AGEDS Alum Retires after 43 years of teaching Ag Education
Sending out a special #CALSproud and congratulations to Ag Ed and Studies alum Brad Taylor (’78 ag and life sciences education, MS ‘00 professional ag) who is retiring this summer after 43 years of teaching. His last school day at Roland-Story High school is today. Taylor has been a valued partner in our teacher education program – in many ways he acted as a field-based faculty member for our department.
“Mr. Taylor has had such an impact on a number of teachers in our state. He has mentored more student teachers for the college than he has years of teaching experience,” said Scott Smalley, associate professor of agricultural education and studies and coordinator of the department’s teacher education program.
Taylor was named the 2018-2019 Iowa Ag Educator of the Year and presented with the inaugural Golden Owl Award in April of 2019 by Nationwide in honor of his substantial contributions on future industry leaders of agriculture education.
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e has created a positive program for the Roland-Story community including an FFA garden that donates to the local food pantry. In 2018, more than 20,000 pounds of produce was donated! His students appreciate his focus on experiential learning.
“He always does a good job of having hands-on activities and teaching us how we can continue to get better,” said Maddy Stevenson, a senior at Roland-Story, former chapter co-president and State Officer for Iowa FFA. Stevenson is an incoming freshman to Iowa State this fall majoring in horticulture.
As Taylor plans for retirement in 2021, he leaves future educators and agriculturalists with this advice: “Because of rapid advancements in our industry, we are preparing students for a career in agriculture that may not currently exist, but will be created in the years to come,” said Taylor, “Be adaptable to change, be willing to learn and be trainable.”