If you will recall, in the March 15, 2024 issue of this paper, I wrote about how proud I was to be a part of the agriculture sector and explained all of the wonderful ways the agricultural family comes to the aid of those who need help. In this week’s issue, I want to acknowledge the teachers, especially the ag teachers, for what they do bypreparing the next generation for what’s to come.

This is a picture of my college roommate, Glen Hughes, who has taught ag for 32 years. It was an honor for Vicki and me to attend the Mayde-Creek FFA banquet recently and celebrate Glen’s retirement from teaching and witness this great FFA Chapter located in the Katy ISD. You may not know this, but I received my degree in ag education fromTexas A&M, did my student teaching at Mason High School in Mason, Texas and enjoyed the students and the experience I received there. But I realized right away I was not cut out to be a teacher. Somehow, I just couldn’t see myself confined to a classroom every day with a regimented class schedule, so I never taught a day of my life.Meanwhile, I have watched Glen and several of my other classmates teach in various locations throughout Texas,knowing that they influenced and shaped the next generation of farmers and ranchers about the importance ofagriculture. I have always had great admiration and respect for all the teachers that find it in their hearts to teach andmold our children and prepare them for the future, but none more than ag teachers.

Glen lives outside of Brenham, Texas and drives each day to school in Katy. I once asked him why he didn’t teach ag at a school closer to his home and his answer was that the students at Mayde-Creek were eager to learn aboutagriculture. They were growing up in the city but longed to be associated with agriculture. He would show and tell them all kinds of things about livestock, wildlife and farming that they couldn’t see living that close to Houston. He loved hisstudents and from what I could tell from their emotions at the banquet, they loved him as well. I think we sometimes forget the little things that we teach our own children and other young people, such as manners, respect, honor, courage, and professionalism. They are watching and learning, we just don’t know what they are retaining.

So, to all the teachers that are retiring this year, may I say a job well done. And to all the teachers that will continueto mold, shape and influence our young people in the future…thank you so much for what you do!