Michigan's Agri-Science Teacher of the Year

LANSING, March 19, 2010 - Championing agriculture in the most urbanized, industrial corner of the state is not a thankless task for veteran teacher Robert Johnson. A fixture at Roosevelt High School (RHS) in Wyandotte for more than four decades, Johnson's accomplishments have earned him Michigan Farm Bureau's (MFB) 2010 Agriscience Educator of the Year Award.
The award recognizes an instructor who teaches agriculture and natural resources to prepare youth for a possible career in agriculture. Johnson was nominated by the Wayne County Farm Bureau and selected by the MFB Promotion and Education Committee from a pool of candidates from across the state. This year's Ag Educator awards are being announced early to commemorate National Agriculture Week, March 14-20.
Johnson's tenure in Wyandotte began in 1966 with some straightforward math and science classes. Two decades later he was tapped to enrich the school's technical education offerings, and in 1988 the school's horticulture education program was born. The program soon incorporated FFA and supervised agricultural experiences, with a strong emphasis on landscaping, floriculture and greenhouse activities-echoing the form agriculture most recognizably takes in the metro Detroit area. Coordination with local officials, the Michigan Department of Education, Michigan State University, Farm Bureau, Wyandotte Downtown Development Authority and other groups has resulted in a well-rounded urban ag education curriculum at Roosevelt-one that incorporates hands-on learning and real-world experience.
Johnson's students put in as much effort outside the classroom as they do at their desks, working on the school's natural turf athletic fields, maintaining two working greenhouses and an in-house floral shop, and marketing their own poinsettias and other holiday foliage products. Students raise and merchandise annuals and perennials for a spring sale and for use in RHS school gardens. In addition to their two working greenhouses, Roosevelt ag students also maintain city gardens containing ornamental and edible plants, process their own tomato crop as part of Campbell Soup's national gardening promotion effort, and raise their own flock of chickens to compete in the FFA broiler contest.
Along the way, they learn the importance of sound recordkeeping practices and business skills; promote proper pet care and host pet adoption days; coordinate activities with local garden clubs; and interact with public officials on the school board, Wyandotte Downtown Development Authority and city council.
Accordingly, Roosevelt's FFA program has grown into a regional powerhouse, currently boasting more than 120 students and routinely earning chapter and individual proficiency awards. RHS students have attended every state FFA convention for the past five years and gone on to the national FFA convention four times.
In nominating Johnson for the award, Wayne County Farm Bureau board member Frank Rochowiak offered detailed praise for the teacher's multidisciplinary approach to ag education. 
"Bob has worked to make sure  the RHS urban agriculture program has the same components as the rural agriculture programs in Michigan," Rochowiak said. 
Johnson also exemplifies the kind of leadership and involvement he instills in his students. Currently president elect of the Michigan Association of Agriscience Educators, he previously served the Michigan Horticulture Teachers Association in the same capacity, and has helped MSU develop curricula for ag education statewide.
"He appreciates the need for people to take leadership roles in agriculture," Rochowiak said. "He firmly believes that a strong agriculture presence in urban centers will improve these centers and improve agriculture throughout the state." 
He will formally accept the award at MFB's 2010 Annual Meeting later this year.  In recognition of the distinction, Bollinger will also receive a $500 grant from the MFB Member Services Department for classroom use. MFB is the state's largest general farm organization, representing more than 47,000 farm families.