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Morgan County Intern Continues Agriculture Goals

by Myra Badger, Public Relations, Morgan County SWCD, Hartselle, Alabama

(This is the second installment of success stories about Morgan County interns.)

Thrasher with his FFA officers as they sort fruit for their annual Agriscience fruit sale Chris Thrasher, Agriscience Teacher, Oakman High School has worn many hats over the years. He truck farmed with his grandfather when he was very young, worked on a dairy farm where he developed a love for agriculture, managed at a Lowe’s Home Supply store, and even studied law. It was in the summer of 1999, during the search for his niche in life, that Thrasher discovered NRCS.

Robby Vinsant, our first highlighted intern, was interning at NRCS and encouraged Thrasher to apply. Vinsant knew Thrasher from Falkville High School where they both studied Agriscience under Billy Bryan. NRCS technician Fred Evans also knew Thrasher and encouraged him to apply.

Thrasher has good memories of his time spent at NRCS. He noted the effort put forth by the conservationists and the field workers to accommodate the needs of the local farmer. "I enjoyed being outside visiting with the farmers," states Thrasher. He also worked with the area soil scientist and area engineer. "What I learned from those guys was very practical," added Thrasher.

Thrasher was studying Agriscience education at Auburn University during his internship at NRCS. When asked why he chose this field of study, Thrasher’s answer was all but ordinary. It was brought to his attention by friends that he was not content with idle time. "I found myself teaching because I just couldn’t sit and wait for someone to finish something," explains Thrasher. "I had to help and tell them how to do it. I went into education, but I really didn’t want to be a teacher." He did well in his education classes, but when it came to his student teaching at Brewer High School, he stated, "I didn’t think it would ever end. How was I going to do this for a profession?" But after his student teaching was completed, he found himself wondering how the students were doing and what they were learning. He found himself longing to do what he thought he hated.

Chris Thrasherstands by a work table made from old bleacher scraps built by his class Agriscience class the first year he taught at Oakman. After graduation, he accepted the Agriscience teaching position at Oakman High School, near Jasper in Walker County. "My first day on the job I found out the program was $800 in the hole, and I only had one good hammer! I thought, ‘What have I just done?’," laughs Thrasher. He was able to beg $500 from the board to buy a little equipment to get the program back up and running, including a couple of new hammers.

One of the first projects they made was work tables. With no money for lumber, they took apart old bleachers and used the scraps. Thrasher is proud of his class and their progress, especially considering where the program was when he began.

As an Agriscience teacher with NRCS experience, he finds that many times that he learned at NRCS transfers into the classroom. "I find myself doing the same things that I did with NRCS, only instead of working for the agency, I am teaching students things like what types of soil are suited for a pond or a house site," Thrasher states.

Thrasher has been teaching at Oakman High School for seven years and has built a good relationship with the school district and the community. Public relations skills learned, in part from his time at NRCS, has helped him collect materials for his class at little to no cost. He states, "Sometimes the success of an education class is what connections you make to help you succeed."

Nothing has been more rewarding to Thrasher or convinced him that he made the correct career choices more than when a student calls to tell him that they have started their own welding company or got the job they had talked about for so long. "I am the most proud when I see that I have had a positive influence on a student's career," states Thrasher. Morgan County NRCS/SWCD can relate to Thrasher’s statement--because as he feels pride in his students’ successes, we take pride in his success.