Cody Weber of Limon, Colo., is one of only six individuals nationwide who received the National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE) Outstanding Young Member Award recently at the NAAE annual convention in Las Vegas.

Weber came to Limon High School during a period of transition. The program had spent several years struggling, had a short closure, and then reopened thanks for a push from the community. Weber came to the district with the desire to prove the importance and purpose of a successful agricultural education program. He has done just that. Weber currently teaches 43 students in a variety of areas, including introduction to agriculture sciences, agriculture business, agriculture science, agriculture leadership, aquaculture, and agriculture mechanics. By participating in conferences and constantly looking for avenues to improve student learning, he has developed the agriculture program at Limon in a way that provides students opportunities for success at every turn.

“My teaching philosophy is simple,” Weber said. “It is my strongest belief that, first and foremost, a teacher must care about student success, now and in their future.”

Weber relies heavily on the input and support of his advisory committee to guide the direction of his program. The committee, which consists of community members with a variety of experiences, helps him develop relevant curriculum, locate and create Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) programs for students, and search for grant opportunities to enhance students’ agricultural education experiences. Additionally, through the local FFA chapter, members sit on a variety of community boards and committees. These educational opportunities not only provide students the opportunity to become leaders within the community, it also helps them to promote the value of agricultural education and FFA everywhere.

“To witness the transformation of the Limon Agriculture Education Program over the last three years has been amazing and would not have taken place without an outstanding instructor intent on conducting an outstanding program,” said Allen Charles, agriculture teacher at Flagler High School.

In addition to receiving the Outstanding Young Member Award, Weber was also recognized as one of three elite agriculture education teachers in the nation during the fifth general session of the 83rd National FFA Convention, held in Indianapolis, Indiana, October 22, 2010. He received the recognition in front of a record breaking attendance of over 54,000 people registered for the National FFA Convention; the session was also aired and broadcasted live by RFDTV.

Each of the six regional Outstanding Young Member award winners received a plaque and expense paid trip to attend the NAAE convention in Las Vegas. John Deere sponsors the Outstanding Young Member Award as a special project of the National FFA Foundation. NAAE is the professional association for agricultural educators. Its mission is “professionals providing agricultural education for the global community through visionary leadership, advocacy and service.” The NAAE office is located in Lexington, Ky.