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Who and What?!?!

The two most common questions I’m asked are…

“Where are you from?” and “What do you do?

So I’m using my first blog to tell you just that!

Poet Swiss
Hiking to the top of the Niesen with my host family. The famous Swiss Alps are in the background.

I grew up in the small rural town of Flagler, Colorado and following high school graduation I headed east to Manhattan, KS where I earned my Bachelors of Science in Agricultural Education.  I took a year to gain some international experience through an International Four-H Youth Exchange.  I lived with eight host families in Switzerland over six months and learned about life and culture.  Upon returning I promoted the program and my experience around Kansas and Colorado.  Then I decided to join the “big kid” world and took a job as the Agricultural Education Teacher and FFA Advisor in St. Francis, KS.  My job allows me to meet daily with students to teach them about food, fuel and fiber industries and how they are a part of the agriculture picture.

Poet
Logging marathon miles while at the OC Intern Orientation in Texas!

Since I’m a teacher I have the luxury of having my summers “off”.  But off isn’t really how the summer looks for this teacher.  My summer is filled with several different things ranging from marathon training, education professional development, a summer internship and gearing up for year two in the classroom.  I am thrilled to be workinas an Ogallala Commons Intern to help promote their mission in my local community.  I will be working with the Healthy Community Initiative (HCI) Grant Committee to complete some projects in the community that will promote local education, health and growth.  To date the project list has not be finalized but you can check back throughout the summer to see what I’m doing next!

Favorite view in Switzerland. Looking down into the valley from the top of a mountain in early winter.
Favorite view in Switzerland. Looking down into the valley from the top of a mountain in early winter.