End-of-Year Ag Teacher Awards: Superlatives That Say ‘We See You’
I was just watching (I mean re-watching for the fourth time) Ted Lasso. His charisma, positivity and down right hilarious quips keep me coming back for more.
One of my favorite moments in the seasons is when he sees that one of his players isn’t performing the best and finds out that he has really been missing his home and has a birthday coming up.
He works with the other coaches and team to surprise him with presents from home and a cake. It reminds me that celebration is an underused strategy to encourage and support others.
We don’t need to wait for a certain moment or day in the year to celebrate.
So, today we are celebrating you. If you’re reading this in real time, we are entering into the end of the school year (and yes teacher appreciation week) and it is time to celebrate.
Why don’t we do a little superlatives to celebrate! As you read I have a feeling some of you will be saying “wow, that is me!” And we know because we are right there with you. To be honest I am feeling very 1, 7 and 11 this year.
Most Likely to Hit a Curb in the Mini Bus
It may not have been a smooth ride, but you got everyone there in one piece (and probably had snacks, music, and a pep talk along the way). You’re the kind of leader who keeps it moving, curbs and all.
Most Likely to Have a Greenhouse That Feels Like a Second Home
Your students know it, your coworkers know it, your community knows it and the plants definitely know it. You’ve created a space where growth is more than just botanical—it's personal, too.
Most Likely to Know Everyone's Favorite Snack at CDE Practice
You’ve memorized the snack orders, pep talk routines, and who needs a joke before reasons. It’s not just food, it’s how you fuel your teams for connection.
Most Likely to Make the Shop Smell Like Sawdust and Success
Every project starts with chaos and ends with “Whoa, we built that?” You're showing students what it means to create something real with their own two hands.
Most Likely to Be a Legend at the County Fair
You can find the duct tape, wrangle three kids, fix a display, and still manage to smile for the group photo. Fair season would fall apart without you.
Most Likely to Have the Best Animal Selfies on Their Camera Roll
Goats, pigs, chickens—and somehow they’re all smiling. You bring the barn to life and capture the joy along the way.
Most Likely to Turn Any Moment into a Teachable One
Rain delays, broken tools, CDE team chaos and last-minute schedule changes don’t stop the learning. You see every moment as an opportunity to help kids grow.
Most Likely to Keep it Real with a Side of Sass
You say what needs to be said, with a smirk and a spark. You bring honesty, humor, and high expectations and we know your students are better for it.
Most Likely to Inspire the Next Generation of Ag Teachers
You’re the reason a student looked up and said, “I want to do this someday.” That’s impact, and it lasts longer than any lesson plan.
Most Likely to Cry at Graduation (and That’s Okay)
You’ve been in the trenches with these students, watched them grow, fail, and find their way for four years. When they walk across that stage, your heart walks right with them.
Most Likely to Take a Real Break This Summer
This year asked a lot, and you showed up anyway. Now it’s your turn to rest, recharge, and remember that doing nothing is doing something.
Most Likely to Grow Their Teaching Skills This Summer
You’re the kind of educator who’s always learning, always leveling up. Whether it’s your first Germinate Conference or your fifth, you show up ready to grow—and we’re cheering you on.
No matter which superlative made you smile (or made you say, “Yep, that’s me”), we hope you feel seen, valued, and celebrated.
Whether this year was your best yet or one you’re just proud to have survived, we’re so dang proud of you. You’ve made a difference, even on the hard days actually, especially on the hard days.
To keep that momentum going, we’ve pulled together some free resources to help you wrap up the year with intention, ease, and maybe even a little joy. Because you deserve support just as much as you give it.
Let’s finish strong—and then take that well-earned break.
Got a day to fill? Why not try a Wonder Day. Inspired by John Spencer’s Wonder Week. This resource gives you a Google Slide template for your students to dive deep into a topic of your choosing for the day.
Just last month we dropped a mega end of the year blog to help you get the most out of your students when they are still there! Check out the various free resources to gather feedback from your students to make next year the best yet.
The end of the year usually means it is time to see what those students have done on their SAEs this semester. Check out this short blog and accompany podcast on how to spice it up this year with an SAE Expo.
Paper plate awards are a fun, low prep way to recognize students in your classes or chapter members. This blog gives you a few suggestions and reasons why celebrating your students might be fun at the end of the year.
At the end of the year, the last things kids want is another Kahoot or Quizlet Live. Lori Sanderson (a Germinate Speaker LEGEND) gave you the Holy Grail of Review Activities in this Hall of Fame Germinate Session. With a TON of ready to use ideas and google drive resources to help you out before those final exams.
If you are loving the resources you are seeing here or the ag teacher focused content make sure you are subscribed to the monthly Gazette. The best place to get everything you need to know as an ag teacher in one place including new resources, teacher shout out and opportunities you don’t want to miss. You can join the fun here.
Classroom Improvement Secrets: What Your Agriculture Students Really Want You to Know
I can already envision the last days of the school year. Spring break is long gone, the plant sale was another success, the banquet ran on time, and the saying goodbye to the seniors never gets easier.
And as the last bell rings and the summer sunlight streams through the classroom windows, I often find myself surrounded by stacks of papers, forgotten markers, and the lingering echoes of another school year.
And I know how tempting it is to simply pack everything away, file the memories, and breathe a sigh of relief. But this moment right here, between the chaos of the school year and the promise of summer, is an essential piece to building a better school year for the impending fall.
This is where reflection happens. And that is where growth begins.
Professional development workshops and educational conferences like Germinate Conference are invaluable tools for growth, offering insights, strategies, and best practices. But the true magic of improvement happens when those external insights meet the unique day-to-day realities of your classroom.
While external training provides frameworks and techniques, the most precise roadmap for your personal growth comes from those who experience your teaching firsthand: your students.
Over the years, I've learned that meaningful improvement isn't about implementing a one-size-fits-all approach from an outside perspective. It's about understanding the unique ecosystem of your classroom including the specific dynamics, challenges, and opportunities that only you and your students truly comprehend.
External professional development can guide and inspire, but the most targeted, meaningful improvements emerge from listening to the voices that fill your classroom every single day. So before your students leave the classroom for good, it's time to ask for student feedback.
Why should you ask for student feedback?
Well, let’s be honest, students are the most honest critics but also can be the most insightful collaborators in the educational process. They experience our teaching firsthand, navigate the landscapes we create, and understand the real-world application of what we're trying to communicate. Their perspective is not just valuable, it's essential.
Asking for feedback doesn’t have to be a 1 on 1 conversation (although it totally could), it can be something that you integrate into your class assignments. We have three examples that we have used in our classrooms that have allowed us to make tweaks to enhance our skills.
3 Powerful Ways to Gather Meaningful Student Feedback
1️⃣ TOP 5 BOTTOM 5 Reflection Method
How It Works:
Students create two lists:
- Top 5 most impactful concepts or knowledge gained
- Bottom 5 areas where they struggled or felt least connected
Requirements:
- Each point must be documented with at least a full paragraph
- Students must explain:
- Why they found value in the learning
- How the concept will help them in the real world
Optional:
Have students provide a visual representation for each top 5 aspect. Maybe this is a picture of their assignment or from that lesson.
This isn't just a simple list-making exercise. It's a deep dive into the learning experience that challenges students to critically examine their educational journey. When I did this in the classroom I had multiple students HATE my environmental issues group project.
Essentially, I assigned them groups and they did a modified Ag Issues project about their chosen issue and created a skit. Multiple students said they hated the skit. So, the following year I added a few more presentation options so they weren’t forced to do a skit.
The Top 5 Bottom 5 method is a powerful reflective tool that goes far beyond surface-level feedback. By requiring students to provide detailed paragraphs explaining their choices, the exercise transforms from a simple list into a profound learning experience.
Students are challenged to think critically about their educational journey, articulating not just what they learned, but why and how those lessons matter. The visual component adds another layer of depth, encouraging students to represent their learning creatively and engage multiple forms of expression.
This method doesn't just provide feedback to the instructor it also helps students themselves process and internalize their learning, creating a moment of metacognitive reflection that can be transformative.
2️⃣Comprehensive Course Reflection
How It Works:
Allow students to answer a few questions that can help you address changes you would like to make to your teaching. Students can present this with a presentation or a written response.
Here are some questions I have asked in the past:
(1) What did you learn about yourself throughout the semester?
(2) If you had it to do over again, what would you change?
(3) Consider the course as a whole: What was most beneficial to your development in agriculture?
(4) What would you have liked to learn more about?
Get a copy of both the Top 5 Bottom 5 and Course Reflection document HERE.
The comprehensive course reflection centers on four transformative questions designed to guide students through a deep exploration of their learning journey. These questions challenge students to reflect on personal growth, critically examine their experience, and understand the broader impact of their course.
By asking students to articulate their self-discovery, potential improvements, course benefits, and areas of curiosity, the reflection becomes more than an evaluation—it's a meaningful dialogue about learning, growth, and future potential.
The questions invite students to step back and consider their educational experience holistically, connecting classroom learning to real-world applications. This approach demonstrates that their intellectual curiosity is valued and that learning is an ongoing journey of discovery and improvement.
3️⃣Google Forms Course Evaluation
In the age of digital feedback, online surveys offer a structured yet flexible approach to gathering student insights. Now, multiple members of the G&G team use these simple surveys throughout the year. Back in the pandemic we did it weekly and now have scaled back to every grading period. Here is an example of one we have used for the end of year feedback: You can check it out here.
Recommended Approach:
- Create a template that balances structured questions with open-ended responses
- Ensure anonymity to encourage honest feedback
- Use a mix of rating scales and text response options
Digital course evaluations through Google Forms provide a comprehensive approach to gathering student feedback that addresses multiple learning and assessment needs. The combination of quantitative rating scales and qualitative open-ended questions allows for both statistical analysis and deep insight.
Anonymity becomes a crucial factor, empowering students to share honest, unfiltered perspectives they might hesitate to express face-to-face. While you will probably get some students that completely rag on your class, that is OK. It is a data point that you can gather insight from. Remember that the open ended responses will provide you with specific feedback that should give you a direction toward your growth areas for the following year.
Overall, gathering student feedback isn't about validation, it's about your potential transformation as a teacher. We are not saying that you aren’t already a fantastic teacher, we believe that you are.
What we also know (and believe deeply which is why it is our mission statement) that we should have an ALWAYS LEARNING mentality. Teaching isn’t a race with a finish line at the end of each year, it is a journey that requires reflection, feedback and growth.
Treat each piece of feedback you get as a gift, an opportunity to refine our craft, to connect more deeply, and to continuously improve your educational craft.
Looking for more resources to help you grow as a teacher? That’s what Green and Growing is ALL about and here’s how we can specifically help:
Binge the blog where you’ll find free takeaways and inspirational content that will help you feel supported and motivated in the classroom, all year long.
Browse the resource library to find various ag teacher resources you need when you’re in a time crunch!
Subscribe to The Gazette, the monthly newsletter filled with agriculture teacher announcements, resources, shout outs and opportunities for you across our industry.
Join the next (free and virtual) Marigold Meetup where you can connect, grow, and recharge with fellow educators who "get it."
Worried Germinate Conference is Stuck in the Past?
Here’s How We’ve Evolved
Lately I have spent some time off Instagram (my social media app of choice). Mostly for creation but I still sneak on there to check out what my friends are up to.
And if you are reading this and our team follows you/you follow us, there is a HIGH percentage that I am seeing what your chapter is doing and secretly fangirling.
I also see some familiar faces who have been around the G&G space since it began who have moved on from attending G&G events (no hard feelings, promise!). And I see you all getting married, growing your families, expanding your programs, excelling in your classrooms and chapters and I am HERE FOR IT.
At G&G we understand and CELEBRATE that their are seasons of life (and careers).
Seasons of abundance
Seasons of drought
Seasons of the status quo
With that, there’s a chance that Germinate Conference wasn’t what was right for you in the past. And if we’re being completely honest, Germinate 2019 or even 2022 wouldn’t fly for us in 2025 either.
Which is why I wanted to write a blog post all about how Germinate has changed and what you can expect when you register for the 2025 conference.
Think of this as a little love letter back to our G&G OG’s. We have had you in our mind for the past 7 months as we have been working to update, revitalize, and curate the best experience for attendees in July.
4 Reasons You Might Be Hesitating To Join Germinate Conference
1. Hesitancy for Virtual PD
I hear it all the time that in our “post-COVID” days we are stepping away from virtual. Now, as someone who taught before, during, and after the pandemic I sing “hallelujah” from the rooftops about not forcing students into virtual learning. But, for professional development I say “why are you hating”
How much time do we spend on social media gathering new tips/tricks for the classroom (or even catching up with your fav creators)?
How much time do we spend watching reality TV?
How much time do we spend facetime our family members across the US/World?
How much time do you spend scrolling Facebook Groups, Pinterest or TPT for lesson ideas?
How many webinars or townhalls have you attended for ____?
Everything I listed above is virtual.
And those avenues are valuable.
Why would we treat professional development differently than the other ways we enrich our lives and careers? Especially when we know these cold hard facts about virtual learning (for ADULTS)
Virtual Learning reduces training costs by 30 to 70% than in-person trainings
Virtual Learning requires 40-60% less time our of your busy schedule than traditional classroom settings
Virtual Learning can increase information retention by up to 80%
Germinate was created to break down travel and financial barriers to connect incredible agriculture teachers and professionals together.
No need to travel across the country for a couple day conference
No need to argue with administration about dropping $1,000+ on conference registration, hotel, ubers and food.
No need to sit in on sessions that aren’t relevant to your program
Germinate doesn’t replace your regional and national conferences for your teaching organizations. Those conferences have important legislative sessions and industry updates that are vital to the progress of agriculture education. And we support teachers attending them (we even offer a scholarship to help fund those trips for teachers once a year).
But, we realize it is a reality of many teachers that they will not get the opportunity ever or very rarely in their career to do that kind of travel.
Hence, why we have hosted 11 agriculture teacher organized, presented, and attended Germinate Conferences since 2019.
2. Hesitancy for the same conference over and over again
Hey, if you have been to Germinate before, we are so happy you decided to come in the past! And we also understand that you might wonder why you should attend again…
It’s kind of like going to see the same artist in concert over and over – will the show be any different? You’ve seen it once, is it worth it again? (Tbh, the only person I’d go see and over and over is our girl Taylor 🤣).
With this in mind, we actually decided that we need to reach outside of our circles and hired two new team members to SHAKE UP GERMINATE this summer. Jacklyn and Jason have been working their tails off to push the team to step outside the Germinate norm.
Case and point: At Germinate 2025 we have 23 new speakers AND 12 never before seen topics at Germinate!
There have been 296 professional development sessions hosted by G&G over the past 6 years. And we are jazzed to have some new ideas, new voices, and new takeaways that will help a teacher who is gearing up for a 2026 school year (and not re-teaching pre-pandemic content).
So, if you have been to Germinate before I can attest to you that …
The format is similar to what you have seen in the past BUT…
You won’t be listening to the all the same speakers from the past
You won’t be hearing all the same topics from the past
The content has been reviewed and edited by current ag teachers to be in the best format for you.
3. Hesitancy on investment
Y’all I think everyone can agree that money is tight. I’ll be the first to say that teachers are NOT compensated fairly and I will continue to advocate for increased teacher pay to my local representatives.
While we at G&G cannot increase your local pay, we have created a few avenues to help lessen the financial barrier for you to attend Germinate.
Scholarships
(SCHOLARSHIPS CLOSED)
We love being able to connect with teachers who need support. Whether that is with finding the right lesson or getting assistance to attend Germinate. We offer scholarships every year prior to registration opening. Be on the lookout for applications at the beginning of the calendar year.
Payment Plans
I get it, dropping $100+ at a time can be a commitment. That is why payment plans are so prevalent in our lives from our mortgages, car payments or even using Klarna. Germinate also offers payment plans so you can break up the payments to your conference.
School Supported Payments
Yes, your school can pay for Germinate. Last year we had 13 attendees have their schools pay their way to Germinate with an invoice. If you are looking to do that, request an invoice using this Google Form. PLEASE be aware that Green & Growing Education can only accept payment for invoices using a credit card payment via QUICKBOOKS (No checks for Germinate).
Early Registration Discounts
The early bird gets the worm in nature and at Germinate. We have multiple registration discounts available and here is how they play out for Germinate 2025:
Feb 10-Mar 15, 2025: $109
March 16-May 15: $149
May 16-June 28: $199
4. Hesitancy on the content being right for you
How many times have you been to a local professional development conference and you scan the agenda and mentally are saying to yourself…
“That’s a lot of content for core subjects?”
“Is there even anything for just CTE teachers?”
“Why am I even going if the content isn’t going to help me or my students?”
WE HAVE BEEN THERE. And TBH we end up there every year. That is why we all started attending Germinate. Because we know the content IS RELEVANT to agriculture teachers.
While we admit that you might not have sessions that fit your exact case load, FFA chapter needs, or SAE issues, we can commit that every session is created around the three circle model WITH AG TEACHERS needs at the forefront.
So, while you might be HOPING for a Conduct of Chapter Meetings session, we can offer you a Parliamentary Procedure session from a 7th year ag teacher who has coached their teams to a GOLD ranking at nationals 4 times.
While you might be HOPING for some new ideas for field trips, we can offer you a strategic session that can help you stop sweating the small stuff in your trip planning.
While you might be HOPING to get some new strategies for assisting your IEP students, we can offer you a session on engaging multi-language learners that might inform ideas to assist all of your students with IEPs.
If you want to take a deeper dive on the sessions offered at Germinate this year, you can check them out here.
I am hopeful this new information can help you see how Germinate has changed with you in mind. And if you still aren’t ready to join in this season of life, know that we are behind the scenes still cheering you on. Why? Because we don’t care about your registration fee. We care about YOU, the teacher, and more importantly, you the PERSON, choosing what is right for them.
But if this version of Germinate IS what you are looking for, you can register HERE.
If you are looking for some other ways to connect with the G&G community, join us at our next Marigold Meetup.
If you are looking for resources that you can download today to help you in your classroom, check out the resource library.
4 Activities to Teach Employability Skills in Your Classrooms
You know one of the words I dislike the most as an educator?
SOFT SKILLS
Ugh, it makes my skin crawl. When did we decide that the skills that allow you to be productive citizens and highly employable people become less important than technical skills? I don’t know about you but I would much rather hire someone who was professional, timely, respectful and passionate that has developing technical skills over someone who is the smartest in their given area of expertise, but has worse work behavior than Michael Scott and George Constanza.
As a career technical subject matter, we as agriculture teachers are honored with the important task of providing instruction in employability skills. That means we get the best of both worlds; teaching the soft and technical skills.
One thing I do know is that we might not put much emphasis on these standards. Maybe even saying “well, they will get sprinkles of this throughout the curriculum so I am not going to teach it.”
And that is the WRONG answer my friend.
This statistic from a recent Deloitte survey says that “92% of companies report that human capabilities or soft skills matter as much or more than hard skills in today’s business world.” This article even mentioned that people are starting to catch on to the significance of these skills, rebranding them as “durable” skills. I am here for that!
Companies are looking for employees with skills like empathy, collaboration and adaptability. With the emergence of artificial intelligence barring some of the technical skill load of many careers it is imperative that our students are well equipped in the skills computers/bots can’t replicate like empathy, collaboration, emotional intelligence, intuition and complex problem solving.
And that is why we at G&G believe that your employability unit should be of utmost importance in your classroom. I know for certain that my biggest wish as an educator is to make certain why kids could succeed in life as a good citizen and employee. And this is your chance to do this for your students too.
We have compiled some resources that you can grab-and edit to your liking that can help you focus on employability skills at a deeper level in your classroom this year.
3 ACTIVITIES TO TEACH EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS IN YOUR CLASSROOMS
In the newest G&G resource, students participate in a tournament-style career exploration where they compare agricultural careers head-to-head across three rounds. They start by reviewing career pathway information, then evaluate pairs of careers based on key factors such as job satisfaction, work environment, and growth potential. As they progress through the rounds, students select winners and provide three well-reasoned justifications for their choices. The activity concludes with a final matchup to determine the "ultimate" agricultural career. This engaging format encourages students to think critically about career paths in agriculture while refining their decision-making skills.
Durable (Soft) Skills this Battle of the Ag Careers lesson focuses on: Critical thinking, decision making, analytical skills and self-awareness.
Here is what is provided to teachers to help implement this activity into your classroom seamlessly:
Structured Lesson Plans: Detailed guides to navigate each phase from idea generation to final presentation.
Timelines: Suggested schedules to manage project milestones efficiently.
Assessment Rubrics: Clear criteria for evaluating student work and presentations.
Business Plan Templates: Pre-formatted documents for students to outline their business ideas.
Pitch Outlines: Templates to help students organize their presentations.
Panel Evaluation Criteria: Guidelines for "investors" to assess pitches and provide feedback.
Guidelines for Presentation: Tips and strategies to help students prepare for their pitch delivery.
2. Shark Tank Entrepreneurial Skills
Shark Tank Entrepreneurial Skills
Shark tank type lessons are a great way to get kids thinking outside the box. This lesson would be awesome not just for an employability skills unit, but also to be sprinkled throughout content units to encourage students to solve problems related to the content you are teaching.
In this activity, students begin by brainstorming and developing an innovative product or service idea. They then create a comprehensive business plan, detailing aspects such as target market, marketing strategies, financial projections, and operational plans.
Once their plan is formulated, students prepare a persuasive pitch to present to a panel of "investors," simulating the format of the "Shark Tank" television show. This presentation involves defending their business idea, answering questions, and potentially negotiating terms, providing a practical experience in entrepreneurship.
Durable (Soft) Skills this shark tank lesson focuses on: Innovation, presentation skills, critical thinking
Here is what is provided to teachers to help implement this activity into your classroom seamlessly:
Structured Lesson Plans: Detailed guides to navigate each phase from idea generation to final presentation.
Timelines: Suggested schedules to manage project milestones efficiently.
Assessment Rubrics: Clear criteria for evaluating student work and presentations.
Business Plan Templates: Pre-formatted documents for students to outline their business ideas.
Pitch Outlines: Templates to help students organize their presentations.
Panel Evaluation Criteria: Guidelines for "investors" to assess pitches and provide feedback.
Guidelines for Presentation: Tips and strategies to help students prepare for their pitch delivery.
3. Purple Plow
Engineering, Design Thinking and Agriculture are combined in this Purple Plow program. I’ve used a lot of the resources on this website to include their short puzzlers and semester long projects to teach important soft skills like critical thinking and collaboration.
In Purple Plow challenges, students engage in a variety of activities designed to foster critical thinking and problem-solving skills. They begin by researching complex agricultural issues, such as food security and sustainability, to understand the challenges at hand. Using the engineering design process, students design and develop prototypes that address these challenges, followed by testing and refining their solutions through iteration. The process culminates in presentations where students articulate their design journey and the effectiveness of their solutions, promoting strong communication skills and collaborative learning.
Soft Skills this lesson focuses on: creativity, problem solving, teamwork, communication
Here is what is provided to teachers to help implement this activity into your classroom seamlessly:
Educator and Volunteer Guide: Offers detailed information to help teachers understand and facilitate the challenges, including guidance on the engineering design process.
Engineering Design Process Guide: Introduces students to the systematic approach used by engineers and scientists to solve challenges, which they can apply during the activities.
Engineering Design Rubric: Provides criteria to evaluate student projects, aiding in assessment and feedback.
Supply List and Budget Sheet: Assists teachers in planning and organizing materials needed for the activities, ensuring efficient preparation.
Task Cards: Help students stay organized and on track throughout the challenge, outlining specific tasks and objectives.
Why not blend your FFA and employability skills units together? I specifically did this activity with my second, third of fourth year students so they didn’t have to do that whole FFA Unit song and dance since they already knew the basics. This allowed them to dive deeper into the meaning FFA had in real people who went through the program before them.
In the FFA Interview Project, students are assigned to interview a former FFA member or educator to explore the long-term benefits of involvement in FFA and agricultural education.
They connect with their interviewee via phone, video call, or in-person meeting, asking prepared questions to gather insights about the subject's experiences and professional growth. After conducting the interview, students synthesize their findings by creating either a written report or presentation that captures key responses and reflections.
The project includes class time for preparation, but students may also work independently. To conclude, students craft and send a formal thank-you note to their interview subject.
Soft Skills this lesson focuses on: communication skills, interpersonal skills, active listening, organization, time management, reflection
Here is what is provided to teachers to help implement this activity into your classroom seamlessly:
Contact Information Template: Fields to document interviewee details.
Resource Links: Tips for interviewing, starting conversations, email etiquette, and thank-you notes.
Interview Question Section: Space to list at least 10 thoughtful interview questions.
Rubric: Clear criteria for evaluating student work, including components for introduction, body content, conclusion, organization, and thank-you card submission.
Assessment Examples: Guidance on how to effectively quote or paraphrase interview content in reports or presentations.
Overall, soft skills are DURABLE skills that are equally important for your students to learn in your classroom and there are lots of fun ways to help you incorporate this type of skill building into your lesson plans.
If you are someone who loves teaching soft skills in your classroom we would love to hear about it! Send an email to greenandgrowingedu@gmail.com to share your idea.
Mastering CDE Practices: A Step-by-Step Guide for Agriculture Teachers
Coaching Career Development Events (CDEs) is a cornerstone of every FFA chapter. I distinctly remember my first time taking a load of kids on a 2+ hour drive to a dairy evaluation competition where we placed second to last and yet it was magical.
I can remember the triumphs and the defeats and know with my whole heart that regardless of the final placing it was a beneficial experience for my students.
These events are where students take what they’ve learned in the classroom, apply it to real-world scenarios, and compete with peers across the nation. With 26 nationally recognized CDEs (and even more at the state level), it’s no wonder teachers feel the pressure to deliver high-quality coaching experiences.
But let’s be real: no one can be an expert in everything.
But what we know here at G&G is that you want to provide opportunities to a wide variety of students with varying interests even if you truly cannot tell a lame horse from a world champion.
And while we can’t give you all the content to make you masters at all the CDEs. We can help you create a repeatable process for all of your CDE practices regardless of content area.
(Note: You can grab a Germinate Hall of Fame session from experts in Ag Sales, Horse Judging, Parli Pro and Poultry Judging over on the resources page)
That’s where our CDE Coaching Guide comes in. This guide is designed to simplify practice planning and help teachers focus on what really matters—supporting students—this guide offers a repeatable structure for every type of CDE. Whether you’re an experienced teacher looking for a refresh or a newbie wondering where to start, this resource is here to help.
In the past 7 years of serving agriculture teachers we’ve heard it all from teachers:
How do I even begin coaching a contest I’ve never competed in?
How do I get students to take ownership of their learning?
How do I juggle multiple teams practicing at the same time?
Spring is often peak CDE season (which is RIGHT around the corner), and with schedules packed tighter than a freshly baled haystack, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. That’s why we’re all about working smarter, not harder. The CDE Coaching Guide gives you a solid foundation to run consistent, effective practices without reinventing the wheel every time.
What’s Inside the Guide?
Our guide is packed with practical tips, structured practice outlines, and bonus resources to streamline your coaching. Here’s a sneak peek:
Practice Outline
A repeatable structure for 90-minute practices (with suggestions for shorter sessions):
1. Teaching Time (15-20 minutes): Introduce or review key contest materials.
2. Individual/Partner Study (15 minutes): Let students dive into one specific area—like specimen ID or test prep—to keep their learning focused.
3. Quick Review Game (10 minutes): Reinforce learning with fun, competitive activities like trash can basketball.
4. More Teaching Time (15-20 minutes): Move on to the next topic or contest section.
5. Wrap-Up (5 minutes): Assign quizzes or study tasks to prep for the next practice.
We even added some bonus resources to the guide…
- An attendance sheet to track student performance.
- A practice outline slide with a timer, so everyone stays on track.
This format is flexible and can be adapted for contests with multiple components, like Floriculture or Livestock Judging.
The key? Focus on one or two areas per practice to avoid overwhelming your students (or yourself).
Now, I know you can grab that CDE Coaching Guide and start using it to format your practices to be fun, easy to plan for and effective. But we aren’t going to leave you with that. With 54 years of combined experience we compiled out G&G Team Pro Tips for CDE Success.
👥Tap into your network: Find someone with experience in your contest area and ask for advice.
🔀Alternate strategies: Always have backup team members ready to step in.
📊Analyze data: Use practice test results to focus on weak areas instead of re-teaching what students already know.
🧑🏫Learn together: If you’re unfamiliar with a contest, make it a competition between you and the students—it’s a great way to model growth mindset.
We know every teacher’s situation is different, so we’ve addressed some common questions that you might be asking yourself as you read this…
How do I structure practices when student schedules don’t align?
Use our flexible format and encourage independent work outside of practice. Utilize your learning management systems to assign practice work throughout the week so students can practice when they have time.
How do I get students to show up prepared?
Assign pre-work, like quizzes or readings, so practice time is focused on coaching, not catch-up.
So are you ready to elevate your CDE practices?
Coaching CDE teams doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With the CDE Coaching Guide in your toolkit, you can streamline practices, focus on what truly matters, and help your students excel. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, this guide is designed to take the stress out of planning and bring consistency to your coaching.
Looking for even more support? Join us at our Marigold Meetups, where ag teachers from across the country connect, collaborate, and grow together. These free monthly events are the perfect space to share ideas, ask questions, and gain inspiration.
If you feel like your CDE practices are rocking and rolling and you need more help in the other areas of the three circle model (SAE and Classroom Instruction) don’t forget to explore the other free and paid resources on our website!