Ag Mag Featured Farmer
Following your
1. Tell me a little about yourself and where you were raised. Family history etc
Heart
I am a proud sixth generation Texas rancher and Tarleton State University Texan Alumni that had the glorious opportunity to be employed at Sharyland ISD in 1993 as an Agriculture Science Teacher. I was born and raised in Kingsville, Texas. I was an active member of the Kingsville FFA and extremely blessed to have had a wonderful Ag Teacher, Chris Cernosek, who inspired me to succeed in all my endeavors. I was extremely lucky to have very supportive parents who allowed me to venture into activities that would better me as a human & become a productive member of society. My paternal side of the family was involved in production Agriculture through farming and harvesting fruit and vegetables. My maternal side of my family have always been ranchers that raised sheep, donkeys, goats, horses, and cattle. My great-great-great grandfather was Antonio López who established Rancho San Jose in the community of San Jose located southwest of Benavides, Texas. Antonio López obtained land grants from the municipality of Mier in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. He and his family crossed the Wild Horse Desert, known as Desierto Muerto, into present-day Duval County and settled there in the 1850s. 2. What made you interested in Agriculture? I was reared at the ranch with my father and my maternal grandfather. I assisted them with ranch chores and cattle work that I grew to love and appreciate. I have treasured memories with my father and both my grandfathers at the ranch.
4. When was your first year teaching and where…. Did you stay there the whole time? I started my teaching career in July of 1993. I was fortunate to spend my entire 29 years of my career at Sharyland Independent School District.
5. What has been your most memorable moment as an Ag teacher? I have so many treasured memories and memorable moments in my career, but what I am the most proud of is the fact that I inspired & impacted students to pursue a major in Agriculture Education and enter the classroom as an Agriculture Science Teacher. I currently have 8 former students teaching Agriculture Science and serving as FFA Advisors. This past year I was able to see 5 of those former students at the State FFA Leadership Development Event in Huntsville with teams that they trained and qualified for the event. 6. Although you taught students what was one thing students taught you? Over the years, I have received notes and letters from my students imploring me to remain the same person and never change. That always made me smile knowing that my character impacted them tremendously. 7. What was one life lesson you tried to instill in your students year after year, or piece of advice?
3. When did you know you wanted to be an Ag teacher and who inspired you?
I have always instilled in my students that: “When you work hard, good things happen.”
I was inspired by my Ag Teacher, Mr. Chris Cernosek, and when I arrived at Tarleton State University. I was inspired by two great professors: Dr. Johnny Johnson & Dr. Ted Ford. I knew that I wanted to become an Ag Teacher during my sophomore year at Tarleton State.
8. What was the most challenging thing about your profession?
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Ag Mag THEAGMAG.ORG
Time management and balancing my livelihood and my family time was the most challenging. When my own children started
