Ramsey’s
Ripple Effect
T
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION PROFESSOR RECEIVES USDA REGIONAL TEACHING AWARD
he influence agricultural education has on students, families and educators is similar to a domino effect. All it takes is one gentle flick toward the first domino and the cycle is in motion. Jon Ramsey, Oklahoma State University agricultural education professor, has developed this domino-esque reaction throughout his time in agricultural education. His steadfast commitment and inspirational career has earned him the USDA Southern Region Excellence in Teaching Award. From a young age, Ramsey placed an importance on diversifying his agricultural experiences, he said. “My family didn’t necessarily live on a farm,” he said. “But, we did have some acreage on the east side of Ponca City and ran a custom hay operation.” As a youth, Ramsey also helped with wheat harvest and worked cattle for local farmers. “It sounds like it makes sense if your family operation was doing these diverse experiences,” Ramsey said. “I was just fortunate to go to high school with guys who had these opportunities and got involved with them.” When asked what inspired him to join the agricultural education field, Ramsey said his own high school agricultural educator, Jack Powers, impacted his decision. “My high school agricultural teacher was really the motivation behind
my desire to be a teacher.” Ramsey said. “I don’t know that I really saw him as a teacher. I saw him as this larger-than-life individual who was accepting of others.” Upon graduation from Ponca City High School, Ramsey attended Northern Oklahoma College in Tonkawa, Oklahoma and earned his associate’s degree. However, OSU instructors like Wes Holley inspired him and his future teaching style, Ramsey said. “Wes Holley was a very enthusiastic instructor,” he said. “He would physically jump from the floor onto the table to make a point, and I decided I really wanted to model that.” Shortly after earning his bachelor’s degree from OSU, Ramsey received a phone call from Atoka High School in Atoka, Oklahoma, offering him a position as an agricultural instructor. He began his teaching career in 1988. Ramsey taught for five years at Atoka before he accepted an offer from Cushing High School to join Alan Smith as one of two agricultural educators, he said. The pair were not strangers
USDA APLU award winners receive a marble apple to recognize their successes. Photo by Devin Griffith.
COWBOY JOURNAL 61
