Ex-FFAer donates to address 

ag-education teacher shortage

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Herman Wilson of Houston, Texas, was inspired by his agricultural education teacher in east Texas more than 62 years ago. That inspiration made an impact on him and his wife, and now they are giving back to ensure other students can have the same experience he did.

The Wilsons recently donated $250,000 to establish an endowment to kick start a multi-level initiative. Wilson indicated that teachers who are able to motivate students are the heart of FFA.

“We want other investors to put their money where their thoughts are,” Wilson said. Wilson and his family believe that teachers who can motivate students are the heart of FFA. 

He believes teachers must be recognized and rewarded for their work, so they’ll want to continue in the profession. In addition, he believes FFA needs to find ways to attract college students to agricultural education.

There is a critical shortage of agricultural education teachers to serve as FFA advisors. Because of this need, the Wilsons donated funds that are earmarked solely for developing a plan to attract and retain FFA advisors and agriculture teachers. This endowment is the first of its kind.

“The Wilsons’ generosity will make it possible for FFA to continue the good work of furthering agricultural education,” said National FFA Organization CEO Dr. Dwight Armstrong. “FFA advisors and agricultural educators make a huge impact on our students, and thanks to the Wilsons’ generosity and passion for agricultural education, the organization can continue to recruit and retain strong teachers. We are extremely appreciative of the Wilsons’ efforts in helping FFA continue the mission of premier leadership, personal growth and career success for our students.”

Coolbean e-book says kids learn and think like scientists

MADISON, Wis. — Soybeans are cool. That’s the message of Coolbean the Soybean, now available as an interactive book for grades 3-5.

Author Shawn Conley is an agronomy professor and the soybean and wheat extension specialist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. 

“Hopefully this book can help inspire the next generation of agricultural scientists,” Conley said.

Previously released as a traditional graphic children’s book, Coolbean the Soybean transformed to an e-book in response to a generation of “digital native” students who want educational texts in a friendly format.

“We wanted to make it welcoming and accessible to boys and girls alike, and not intimidating,” says Lisa Al-Amoodi, managing editor. “The narration helps kids who may have a range of reading abilities.”

The book follows the life of Coolbean the Soybean to help children learn about agronomic, crop and soil sciences. Along the way, Coolbean explains modern farming techniques, how a seed becomes a plant and then produces a crop. 

“We chose to follow the format of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) graphic novels and comics because it’s a style that kids are very comfortable with,” Al-Amoodi said. 

New to the e-book is a special feature that encourages kids to think like a scientist. “It’s more than just reading,” Al-Amoodi says. “It’s helping kids understand what it’s like to ask scientific questions.” The e-book also includes videos of farm equipment at work in the field, links to further activities, and a friendly quiz to test comprehension.

Coolbean the Soybean is available online at www.coolbeanthesoybean.org/ Check your device for compatibility with the epub3 format, supported on iBooks and some Android readers.

The book is published jointly by the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and the Soil Science Society of America in partnership with the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board.