Brazos County teacher recognized by Texas Farm Bureau

(SAN ANTONIO, Texas)—Today’s youth are several generations removed from the farm, which can make agriculture a mystery to many students. But one passionate and innovative teacher goes above and beyond to bridge that gap and integrate agriculture into the classroom.

For that, Hillarie Rollins of Forest Ridge Elementary in College Station was named Texas Farm Bureau’s (TFB) 2016 Agriculture in the Classroom Outstanding Teacher. The award was presented during TFB’s Annual Meeting in San Antonio today.

Nominated by Brazos County Farm Bureau, the first grade teacher received the award for her exceptional work to incorporate agriculture into her classroom lesson plans and activities.

“Through creative, hands-on lesson plans and classroom activities, Hillarie sparks interest and passion for agriculture in her students,” TFB President Russell Boening said. “She also invites several speakers to her classroom to explain the value of agriculture and to help engage her students with new agricultural concepts.”

Rollins is a graduate of Sam Houston State University and has been teaching for eight years.

Like most of her students, Rollins grew up in an urban setting, and it wasn’t until college that she realized the full impact and significance of agriculture in everyday life. Rollins uses her experience to help expose her students to agriculture from a young age through activities that allow them to understand where food comes from, how clothes are made and how agriculture affects our daily life.

From planting and caring for a small vegetable garden and flower garden, learning about ecosystems through a saltwater aquarium and hatching chicks in an incubator, Rollins engages her students in agricultural processes. They even plant seeds in the classroom through the use of cups and Ziploc bags.

“Hillarie is building a lifelong love for science and agriculture in the next generation,” Boening said.

In recognition of her accomplishment, Rollins will receive a $600 cash award, as well as an expense-paid trip to attend the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference next summer in Missouri. The nominating county Farm Bureau also will receive a $400 cash award.