Rex works as safari tour guide

Bradi Rex and Mrs. Ramsier in front of the safari bus.

Rex and Ramsier

 

Bradi Rex, a sophomore studying agriscience education, worked at The Wilds in Cumberland, Ohio as a tour guide.

Rex drove the open air safari bus while giving a fun filled tour about various endangered and extinct in the wild exotic animals. The mission of The Wilds is to lead and inspire by connecting people and wildlife.

She even had a few ACEL faces on a tour this summer, as Mrs. Ramsier, ACEL program coordinator at Ohio State ATI, and Dr. Filson, associate professor of agriscience education, visited with their families.

While students majoring in agriscience education complete their internship requirement through field experiences, many students gain additional educational opportunities like this one to broaden the knowledge about food, agricultural, and environmental sciences.

Internship Spotlight: Cory Myers with Schlessman Seed

 
This summer, Cory Myers, an agriscience education major, is interning with Schlessman Seed Company in Milan, Ohio.
During the internship, Myers is assisting with the planting and researching soybean and corn plots, along with performing quality checks on the fields during all aspects of the growth stage to perform any weed and pest control necessary. He is also assisting the sales office with sales calls and order pickup and delivery.
 
“I took this opportunity to gain knowledge on the crop aspect of agriculture as I transition into my junior year of college to become an agriscience educator,” said Myers.
 
#ACELatOSU #CFAES #TeachAg

Parrott wins Sheep Production Proficiency

Zoe Parrott, a freshman studying agriscience education, won the Sheep Production – Entrepreneurship/Placement Proficiency at the 2021 National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Her project consisted of 24 ewes that are mainly Hampshire and Hamp crosses, three replacement ewe lambs, one Hamp cross ram, and one Hampshire cross ram. The Hamp cross ram was produced by Parrott using laparoscopic artificial insemination.

Parrott is a member of the Northmor FFA Chapter. She is pictured with her parents, Patty and Ken. Ken Parrott also serves as the FFA advisor for the Northmor FFA Chapter.

ACEL to celebrate National Teach Ag Day, host info session

For the last 12 years, the National Teach Ag Campaign has celebrated current and future agriculture teachers across the United States with National Teach Ag Day. The 2021 celebration will take place on September 16th and the National Teach Ag Campaign wants to invite everyone who has been positively impacted by agricultural education to join in the celebration.

More than 13,000 agriculture teachers nationwide and more than 530 in Ohio strive to impact the lives of students through classroom instruction, experiential learning, and leadership development every day, and National Teach Ag Day is just one-way individuals are encouraged to pursue a rewarding career in teaching agriculture.

National Teach Ag Day also brings awareness to the current, national demand for agriscience teachers. Every year, more than 100 new agriscience programs open and need highly qualified, diverse, and dedicated agriscience teachers to make a difference in the lives of their students across the country.

To celebrate, the Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership (ACEL) at The Ohio State University will host a virtual info session on the agriscience education major on National Teach Ag Day. The one-hour program, from 7-8pm EDT, will include an overview of the major, a breakout session with current students and an overview of Ohio State and our application process. Any high school or college students interested in learning more about this profession are encouraged to register at go.osu.edu/ASEinfosession.

“Contrary to popular opinion, agriscience education programs are increasing in Ohio with 26 new programs and 35 additional teaching positions added in the state since 2015,” said Dr. Shannon Washburn, professor of agriscience education and chair of ACEL, “We believe that all young people deserve to have opportunities to learn about the science of food production and to be exposed to the wide spectrum of exciting careers involved in preserving our natural resources while feeding the world. This learning begins for so many young people in an agriscience education classroom and agriscience education teachers make that happen.”

The agriscience education major at Ohio State began in 1917. This program prepares its students to acquire a license to teach agricultural science in secondary high schools in Ohio and across the country. They go through extensive training in agricultural science, educational psychology, instructional methods, and youth development. The major continues to develop ways to prepare aspiring agricultural educators so they can use their education to mold the youth of today into the future leaders of tomorrows agriculture industry.

ACEL prepares communicators, educators and leaders in the food, agricultural, and environmental sciences to integrate research-based learning, practice and engagement, in ways that will advance positive changes that strengthen individuals, families and communities. For more information on the academic programs and research available in ACEL, or to donate to student scholarships, please visit acel.osu.edu.

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Bliss selected as National Teach Ag Ambassador

Maryellen Bliss, a senior studying agriscience education, has been selected to serve as a National Teach Ag Ambassador with the National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE).

As an ambassador, Bliss will communicate with a variety of audiences to recruit future agriculture teachers and spread the Teach Ag message. She will travel to the National FFA Convention and participate in virtual seminars, while receiving customized training and lessons to use at local, university and state levels.

Congratulations Maryellen!

News Release: Claflin hired as assistant professor of agriscience education at Ohio State

picture of Dr. Kellie Claflin

Claflin

The Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership (ACEL) at The Ohio State University is pleased to share that Dr. Kellie Claflin will join our department as an assistant professor in agriscience education.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Claflin to our agriscience education faculty at Ohio State,” said Dr. Shannon Washburn, professor and chair of ACEL. “Her experiences as an educator will be beneficial to the continual growth of our undergraduate and graduate programing and development of future educators and leaders.”

In this new role within the department, Claflin will hold a 65% teaching, 25% research and 10% extension position. She will be responsible for teaching face-to-face and online courses that support agriscience education students and graduate courses that serve students across the ACEL M.S. and Ph.D. curricula and represent the department in creating, with Ohio Team Ag Ed, a focused statewide plan for professional development opportunities targeting school-based agriscience education teachers.

“It’s a great honor to join the faculty in the Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership at The Ohio State University,” said Claflin. “I can’t wait to connect with the students at Ohio State, agriscience educators across the state of Ohio, and faculty and staff both in Columbus and Wooster.”

Claflin received a bachelor of science in agricultural education from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and master of science and doctorate degrees in agricultural education from Oregon State University. She taught middle and high school agriscience for five years in Wisconsin and most recently served as an assistant professor at Virginia Tech in the Department of Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education.

The agriscience education program at Ohio State prepares its students to acquire a license to teach agricultural science in middle and high schools in Ohio and across the country, with extensive training in agricultural science, educational psychology, instructional methods, and youth development.

For additional information on the agriscience education undergraduate and graduate programs, or to contribute to the development of students, visit acel.osu.edu or call 614.247.6358.

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Roth to serve as treasurer for CFAES Student Council

Matthew Roth, a junior studying agriscience education, will serve as treasurer of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences’ Student Council for the 2021-2022 academic year.

As treasurer, Roth will be responsible for keeping accurate record of receipts and disbursements of Council funds, pay all of Council’s bills and prepare an annual budget. He will also be responsible for the management of the Farm Science Review refreshment stands and serve as chair of the fundraising committee.

2022 Student Teacher Placements Announced

Our agriscience education students who will be completing their student teaching experiences in 2022 found out their placements recently.
 
These students have the opportunity to connect with their cooperating educators and future students throughout the summer to see the variety of responsibilities held by an agricultural educator and will spend the first few days of the academic year in their high school classrooms as well, before returning to Columbus to complete their final semester on campus. Starting in January 2022, they will return to their cooperating schools to complete 14 weeks of student teaching.
Student teaching placements for 2022 include:
Gabby Adair, Mt. Vernon High School with Stephanie Plumly
Maryellen Bliss, Westfall High School with Rachel Scior
Dakota Brame, Logan High School with Andrew DeLong
Courtney Cooper, Urbana High School with Steve Wilhelm
Madeline Elfrink, Utica High School with Gina Neff
Ashley Garlick, Liberty Center High School with Brandon Readshaw
Troy Elwer, Mechanicsburg High School with Cole Riddle
Sophie Hoelscher, New Breman High School with Maria Homan
Colleen Kreais, Gibsonburg High School with Mark White
Jasmine Mabry, Buckeye Valley High School with Alex Zimmer
Nicole McMullen, Toledo Science Center with Natalie Cook
Kristen Oliver, Fredericktown High School with Deb Burden
Alexa Rednour, Versailles High School with Dena Wuebker
Kendra Risner, Symmes Valley High School with Beth Myers
Dani Schneider, Madison Plains High School with Shelby Balint
Hannah Skinner, McClain High School with Chris Fitzpatrick
Leeann Trippett, Norwayne High School with Abbey VanTyne
Chloe Wilson, Fairfield Union High School with Chrissy Balint
Kristen Winstanley, Fort Frye High School with Lisa Lang
We are so excited to watch these students grow over the next year!