What's it like to be a vocational agriculture teacher?

I'm thinking about becoming a vocational agriculture teacher after high school. Can anyone explain the job description and what a typical day looks like? Also, what kind of qualifications or backgrounds are usually required?

Being a vocational agriculture teacher can be both rewarding and challenging. As an agri-vocational teacher, your job will spread across the classroom, laboratory, and field, linking theory with practical skills. You'd essentially be instructing students in areas like animal science, plant and soil science, horticulture, natural resources, and agribusiness systems.

In a typical day, you might lead classroom-based lessons, supervise hands-on skills development in a lab setting or outdoors, plan field trips to farms or research institutes, and manage school-based projects like a school farm or garden. In many cases, you would also advise student organizations like the Future Farmers of America (FFA), involving coaching students for competitions, organizing community service, and coordinating fundraising events.

As for qualifications, typically, you would need a bachelor's degree preferably in agricultural education or a related field. After this, you'll also need a teaching certification, which usually requires successfully completing a teacher education program and passing a state-administered exam. If you don't have a degree in agricultural education, but instead have a degree in another field of agriculture, some states offer alternative certification pathways. This usually involves supervised work experience and additional education coursework.

Beyond the formal qualifications, successful vocational agriculture teachers often share a background or interest in farming, the outdoors, or biology. They typically possess strong interpersonal skills, have the ability to inspire and motivate students, and are committed to continuous learning in their field.

Remember, teaching demands a lot of passion and dedication, so take time to consider your choice. It's definitely a job that can make a difference in students' lives.