What I Wish I Knew Before Running an Ag Program

Ok, real talk… I use this blog space more like my diary. A place to unpack all the thoughts constantly swirling in my head (thank goodness y’all don’t see all the draft posts 🥴). Most days, my brain feels full and heavy with everything I need to do — at home, at work, and within Rooted in the Classroom.

But honestly? My workload — and mental load — isn’t nearly as chaotic as it was when I was teaching secondary ag classes.

Right now, I’m in a season of building again. I’ve built a middle school ag program from the ground up, and I’ve developed a greenhouse training program for adults working in a corporate-controlled environment ag facility. But now, I’m rebuilding a semi-neglected ag ed program at the post-secondary level — and working with pre-service teachers has been the most fulfilling version of ag ed I’ve experienced so far.

If you’ve read my other posts about my teacher transition story, you know that walking away from my middle school ag program was hard. My identity was so deeply rooted in being an ag teacher that it felt like I lost a part of myself. Still, I knew I didn’t want to return to that version of the classroom. Too many parts of secondary teaching no longer aligned with where we were as a family or the kind of life I wanted to live in order to be my best self.

On the flip side, when I worked in the corporate world as a training manager, I often found myself thinking, Why didn’t I know this kind of business stuff before I started teaching ag?

Because here’s the thing: when you’re hired as an ag teacher, you’re not just teaching a class. You’re running an entire program — a full-blown ag ed business enterprise. And the biggest issue? We are NOT taught how to run a program like that in our college prep courses.

But that’s about to change.

If you really break it down, there are so many business principles that can — and should — be applied to how you run your ag program. But to do that, we have to stop thinking like day-to-day operations staff and start thinking like the CEO. That starts by figuring out how to actually get things done (and what we can let go of), and learning to look at our to-do list without immediately drowning in it.

That’s why this month, inside the Rooted in the Classroom PD membership — The Community Garden — we’re focusing on exactly that: working smarter, not harder.

Our June ('25) Monthly Challenge is all about building systems that help you reclaim your time, reduce mental clutter, and start leading your program like the powerhouse CEO you truly are. We’re walking through how to make your to-do list less soul-sucking and way more strategic.

When I was in the thick of teaching secondary agriculture, it felt like my to-do list just kept growing. My planning period became this frantic sprint to check off as many boxes as possible — but the list never actually got shorter. I felt like a failure. I was drowning, constantly. As soon as I crossed off one thing, five more popped up. I was always working — even when I wasn’t at work. I couldn’t turn it off.

But now? That’s not my story anymore.

Don’t get me wrong — there’s still plenty on my to-do list. I’m just wired to always be building something (I mean, I started our first LLC while I was on maternity leave... enough said 😅). But now my list feels manageable. I don’t look at it and feel like it all has to happen right now. I’ve learned to prioritize, to ask when something really needs to get done — and most importantly, if it needs to get done by me at all.

Let me let you in on a little secret: you don’t have to tackle your to-do list all by yourself. Do you think CEOs are doing everything alone? Heck no. They’ve learned how to delegate. And teacher friend, you need to learn that too.

That’s exactly what we’re walking through inside The Community Garden. This isn’t just about tips and checklists — it’s about real change that helps you sustain your passion without running yourself into the ground.

And friend, this is just the beginning.

In the months ahead, we’ll be digging into the real stuff no one ever taught us — from building a clear program vision and identifying who your program really serves, to managing chapter finances, recruiting the right help, and communicating with stakeholders like a pro.

No fluffy, time-consuming PD. No budget-breaking travel.Just real-world, practical support that meets you where you are and helps you grow a program you’re proud of — without burning out in the process.(And yes, it’s self-paced… so whether you’re juggling SAE visits, summer workshops, or toddler meltdowns, it actually fits your life.)

So if your brain feels heavy and your heart’s craving support…You don’t have to do this alone.

Join us inside the Rooted in the Classroom Membership and let’s start running your program with the confidence, clarity, and calm of a true CEO. You’ve got what it takes — I’m just here to help make it a little lighter.