Ms. Josephine Forbush is the January featured Teacher Tuesday! She comes to us as a first-year teacher from the Milan FFA chapter! Ms. Forbush grew up on a hobby farm in Byron, Michigan. Throughout her childhood, Ms. Forbush raised pigs, sheep, and beef cattle that she exhibited at her county fair. She started her involvement in FFA in middle school and continued to be an active member through high school and college, eventually service as a state officer and working in the Michigan FFA office. Ms. Forbush also attended Michigan State University, where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in 2019. Ms. Forbush is currently enrolled in MSU’s Master’s program studying Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources education.

When asked why Ms. Forbush decided to become an FFA advisor, she stated, “I have always been familiar with the profession because my dad has been an ag teacher since I was born. Growing up, I spent many days in his classroom after school helping to prepare for FFA events and observing his daily responsibilities. Choosing a career path based on finding where your passions and your abilities meet. Sometimes developing a passion for something is easier when you are already familiar and comfortable with it. For me, the decision to become an ag teacher happened slowly over time. The more I learned about the profession, the more I realized it was the right path for me.”

The most memorable part of being an advisor for Ms. Forbush is the students that have had a big impact on her career because of little actions they took. From the students that made her a card saying her classroom was the one they felt safest in, to the nickname a few students called her at the start of every class, and the eagerness to learn, grow, and improve that her contest teams showed at every practice. Despite being new to the profession, Ms. Forbush believes that the most memorable part of any teacher’s career is the impact their students have made on them.

When reflecting on the accomplishments that she has made as an advisor and teacher, Ms. Forbush states, “This year, my Zoology classes did well in the broiler contest. Personally, my experience with poultry is limited, and we faced many issues with raising our chickens, resulting in unexpected deaths, flooded pens, and inconsistent temperatures in our greenhouse. Even through our struggles, I was pleased that one of our entries was the alternate site winner in such a competitive contest across Michigan ag programs.”

When asked what one piece of advice would be to give to new teachers, Ms. Forbush declared, “Don’t be afraid to make the program your own. There are very few restrictions on what an ag program ‘should’ look like in Michigan and the possibilities of new projects, courses, and activities are endless. Spend some time exploring what other programs do and find something that is right for you, your students, and your community. Chances are, there are a dozen ag teachers across the state that would be thrilled to mentor you in their areas of expertise.”

Thank you, Ms. Forbush, for always being there for your students!

Written by Stephanie Harvey, State Reporter