Jenna Langer, from Rock Hills Junior-Senior High School, has successfully completed the 2021 Agricultural Mechanics Academy, a national agricultural educator training event hosted at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. Jenna was one of 20 participants from across the United States selected to participate in the 2021 Agricultural Mechanics Academy.
The academy was an intensive 10-day training that included hands-on learning and train-the-trainer style lessons in agricultural mechanics focused on small gas engines, residential wiring and welding. This first of the kind training was held July 27 through Aug. 5, under the direction of Ryan Anderson, assistant professor in agricultural education and agricultural mechanics at Texas State University. Anderson was able to develop and host this training at no cost to the participants through funding by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, AFRI Professional Development for Agricultural Literacy Priority Area, award.
The agricultural mechanics academy provided an opportunity for teachers across the nation to receive the training necessary to be successful in the agricultural mechanics courses they teach. “Agricultural mechanics is a critical component of many rural communities and a core part of many agricultural education programs,” said Anderson. “This is an opportunity I wish I had as an early career educator.”
Participants of the academy received numerous classroom items and teaching resources. Those items include a classroom set of small gasoline engines, curriculum and tools from Briggs & Stratton with training provided by Power Distributors; welding gear packs, curriculum and training from Lincoln Electric; and Agricultural Technical Systems and Mechanics textbooks from American Technical Publishers. Paticipants in the academy received 120 continuing education credit hours for participating.
“I was so excited to be selected as a participant of the 2021 Ag Mechanics Academy. I have always been passionate about improving my technical skills to provide better education for our Rock Hills Students,” Langer said. “This professional development is first of its kind because of the hands-on aspects. Ag Mechanics is an area that I am fairly inexperienced in, but after this opportunity, I feel more prepared to teach students in all aspects of mechanics.
“I am now able to provide multiple industry recognized certifications in welding and small gasoline engines for our students that can help them get a career in those areas and at a higher starting pay. I hope to grow the opportunities I provide to our students in all areas of agriculture.”
This year was the first year of the Agricultural Mechanics Academy. Through the USDA, funding has been obtained for annual training through 2024. For more information about this opportunity and to apply for training, please visit https://ag.txstate.edu/outreach/Agricultural-Mechanics-Academy.html.
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