Page 18 - TTMNFallWinter2025

Agriculture
Page 18 Electronic Edition: www.teachingtodaymn.com

2025 Outstanding Teacher, Nathan Lund

Glacial Hills Elementary teacher earns top honors from Minnesota Ag in the Classroom

the environment through hands-on learn- Lund credits programs like Ag in
ing experiences. These include starting and the Classroom, Lettuce Grow, Action for
maintaining a schoolyard garden, incorpo- Healthy Kids, and Farm to School with
rating hydroponic systems in the classroom, helping him to bring authentic agriculture
restoring native habitats around the school experiences into the classroom. “Through all
grounds, canning tomatoes from the garden, of these different experiences, it is my goal
and hosting food-making contests. In to give students many opportunities to build
addition, Lund launched a school-wide com- life skills and a love of life-long learning and
posting initiative with his students actively growing,” says Lund.
leading the effort each year. All licensed Minnesota K-12 educa-
“We were so impressed by the many tors who creatively integrate agricultural
ways Mr. Lund and his students are working into non-agricultural subjects are eligible
with their community—whether it’s build- for the MAITC Outstanding Teacher of the
ing outdoor learning spaces or participating Year Award. As this year’s winner, Lund
in local environmental initiatives,” said Sue will receive $500 plus support to attend
Knott, Education Specialist with MAITC, the National Ag in the Classroom Confer-
a program of the Minnesota Department of ence taking place in Minneapolis, MN, June
Agriculture (MDA). “It’s clear he is creating 23-26.
a lasting impact in both the classroom and MAITC is a partnership between the
throughout the broader community.” MDA and the MAITC Foundation that seeks
Reflecting on his work, Lund shared to increase agricultural literacy through
“Witnessing students’ transformation into K-12 education. For free educational
proactive environmental stewards over the resources and to learn more about the Out-
Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom creatively integrate agriculture concepts into past four years has been incredibly reward- standing Teacher of the Year Award, visit the
(MAITC) is proud to announce Nathan Lund their classrooms. ing. It has reinforced my belief in the power MAITC website.
of Glacial Hills Elementary in Starbuck, Lund has taught 5th and 6th grade at of experiential learning to inspire real-world
MN as the recipient of the 2025 Outstanding Glacial Hills Elementary since 2021. With change and has motivated me to continue
Teacher of the Year Award. This honor rec- his support, students in his class have gained integrating environmental education and www.glacialhills.org
ognizes K-12 educators in Minnesota who a deeper appreciation for agriculture and agriculture into our curriculum.”

Hatching a New Course Continued from Page 16
Roessler explained, even if they didn’t end class. This November, at the club’s first Region Prairie High School at the national level next he recognizes what high student interest has
up choosing careers in the field. IV FFA Leadership Development competition, fall. “This was a huge success for our first com- already proven: The department has “a lot of
But he hoped they might! Roessler ninth grader Najma Gure placed first out of 15 petitions,” Roessler said. potential.”
recently started an FFA (Future Farmers of students in the Creed Speaking event and 12th Though the first group of chicks have
America) chapter at EPHS, and students are grader Avery Jensen placed first out of 21 stu- since gone to new homes in the area, there are
welcome to join the national career- and leader- dents in Employment Skills. Both students will still opportunities for students to take Agri-
ship-focused organization so long as they take compete at the state level in December, and if cultural and Natural Resources classes this www.edenpr.org
part in an Agriculture and Natural Resources either place first again, they’ll represent Eden year. As Roessler looks ahead to the future,