It’s been a few months since I’ve shared any reader response, so I thought it was time. This letter from a faithful reader gave me such a boost; I thought it needed to be shared with everyone. From the Mailbag:

(Your column) has gotten my upmost attention on “Positive Encouragement.” As the Old Gizzer (sic), Retired Agriculture Teacher and Want-to-Be-Farmer, your article on positive encouragement struck a nerve.

My most profound and one of the best Agriculture Education Professors at The Ohio State University once told me when I was whining about students who didn’t want to work and learn what I was trying to teach them, stated, “If you want to be a successful agriculture teacher, you teach much about life and if you have any time left over, you can teach a little agriculture.” WHAT?
Doctor Lowell Hedges knew exactly what he was doing in giving me this advice. It is like leading a horse to the water tank to drink and he refuses to drink, so salt his oats a lot and watch him drink. If I may, I would like to share a couple of short stories with you.

I had a new young man (boy) come into our freshman Ag Science class from another school, with him, came a long list of “watch outs!” The young man had a serious drinking problem at this early age because of his non-existing family life. The courts took him away from his mother and put him into custody of his only grandparent.

Grandma was a very good influence on this young man, but she couldn’t handle the serious drinking problem. Grandma asked the school if they could get involved and help. The Principal came to me as the agriculture teacher and FFA advisor and shared all of this information with me and then closed the conservation by saying, “You take him and put this young guy to work, you’ll do well.” WHAT?

What a challenge, four years of prodding, pushing, encouraging, encouraging, encouraging, complimenting, giving awards at the Annual FFA Banquet and even patting him on the back in front of his peers, this young man CHANGED. By his senior year in high school the drinking had stopped, (we worked on a personal plan) and he graduated and on to a two-year associate degree.
I lost track of this young man until five years later my principal came charging into the classroom and said, “Mr. Knisely, you have to come to my office immediately.” Now what did I do wrong?

On the principal’s computer screen was a message for (sic) our young man. He said, “Thank you so much for all of your help and for the Agriculture Classes and especially the FFA Chapter. I am now married to a lovely wife, have two wonderful children, a good job and a nice home. Not just a house, a HOME, where I can raise my kids with love, discipline and teach them work ethics and integrity.

“This all happens because you had taken time for me and my rotten life and gave me encouragement and praise. Now that I have a family, I truly appreciate your help even more.” WOW!

A young lady from a very poor home came into our agriculture class as an eighth-grader. She was very bashful, quiet and didn’t want to be noticed. She did very well in the agriculture class as an eighth-grader, enrolled in the freshman ag science class and continued through her sophomore year, but I couldn’t get her involved in the FFA to any extent.

Then one day I overheard her tell one of her friends that she would really like to attend the National FFA Convention, but she didn’t have any money and she probably would just be in the way. She went on to tell her friend that all the FFA members who attend the State and National FFA Conventions come home with so much enthusiasm and desire to be better.

That did it, this is the key to help this young lady, so I visited several agribusinesses and shared this girl’s desire. The agribusinesses all shared in this effort and we had more than enough money for the trips to the State Convention in the spring and the National Convention in the fall of her junior year.

Life took on a whole new meaning for this young lady. In the shop classes, she was an extremely good welder and I tried to help her to get into a welding and fabrication school at Ferris State in Big Rapids, Mich. No money, no school, next move, get this young lady into the military for a couple years for experience and money for school.

It worked; she spent four years in the military, 18 months in Iraq during Desert Storm and now a very good paying job in fabricating and welding. CHANGED.
So I do really believe in ENCOURAGEMENT, ENCOURAGEMENT, ENCOURAGEMENT and pats on the back. Melissa, keep up the good work. You offer much encouragement and are truly appreciated.

-The Old Gizzer, Retired School Teacher, Duane Knisely, Ohio

Other readers with questions or comments for Melissa Hart, as always, may write to her in care of this publication.