Jacob Bowers of the Pella Agricultural Education department recently joined over 200 secondary and post-secondary instructors from across Iowa at the Iowa Agricultural Education Summer Conference held at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny.

The purpose of the conference this week was professional development and to foster sharing of ideas from agriculture programs across the state. The conference was organized and facilitated by the Iowa Association of Agricultural Educators, where Bowers serves as a district vice president.

This year’s theme was “Guiding SAE Principles”. Speakers, programming and activities focused on fostering professionalism and communication among agricultural educators. Mini-workshops were held on topics including SAE for All, Sports Turf Managers Association’s Turfgrass Science Curriculum, Agvocacy Training Op for Youth, Agriculture Educator Study Abroad Program, Partnering for a Successful County Fair, Making Regional Planning Partnerships Work for You, and Advisory Committees 101.

Learning activities included SAE Guides, industry tours, and new teacher trainings. Opportunities for earning college credit or re-licensure were offered during the conference through the participation in the rigorous conference presentations and workshops through Heartland AEA.