Mrs. Jennifer Wheeler is the March featured Teacher Tuesday! She comes to us from the Sand Creek FFA chapter!
Mrs. Wheeler grew up on a 1,200-acre cash crop and beef cattle feed lot. Her family grew corn, soybeans, and wheat and fed around 800 head of cattle a year. Mrs. Wheeler loved the animal side of agriculture the most and enjoyed showing steers through 4-H, so much that she went to college to get a degree in animal science. She did not have FFA at her high school in Morenci, Michigan, but she always wanted to be in it. Mrs. Wheeler attended Michigan State University, where she received her bachelor’s in Animal Science, as well as a masters’ in Agricultural and Extension Education. Mrs. Wheeler also has teaching certificates in Agriscience and Biology.
When asked why Mrs. Wheeler decided to become an FFA advisor, she stated, “My mom was a teacher and my dad was a farmer. While working on an animal science degree, I worked at the MSU Swine Research and Teaching Facility. It was during Small Animals Day one year that I realized that how I represented the pork industry was going to determine if people went home and ate pork or not. I then started pursuing teacher education courses while I finished my animal science degree.”
The biggest accomplishment of being an advisor for Mrs. Wheeler would be earning the Honorary American Degree, which is awarded to teachers who have created high-quality agricultural education programs which inspire and motivate their students to strive for success. When reflecting on the most memorable part of being an advisor, Mrs. Wheeler states, “Watching young middle school students grow up and graduate with public speaking skills that they never dreamed of having.”
When asked what one piece of advice she would give to new teachers, Mrs. Wheeler declared, “You don’t have to be good at everything. Learn one contest a year, and then stick with what you like and are good at.”
Thank you, Mrs. Wheeler, for always being there for your students!
Written by Stephanie Harvey, State Reporter
