05/22/2026
BREAKING: Ag agent, Cattlemen come out against axing middle school agriculture program
Site-based council to consider cutting program this afternoon
Owen County Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Agent Kendal Bowman issued a statement just hours before the middle school’s site-based development council meeting opposing cutting the school’s agriculture program.
The meeting is scheduled for 3:45 p.m. today (Friday) and is open to the public.
In a letter to the council, Bowman said although he cannot attend today’s meeting, he wanted to express his “strong opposition” and explained his reasons why.
“I see every day how important agricultural education is ot our students, our families, and the future of our community,” Bowman wrote.
Bowman was joined in supporting the program by Gordon Flood, president of the Owen County Cattleman’s Association.
Cutting the agriculture teacher position would be a major loss for our students and for the future of Owen County agriculture,” Flood wrote in a separate letter addressed to the council.
“Middle school is a critical age. This is when students begin discovering their interests, developing confidence, and finding places where they belong. Agriculture education and FFA help students learn responsibility, public speaking, record keeping, teamwork, problem solving, and hands-on skills that carry over into every part of life.”
Bowman said he was writing his letter from a “personal space” and related his own middle school experiences.
“Middle school years can be hard. I know that from experience. I had a rough year in sixth grade and ended up transferring to another middle school for seventh and eighth grade. That new school had a middle school agriculture program that had just gotten started. I still remember getting ot attend the State FFA Convention when our chapter received its charter. At the time, I did not realize just how much that experience would shape the rest of my life.
“Agriculture and FFA helped me find my place. They helped me find my passion. They kept me focused, gave me confidence, and helped keep me from getting in trouble or falling in with the wrong crowd.
“I tried sports, orchestra, and other activities, but agriculture and FFA were where I was finally able to excel. That program gave me a reason to care, a place to belong, and skills that helped lead me into the career I am in today.
“I understand the desire to raise test scores. I also understand that some students need extra support in reading and math. I was one of those students who got pulled aside for intervention, and to be honest, it often did more harm than good.
“I have always needed to understand the ‘why’ behind what I am learning. In a regular classroom, math did not always make sense to me because I could not see how I would use it. But in agriculture, when I could measure feed, calculate costs, evaluate livestock, figure acreage, work with equipment, read technical information, and apply those skills hands-on, the math and reading made sense. I learned it better because I could see the purpose behind it, and it stuck.
“That is why agriculture education should not be viewed as something that takes away from reading and math. It reinforces them. Agriculture classes require students to read instructions, labels, technical materials, contest resources, record books, and project guidelines. Students use math through measurements, budgeting, feed rations, plant science, livestock evaluation, mechanics, and record keeping. For many students, agriculture is where reading and math finally become real.
“Temple Grandin, a nationally known animal behavior expert, professor, author, and advocate who has autism, has often spoken about the importance of hands-on, skill-based learning. Her life and work show that students who may struggle in traditional classroom settings can often excel when they are given opportunities to learn through practical, visual, and hands-on experiences. If we take away programs like agriculture, we risk doing more harm than good for the very students we are trying to help.
“I wish I could be at the meeting today, but I already had plans out of town. Please know that I strongly oppose cutting the middle school agriculture program. If anything, I believe it should be expanded to reach sixth, seventh, and eighth grade, and the teacher should have an extended contract ot fully support the classroom, FFA, contests, supervised experiences, and student opportunities connected to this program.
“Cutting agriculture would not improve student achievement. It would remove one of the very programs that helps students achieve. It would take away a place where students can belong, succeed, and connect reading, math, science, leadership, and career skills ot real life.
I respectfully ask the council to keep the agriculture teacher position at Owen County Middle School and to continue investing ni a program that is clearly making a difference for students.”
Flood said his organization has seen the positive effects agricultural education has had on young people.
“The Owen County Cattlemen's Association has seen firsthand the value of strong agricultural education,” Flood wrote.
“Many of our local youth are already involved in livestock projects, 4-H, FFA, and family farms. These students benefit from having an agriculture teacher who can guide them, challenge them, and help connect classroom learning to real-world agricultural opportunities.
“Keeping agriculture in the middle school also strengthens the high school agriculture program. If students are not introduced to agriculture before high school, we risk losing many of them before they
ever have the chance to become involved.
“A strong middle school program builds the foundation for stronger FFA participation, stronger livestock programs, stronger career pathways, and stronger community involvement.
“As cattle producers and agricultural leaders in Owen County, we believe this position is an investment in our youth, our schools, and our local agricultural economy. We respectfully ask the council to keep the
agriculture teacher position and continue supporting agricultural education at Owen County Middle School.”
