Neoga Ag Teacher Honored at State Level

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Published on September 13 2019 1:51 pm
Last Updated on September 13 2019 1:53 pm

(FROM LEFT: NEOGA UNIT SUPERINTENDENT BILL FRITCHER, NEOGA AG TEACHER CODY CARMAN, DISTRICT 4 PROGRAM ADVISOR FOR AGRICULTURE EDUCATION MEGAN COY, AND NEOGA JR/SR HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL KEVIN HAARMAN)

As Illinois continues to face an agricultural education teacher shortage, one group is tackling the issue through a grant program for beginning ag teachers.

This week, Neoga Ag Teacher Cody Carman was selected as one of four new Ag Teachers in Illinois to receive recognition as a recipient of this teacher grant. Carman applied for the grant program and was selected based on excellent efforts in the classroom as well as strong short and long term personal and program goals.

Representatives from Cumberland County Farm Bureau, the Facilitating Coordination in Agricultural Education (FCAE) and Neoga Administrators Bill Fritcher and Kevin Haarman were on hand to announce the award to Carman and his students.  

Neoga High School Principal Kevin Haarman said this about Carman’s selection: “The stated purpose of the IAA foundation is to fund education, research, and charitable activities that benefit Illinois farm families and agriculture. Our Ag program is thriving under the leadership and direction of Mr. Carman.”

Mr. Carman said the following about his selection: "Our agriculture program was able to achieve a lot in just our second year of its restart. I greatly appreciate the IAA Foundation and the Illinois Farm Bureau for their recognition of the success we had and the goals I have for the future of our agriculture education program."

Illinois agricultural education teachers completing their first year in the classroom are eligible to apply for this grant. The amount of the grant payment will increase over the course of the teacher’s first five years in the classroom, up to $10,000 total, if they meet the re-application process confirming they remain active as an agricultural education teacher in the state of Illinois

The Illinois Farm Bureau, through its charitable arm, the IAA Foundation, created the Illinois Agricultural Education Teacher Grant Program. Illinois Farm Bureau provided seed money to begin the program, and the IAA Foundation is actively seeking additional funding partners to continue adding new groups of first year teachers into the grant program, with a goal of funding 32 teachers over a twelve-year timeframe.

Over the last six years, the state of Illinois has continued to see a severe shortage of agriculture teachers. Of the 135 student teachers graduating from the four major universities, only 103 went on to pursue a career in the classroom. Additionally, over that same period, Illinois agricultural education lost an average of 30 teachers each year - not including retirements.