The Hoot, Fall 2024

Don instructs courses in agricultural education and agricultural systems management to develop knowledge and skills for future professionals in education and industry.

Keith is a teacher of teachers, an evaluator of systems and seek to help others in learning how to work both in and on whatever environment they are in.

Idaho FFA Executive Director Melissa Sherman became the executive director of the Idaho FFA Association in June 2024. Originally from Kuna, Sherman is a proud alum of the Kuna FFA chapter. Her positive high school experience led Sherman to grow a desire to connect youth to agriculture in her career. Sherman earned her bachelor’s degree in agricultural education from the University of Idaho in 2005. After graduating, she spent eight years as an agricultural educator and FFA advisor at Vallivue High School in Nampa. She then transitioned to an Extension role as the 4-H educator for Oregon State University in Malheur County for seven years.

Sherman had the opportunity to switch roles and hone her event planning skills as the program and events director at Destination Caldwell and Indian Creek Plaza for the last three years. Sherman is married to Jason, a fellow agriculture science instructor and FFA advisor at Harper, Oregon. When they aren’t busy cheering on their three kids at sporting events or showing livestock, Sherman loves spending time camping and relaxing, or spending time in her happy place — a kayak on a serene lake. Please join us in welcoming her to the Vandal family and Idaho FFA team.

Cassie Moody is a senior at the University of Idaho studying agricultural education. During summer 2024 she worked for the Idaho Cattle Association in Boise where she learned about the cattle industry and natural resources. Moody’s projects included researching issues facing public grazing and grazing benefits for sage grouse. She attended industry meetings, developed social media and monitored cattle markets.

Moody’s favorite part of her internship was participating in the Governor's Trail Ride with industry leaders and Governor Brad Little.

Madi Rudner is a junior at the University of Idaho studying agricultural education. During summer 2024 she worked for Valley Community Counseling in Twin Falls. Rudner’s duties included creating agricultural-based lessons for kids with disabilities. She also worked as an intervention technician where she helped with Individual Education Program plans, 504s and more.

Rudner’s favorite part of this internship was getting to know all of the students and helping them feel safe and accepted. Rudner had such a positive experience that she will continue to be an intern there next summer.

James Taurman-Aldrich was an intern at the Lewistown News-Argus in Lewiston, Montana. Some of his duties included conducting interviews with residents, business owners, politicians, athletes and more. He wrote multiple articles per week on a variety of topics. Some of these articles included a married couple's 70th anniversary, a woman's 100th birthday, the weather and the story of the black-footed ferret.

In addition to his everyday responsibilities he was also tasked with taking photos at events and of the people he interviewed.

Rachel Becker is a sophomore at the University of Idaho and spent summer 2024 as an intern at the University of Idaho Botanical Gardens. Her responsibilities included maintaining landscapes, pruning and sowing plants. Becker worked under the supervision of Paul Warnick, U of I Arboretum superintendent. She feels compelled to find a career that embodies her two passions, plants and communications.

Becker's favorite part of her internship was planting various plants in their annual beds and seeing them grow and bloom. She especially loved watching the sunflowers grow.

Ellie Tesnohlidek is from Fruitland and graduated in May 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in animal and veterinary sciences: production option. She is now working towards her master’s degree in agricultural education at the University of Idaho. Tesnohlidek has a long family history in agricultural education with her dad, grandpa, uncle, aunt and cousin being agricultural educators. This inspired her to continue her education in this master’s program because of her admiration for her family’s commitment and her own interest in teaching. Between graduating and starting her new degree, Tesnohlidek worked on her family’s farm operation while helping with her parent’s catering business. Tesnohlidek currently works in the AELC department as a part time research assistant. When she graduates, she hopes to share with her future students how diverse and important agriculture is.

Elizabeth Smith is from Grand View and pursuing a master’s degree in agricultural education. When she graduated with her bachelor’s degree in agricultural education from U of I, she planned on going into the Idaho Army National Guard commissioned as an officer, but ended up returning to U of I to continue her education. Between graduating with her bachelor’s and coming back for her master’s, Smith married to her high school sweetheart. Smith teaches the ASM 112 lab and is a teaching assistant for REM 151. Starting in January, Smith will be the agricultural educator and FFA advisor at Cascade High School. She also hopes to continue research she has started and complete her master’s program. Smith said that her biggest accomplishments so far are graduating with her bachelor’s degree and commissioning as a field artillery officer in the Idaho National Guard.

We would like to congratulate Cassie Moody as the most recent recipient of the National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE) Student Teacher Scholarship. Moody is a senior studying agricultural education. This scholarship is available to any student who will be completing their student teaching during the next fall or spring semesters. This is a $1,500 scholarship that is used to cover travel and living expenses during their time as a student teacher.

Moody’s passion for teaching is strong and this scholarship is able to aid her in this experience.

“This money will help support me throughout my student teaching experience and accomplish my goal of becoming an agricultural educator,” she said. “Student teaching is an incredibly valuable experience, and likely the most important one a preservice teacher will go through.”

Moody was nervous during the application process because the scholarship was on a national level which meant she was competing against many other agricultural educators. Her ability to put herself out there among preservice teachers from across the country paid off, as she was one of only a handful to receive the scholarship. For future applicants Moody said, “Don’t be afraid to reach out to someone who has received the scholarship for advice!”

A Boise native, Abigail Heikes, graduated from the University of Idaho in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education after transferring from Western Texas College in Snyder, Texas. Heikes said that her choice to transfer to U of I was an easy one because of CALS and its location in Idaho. After graduation Heikes accepted a teaching position at Payette River Regional Technical Academy where she had previously taught as a student teacher. Heikes taught animal sciences and various mechanical courses. Her favorite activity was collecting a small class zoo of 11 different animals that were all utilized for hands-on learning and classroom enrichment. In June 2022, Heikes accepted a position at Idaho Technical Career Academy (ITCA), an online public school that allows students to receive career technical education (CTE) credits through their enrollment. Working closely with the Idaho FFA organization, Heikes helped charter her school as the first virtual FFA chapter in the state in spring 2023. Heikes said she is blessed to have the ability to serve her community of non-traditional students in the ITCA and deliver agricultural education and FFA in a virtual setting.

This is Heikes’ sixth year as an agricultural educator and an FFA advisor. Heikes credits many things with her success today — her first FFA jacket at the age of 10, finding her niche through agricultural classes, her high school teachers and furthering her love for agricultural literacy. Although her path to education was not a traditional one, Heikes uses her own experiences to relate to her students’ diverse learning styles. Heikes was recently recognized as the Region 4 Secondary Teacher of the Year by the Career Technical Educators of Idaho organization.

“If I could speak to a current student at U of I, I would tell them to dig in. Spend the time getting to know your instructors and your peers. Make connections and network with those who are currently in the profession you are pursuing. You get what you put in and every morsel is worth it,” Heikes said.

Heikes is committed to continuing to expand opportunities through ITCA in both the classroom and FFA chapter and helping her students apply real-world concepts in an online-classroom based setting. She enjoys the impact her students have on her, coming from all walks of life and different levels of agricultural backgrounds.

Kiera Haralson began her undergraduate journey in the fall following her high school graduation in 2009. Haralson initially enrolled in the animal and veterinary science degree with an emphasis on production. Life changes including becoming a mom led Haralson to change her educational plan and return after a four-year hiatus with an agricultural sciences, leadership and communications major which allowed her to complete her degree online in 2019. Haralson works at PerforMix Nutrition Systems, a livestock feed and nutrition company which is a branch of AgriBeef. The majority of Haralson’s time is spent communicating between vendors and other producers as an ingredient supply chain specialist. Her role also includes connecting producers with nutrition consultants and dispensing equipment and storage systems. Haralson also helps manage the majority of mass inventory orders and logistics between two of PerforMix’s liquid cattle supplement production facilities.

“I’m glad I had the courage and support to come back after a four year hiatus,” Harlson said. “Being a woman in a male dominated industry has many challenges, but my experience in my current career is continuing to open many doors and opportunities. I wouldn’t have this job without my degree from U of I.”

Harlson’s non-traditional experience made her realize that everyone’s journey is different.

“Take your time. Just because things are designed to be done in four years doesn’t mean that they have to be done in four years. Enjoy the process and soak in as much information as you can from the incredible faculty,” she said.

M. Susie Whittington has a longtime personal connection to U of I. After completing her doctoral work at The Ohio State University (OSU), U of I is where she began her faculty career in 1991. In her time at U of I, Whittington grew as a faculty member, and imparted her wisdom on many young agricultural educators, bringing her trademark enthusiasm and passion for the profession into the classroom. Whittington loved being at U of I.

“I received excellent mentoring from department chair, Dr. Lou Riesenberg, associate dean Dr. Al Lingg and dean Dr. Larry Brannan,” she said.

In 1995 Whittington left U of I and moved to a faculty position at Penn State University. She later transitioned to a faculty role at OSU where her career expanded. Whittington continued to work with agricultural educators and eventually ran a universitywide program to support second-year students with retention and engagement strategies. But her love for U of I remained as it was the place she first took on a faculty role, enjoyed time with her family and the place where her husband Pat would complete two master’s degrees and a doctorate.

The Whittingtons have remained connected to U of I and the AELC department. In fall 2024, Whittington returned to U of I as a visiting scholar. Her time this fall allowed her the opportunity to reconnect with agricultural educators she worked with in the early stages of her career and to impart her wisdom through mentoring sessions with current AELC faculty members. As a well-recognized leader in agricultural education, the full circle moment of having Whittington back on campus to share her expertise in the place she began is invaluable to the AELC faculty, staff and students.

Paying it forward is a large part of this couples’ lives. They established a scholarship at OSU to help agricultural educators and, during her time as a visiting scholar, completed the process to initiate a new scholarship fund for agricultural education students at U of I. We are beyond grateful to Pat and Susie for remaining committed to supporting U of I students. The legacy of leadership, wisdom and support from the Whittingtons is a testament to them truly embodying the Vandal spirit and being brave and bold as Vandals forever.