Montezuma-Cortez High School agriculture education instructors Kevin McComb and Amanda Ramos attended The National Association of Agriculture Educators Region 2 conference June 12-15 in Pueblo.
This years conference was headquartered at the Pueblo Marriott and convention center in the river walk district of downtown Pueblo, according to a written statement from the Colorado Vocational Agricultural Teachers Association.
Region 2 is composed of Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Kansas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Colorado. The NAAE is a professional organization of state agricultural educators associations with more than 7,650 members. The NAAE focuses on advocacy for agricultural education, professional development for agricultural educators, and recruitment and retention of current ag educators.
This years Region 2 attendees attended many educational activities highlighted by tours of an Arkansas Valley produce farm around Rocky Ford and the Colorado Division of Wildlife fish hatchery at Pueblo Reservoir. Spouses and children also were given the opportunity to tour the Pueblo Raptor Center and the Pueblo Zoo. Beyond the educational opportunities at this years conference, there were numerous sessions held to transact the annual business of NAAE Region 2.
Meal functions were held at the state fairgrounds in Pueblo and were prepared by Colorado agriculture educators from around the state. This years conference culminated in a visit to the Flying W Ranch in Colorado Springs, where teachers from seven states enjoyed a Western style meal and were entertained by the ranchs Flying W Wranglers.
Directly following NAAE Region 2 was the Colorado Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association Summer Conference from June 15 to 17. More than 80 agricultural educators from across Colorado attended the annual professional development conference, held at the Pueblo Community College campus.
During the conference, McComb and Ramos participated in a variety of trainings, including FFA affiliation changes, FFA Career Development Event proposed changes, and introduction to the 2012 American FFA Degree and Proficiency award applications. Roger Hanagriff, professor at Texas A&M, Kingsville, Texas, also trained teachers on a newly approved, Internet-based record keeping system for agriculture education students in the state. Attendees were given updates by state and national Team Ag Ed representatives, and conducted business sessions for the CVATA.
Besides educational workshops and meetings, teachers took part in meal functions sponsored by Edwards Right Price Market out of Fort Morgan. Teachers were treated to a pork chop dinner on Wednesday night prepared by the Colorado Young Farmers Educational Association.
To conclude the conference, CVATA officers conducted an Awards Banquet and Officer Installation at the Colorado State Fair Grounds in Pueblo. New CVATA officers were installed as follows: Secretary Cory Wedel, of Stratton; President-elect Todd Everhart, of Merino; and President Lance Jagers, of Eads. Retiring CVATA President John Hadden, of Craig, was presented with his retiring officer gavel and received thanks for his years of service as a CVATA officer.