look back and say, ‘I helped build this.’”
Beyond her classroom, Steele still enjoys being around livestock.
“Showing pigs was a big part of my childhood. My brother still shows, so I’ve continued to spend a lot of time around the livestock industry. During the summer, you can typically find me at a pig show on the weekends–whether helping my brother, catching up with friends or just enjoying the industry. It’s something that has been a big part of who I am.”
She also enjoys watching and following sports.
“I’m especially a big Minnesota Vikings fan. I’m definitely not afraid to show my team spirit, and you’ll probably hear me talking about the Vikings during football season.”