Sabrina Stalder graduated in 2004 with a degree in agricultural education. Following graduation, she returned to her hometown of Athens, Ohio and worked with the Athens City School District to create an agricultural education program, which she still leads today!
[ACEL]: Hi Sabrina!Why did you select your major?
[Stalder]: I selected agricultural education after a local high school agriculture teacher kept encouraging me to join the profession.
Why did you choose to attend The Ohio State University?
When I applied to college I knew I wanted to go into agriculture and since there were only two schools in the state that offered it, my options were limited. Ultimately I chose The Ohio State University because it was a state school and it had a great reputation.
How did your education at Ohio State influence your choice of career or your career path?
My education at Ohio State gave me much of the knowledge and skills that I would need to go out and begin a career in agriculture education.
How were you involved as a student?
I was a member of Alpha Sigma Upsilon, Agricultural Education Society, where I was selected to co-chair Scarlet and Gray Ag Day, Collegiate 4-H and worked for Curriculum Materials Services.
What classes did you enjoy the most while at Ohio State?
My favorite classes included: rural sociology, one of which we studied Amish culture, the agricultural education “BLOCK”, and building structures and construction in agriculture. It’s hard to pick a favorite from that list because I thoroughly enjoyed and learned a vast amount in each of these classes.
Did you have a professor who was especially important to you as a student?
Dr. Jamie Cano had a huge impact on my education and my career because he was the first Ohio State professor I met, which was during our county fair a couple weeks before I began as freshman. When I arrived at Ohio State, I realized that Dr. Cano was also my academic advisor. When it came time to pick a location to do my student teaching, I was worried because I had never been in agriculture classes in high school because our school didn’t offer them. Dr. Cano helped me select a newer chapter that would help me gain knowledge about the agriculture and FFA programs, as well as give me background knowledge about how they started a new program.
What is your favorite memory related to your time at Ohio State?
The friendships I made and continue to have because of my time at Ohio State. I also loved hearing the Orton Hall chimes as I walked across The Oval. Those chimes remind me of all the great memories I have at OSU!
What was your first job following your education at Ohio State?
After graduation I moved back to Athens County, where I worked with the principal, superintendent, school board and several community members in order to start an agriculture education program at Athens High School, my alma mater.
Tell us about any awards you’ve received during your career.
I was the 2009 Athens Soil and Water Conservation District Conservation Educator of the Year.
As of today, what is your favorite career highlight?
There are two! One was the very first box of FFA jackets we received and the look on my students’ faces when they first put them on. To be honest, I was a little envious. The second one was when we had our tenth annual FFA Banquet and seeing how far our chapter had come in ten years and how many student lives have been impacted by our program.
What advice would you give to a current student?
Enjoy every moment of being a student at The Ohio State University.
What did ACEL cultivate in you?
The ACEL faculty and staff helped me acquire not only the knowledge and skills that I needed to leave college and start a career, but also the confidence that I could do something I had never done before. I also knew those same faculty and staff would support me throughout my career.
Scarlet and Gray Ag Day
Alpha Sigma Upsilon Banquet
Collegiate 4-H Banquet
CFAES Outstanding Senior Recognition Event
2004 CFAES Recognition Banquet