By Blake Jackson
A student at Northwest Missouri State University has earned national recognition for turning her enthusiasm for agricultural education into hands-on professional experience.
Lynn Dyer, a junior majoring in agricultural education from Higginsville, Missouri, was recently named the National FFA Agricultural Education Proficiency Award winner.
The honor, presented by National FFA Organization, celebrates members who are building career pathways through supervised agricultural experiences (SAE). Students nationwide compete in nearly 50 categories, from agricultural communications to wildlife management.
“I was very excited and very surprised,” Dyer said. “It was very encouraging and something I’ll look back on and remember as I begin my career in ag ed.”
Dyer’s journey began in high school, where she immersed herself in SAE projects, assisted agriculture teachers with contest preparation and supported shop activities. Her dedication earned her Missouri’s top proficiency award, advancing her to national competition.
At Northwest, faculty members Jackie Lacy and Matt Bax mentored her through the rigorous interview process. Dyer said the preparation reflected the hands-on training she values within the School of Agricultural Sciences.
“I really love the School of Ag specifically, and how it kind of has this community feeling,” Dyer said. “All my peers, professors, everyone is here for each other. I can go to anyone anytime I need anything or have a question. I love how hands-on everything is as well. I feel like I’ve gained actual skills that I’m going to use in my career from my classes.”
Raised on a beef cattle and row crop farm, Dyer developed an early appreciation for agriculture. She now plans to become a high school agriculture teacher and FFA advisor.
“It just confirmed that I know I want to go into agricultural education, just through all the experiences I’ve had here - whether it be helping with career development events, getting to actually facilitate those rather than participating in them is always really cool,” Dyer said.
“Different events where I’m actually interacting with high school students has been really cool, as well as the content area classes I’ve taken have shown me that agriculture is what I’m passionate about and I’m excited to share that with my students in the future."
Photo Credit: national-ffa
Categories: Missouri, Business, Education