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Agriculture
Teaching Today Minnesota | Spring 2026 Page 15

Congratulations to Hailey Jensen of Osakis Public Schools on Being Named

the 2025 MAAE Teacher Turn the Key Award Winner

courses, partnerships, funding, and commu-
nity involvement. I developed a strategic plan
by asking, “What do our people want?” Since
then, the program has grown in a variety of
areas. The course offerings have doubled, ven-
turing into advanced-level, partial art credit,
concurrent courses, and additional electives.
The department has also doubled its program’s
rosters to see approximately 210 unduplicated
students annually.
I have prioritized outside funding and
secured approximately $30,000 in grant funding,
transforming the curriculum with industry-grade
equipment and resources. We also expanded from
a one-person department to a two-person depart-
ment because of the high demand and desire for
agriculture education. The additional instructor
has enabled us to offer advanced-level courses,
partial art credits, and concurrent classes, pro-
viding students with more diverse and impactful
Osakis is a small, rural community of
approximately 2,000 people located 15 minutes learning opportunities. in hands-on learning by fulfilling manufactur- ing and hands-on learning are the most frequent
outside of Alexandria, Minnesota. Since my first Today, the agriculture education program ing orders, honing skills like communication in my classroom. After recently completing my
day in Osakis, the consistent support for the agri- reflects the needs and passions of the Osakis and critical thinking while contributing to local final action research project for my Master’s
culture education program has been unwavering, community. Classes such as Large Animal businesses. The program's growth has extended Degree on the impact project-based learning
reflecting the community’s deep commitment to Science, Small Animal Science, Veterinary to FFA membership, and our chapter has gained has on student engagement, the data shows that
agriculture and education. Science, Agriculture Business, Welding 1-3, recognition at the local, regional, state, and this is the preferred method of learning for my
As a single-person department, I was Plasma Table Creations, and Women’s Welding national levels through service-learning projects. students. I’ve found that the majority of my
given the opportunity to create a vision for the connect students with real-world applications I use a variety of modes of instruction
agriculture education program, focusing on and community partnerships. Students engage throughout my courses, but project-based learn- Continued on Page 20

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