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Story by Kay Norton

Alysha Kientopf, who received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agricultural education from �ձ�av��Ƶ, has received the Region III Outstanding Agricultural Education Teacher Award from the National Association of Agricultural Educators.

As the Region III winner, Kientopf will advance to the national competition and be recognized during the National Association of Agricultural Educators conference in December in Nashville, Tennessee. Kientopf was first named the statewide winner as the South Dakota Association of Agricultural Educators Outstanding Agricultural Teacher, then she won the regional competition among other exceptional educators from Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, Nebraska and Wisconsin.

Kientopf’s award recognizes educators who demonstrate innovation, student success, program growth and strong advocacy for agricultural education. Selection for these awards is based on excellence in classroom and laboratory instruction, FFA advising, Supervised Agricultural Experiences oversight, professional involvement, community partnerships, leadership development and overall impact on students and the agricultural education profession. She credits her �ձ�av��Ƶ experience with helping to establish her career.

“My time at �ձ�av��Ƶ laid the foundation for both my teaching philosophy and my confidence entering the profession,” Kientopf said. “It truly shaped me into the educator I am today.”

She received her bachelor’s degree in agriculture education in 2016 and then in 2022 completed her master’s degree while teaching at Garretson High School, her secondary alma mater. She is currently the agricultural education instructor and FFA advisor at Garretson, where she teaches a wide range of agriculture courses including animal science, plant science, agribusiness, leadership and introductory agricultural pathways. Kientopf also advises the Garretson FFA chapter, coordinates student Supervised Agricultural Experience projects, coaches competitive teams, manages community partnerships and helps facilitate numerous student-led events and initiatives throughout the year.

Kientopf is the past president of South Dakota Association of Agriculture Educators and serves on the South Dakota FFA Association and Foundation boards.

The award-winning educator maintains that her �ձ�av��Ƶ education directly impacted her career and helps her teach the next generation of agriculturalists. “The hands-on experiences, mentorship from dedicated professors and opportunities to lead within agricultural education gave me both the skills and the confidence to step into the classroom prepared,” Kientopf said.

“�ձ�av��Ƶ instilled in me a passion for serving students and a deep belief in the power of agricultural education to change lives. I’m grateful for the foundation it provided and the lifelong connections that continue to support me in my career.”