Sisterhood Spotlight
Teacher and Agriculture Education Advocate
Christy Huffman Kerr is a past Virginia FFA State Officer and advocates for Agriculture Education and her students at Fort Defiance High School in the Shenandoah Valley. The National FFA Organization – Future Farmers of America – is an agricultural education institution that prepares youth for leadership and careers in agriculture. In this Sisterhood Spotlight, Christy shares about her experience as an educator, about Virginia FFA, advice for young women entering the field of Agriculture Education and more.
What led to your decision to become an educator?
Throughout my education years, I thoroughly enjoyed learning and the school environment. In addition, I had so many wonderful teachers and school experiences that I knew I wanted to be in the classroom. Then in 2004, when I was selected to be the Virginia State FFA Vice President and served a year traveling to schools across the Commonwealth visiting schools and FFA members – that solidified my choice of education as my future career!
What to you is an exciting opportunity in education right now?
In the past, present and future, I believe the most exciting opportunity is making a difference in the lives of my students. Whether it is encouraging them to participate in an activity that might be out of their comfort zone, seeing them learn and have fun in the classroom and laboratory or listening to them on what is happening in their lives, teachers play a critical role in exerting a positive influence on students and helping them become contributing citizens to our society.
What would you say to young women who are considering entering your field?
Agriculture Education is an exciting field to enter as no two days are the same! From teaching classes that offer so many hands-on learning experiences, to coaching FFA competitive teams in every area of agriculture, to traveling to conferences and conventions, Agriculture Education is a rigorous – but rewarding – field!
What is a challenge you’re currently facing?
One challenge agriculture education is currently facing is current expectations of educators and contract time/salaries not matching the work needed to fulfill the three circle model: Classroom/Laboratory, FFA (the co-curricular student organization), and SAE (Supervised Agricultural Experiences). Many teachers across the Commonwealth have shortened contracts, not paying them for the summer work they do in taking students to the State FFA Convention in June, FFA Camp and the VAAE Summer Professional Development Conference in July, classroom planning and upgrading and so much more. More should be done to compensate these teachers for the time they put into building personal and professional growth and in building their programs.
What’s a piece of advice that has impacted the trajectory of your career?
Be kind, stay humble and follow through! In any career – education, agriculture, business, technology and more – people may not remember everything about you, but they will remember how you treated them. Production and efficiency are important, but relationships are the foundation for success in any career.
How does FFA help empower your students?
FFA allows students to grow outside of their comfort zones as they pursue goals in Career Development Events (CDEs) and Leadership Development Events (LDEs), volunteer in roles that impact their school and community and work towards success in many different fields of work. Not all FFA members work towards a career in agriculture; however, the skills and attributes they acquire set them up for success in many careers to be lifelong learners and hardworking citizens.
Agriculture is Virginia’s top industry. Can you share about how FFA is helping young people across Virginia become leaders in this area of work?
Agriculture Education and FFA are working to make our next generation of agriculturalists the most prepared in critical thinking, creativity, work ethic, civic responsibility as well as engagement in their communities. From hands-on experiences in the classroom and laboratory, to work-based learning experiences through their SAEs (Supervised Agricultural Experiences), and finally involvement in FFA leadership activities and CDEs (Career Development Events), our students are preparing to take on the challenges of the next generation. They will be the future stewards of the land, raising and growing a healthy and responsible food supply, researching new technologies to produce more on less land, marketing agricultural products to American and global consumers and so much more. Agriculture education students and FFA members will be leading our nation for future success on the global stage of agriculture!
Tell us one thing you’d like people to know about the school you serve.
Fort Defiance is truly a tight-knit community that supports their students, faculty, traditions and promotes excellence. Many alumni have gone on to serve in our local government and state government positions, from the Sheriff to the School Board, from the Board of Supervisors to the State Legislatures. Fort Defiance students, faculty and alumni exhibit true community service and value making the Shenandoah Valley the best place to live in Virginia!
About Christy Huffman Kerr
Christy Huffman Kerr has been a lifelong resident of Augusta County, Virginia. She attended Fort Defiance High School and graduated in 2004 as SCA President. She was chosen as a State Vice President for the Virginia FFA Association and took a year off from college to serve the FFA members of Virginia from 2004-2005. From 2005-2010, Christy attended Virginia Tech and received a Bachelor's in Agricultural and Applied Economics with two minors in Leadership and Political Science. She also received her Master's in Career and Technical Education with concentration in Agricultural Education and a Business endorsement. After college in 2010, she married her sweetheart Jack Kerr and they welcomed their first child Annabelle in 2016. After teaching at Wilson Memorial High School for seven years, Christy moved to her alma mater Fort Defiance in 2017 where she currently teaches agricultural education with dual enrollment options through the local community colleges. Jack and Christy have a small beef cow-calf operation with hay, egg and goat production and served together on the Virginia Farm Bureau State Young Farmer Committee from 2010-2014. Christy served on the Augusta County Farm Bureau Board from 2010-2021 and recently served as the Virginia Association of Agricultural Educators as President from 2021-2022.
FFA is a family affair! Christy Huffman Kerr’s family boasts three generations of FFA members.