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LEWISTOWN -- Schools might focus on reading, writing and arithmetic, but Montana McKee knows the importance of agriculture to her education.
"I want to be an agriculture teacher because I want to teach people the importance of agriculture and make an impact on the next generation of agriculturalists," McKee explained.
A junior at the Mifflin County Academy of Science and Technology, McKee is considering becoming an agriculture teacher after high school.
Students in the Agricultural Sciences program at the Academy recently celebrated National Teach Ag Day on Sept. 21, exploring the different attributes of being an agricultural educator.
The National Association of Agricultural Educators sponsors National Teach Ag Day each year to encourage others to teach school-based agriculture and recognize the vital role that agriculture teachers play in schools and communities.
"It is important that students understand that teaching agriculture is a viable career path in the agriculture industry," said Academy Agriculture Science instructor Nicolette Cusate. "I want students to realize that even during their everyday interactions with their peers, families and others about what they are learning in our class -- they are teaching agriculture."
This year marks Cusate's first teaching at the Academy after graduating from Penn State's Agricultural and Extension Education program in May.
"Teaching agriculture is the best career because you'll never have the same day twice," Cusate added. "One day we are out in the shop practicing electrical wiring, and the next we are analyzing genes for animal genetics. At the end of the day, I teach agriculture because I want to shape students into educated consumers that are advocates for the agriculture industry."
Another junior in the program, Alivia Snook, understands the importance of agriculture to her school and how that directly influences the community.
"Everything we do in life relates back to agriculture, which is why it is important that we have agriculture teachers," Snook said. "Being an agriculture teacher is an interesting career because you can teach a bunch of different topics, from animal science, plant science, to mechanics."
Agricultural education teaches students to apply the knowledge they gain in the classroom in the field. Agriculture teachers play a key role in teaching life skills that students need in order to be college and career ready.
With more than 13,000 agriculture teachers in the United States, it's important that agricultural education and agriculture teachers are recognized for the impact they have on their students, schools and communities.
Currently, there is a national demand for agriculture teachers across the country, so National Teach Ag Day raises awareness of the career.