Toni Rasmussen, an agricultural educator at Wayne Community Schools was recognized for her dedication to agricultural education and received the 2024 National Association of Agricultural Ideas Unlimited Award presented during the 2024 NAAE Convention, Dec. 3-7, in San Antonio, Texas.
For years, agricultural educators have shared classroom strategies and teaching ideas, fueling innovation in their programs and keeping educators motivated. The NAAE Ideas Unlimited Award honors teachers who develop creative concepts and share them with peers across the country.
Rasmussen brings the excitement of a cattle auction into her classroom by simulating a sale barn auction. This engaging activity helps students develop essential math skills while understanding bidding strategies, revenue, and cattle feeding costs. Using online platforms, students role-play as cattle buyers, calculating break-even prices and profit margins. This hands-on lesson connects agricultural science to real-world applications, fostering problem-solving skills and career awareness in the livestock industry. Its adaptable nature ensures that all students gain valuable insights into food production and livestock management.
NAAE is the professional organization for agricultural educators with over 9,000 members nationwide. The organization advocates for agricultural education, provides advancement through professional development for agricultural educators, and works to recruit and retain agricultural educators in the profession. NAAE offers a variety of programs and services to support this three-pronged mission. The mission of NAAE is “professionals providing agricultural education for the global community through visionary leadership, advocacy and service.” NAAE is headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky.
