Contact: Samuel Hughes
STARKVILLE, Miss.—An undergraduate Mississippi State University student is stepping onto the national stage as a National #TeachAg Ambassador.
Hannah Grace Childress, a senior agricultural education, leadership and communications major from Thorsby, Alabama, joins 12 other students in agricultural education from across the nation for the outreach role.
An initiative of the National Association of Agricultural Educators, or NAAE, the National #TeachAg Ambassador Program participants share their individual narratives with prospective students considering agricultural teaching careers.
“Agricultural education majors have such diverse backgrounds, and we have so much to learn from each other,” Childress said. “I’m really excited to work and serve with the other ambassadors and get to know them and their experiences.”
Childress learned about MSU’s agriculture education program during the 2021 National Future Farmers of America Convention and Expo.
“It felt like home,” Childress said. “Our major is small, the teachers are really nice and everyone is so willing to help.”
After graduation, she hopes to return to Alabama and become a high school agriculture teacher. Childress said becoming a National #TeachAg Ambassador is enriching her education by creating connections and experiences she can bring to the classroom.
“This is a great opportunity to learn and grow within our industry that allows me to travel, learn from people across the country and gain experience I can use to positively impact my home and wherever I teach in the future,” Childress said.
Associate Professor OP McCubbins in MSU’s School of Human Sciences said ambassadors gain access to a network of professionals and peers, specialized training sessions and chances to interact with diverse audiences. Participation in events like the National FFA Convention also opens doors to meet industry leaders and gain exposure in the field.
“The ambassador acts as a bridge between our institution and the broader agricultural education community, fostering relationships and collaborations,” McCubbins said. “Their role not only promotes the importance of agricultural education but also reinforces the college’s role as a leading institution in shaping the future of the profession.”
The agricultural education, leadership and communications major is one of four undergraduate majors offered within the MSU School of Human Sciences in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The curriculum equips graduates to engage and inform people about agricultural information and issues.
For more information on MSU’s School of Human Sciences, visit www.humansci.msstate.edu. For information on the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, visit www.cals.msstate.edu.
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