The evening began with four Liberty agriculture students welcoming board members and sharing their personal experiences in the program this year. Their reflections highlighted the leadership development, technical skills, and sense of belonging they have gained through agriculture education and FFA involvement. Hearing directly from students set a powerful tone for the evening and reinforced the importance of the work ahead.
The room was filled with an impressive and diverse group of industry partners representing a wide spectrum of agricultural fields, including:
- Agribusiness (Sales, Insurance, Real Estate, Water District)
- Ornamental Horticulture and Production Agriculture
- Animal Science (Dairy, Sheep, Small Animal)
- Power, Structural, and Technical Systems (Electric & Solar, Heavy Machinery)
- Food Products and Processing
This broad representation speaks not only to the depth of agriculture in our region, but also to the vast and varied career opportunities available to Liberty students.
Agriculture teacher Maghan Miller opened the meeting by outlining the purpose and vision of the advisory board. She structured the discussion around three key areas: the soft skills industry leaders are seeking in future employees, current trends and issues in agriculture, and recommendations for what students should be learning to be career ready.
“I am thrilled to bring together industry leaders from our local agricultural community who are eager to support the Liberty Agriculture Education program,” Mrs. Miller shared. “Their expertise and understanding of current industry trends will help guide our curriculum and create meaningful opportunities for students to gain real-world experience through internships, field trips, and guest presentations. A diverse Agriculture Advisory Board is essential to the success of Liberty’s Agriculture Education program and ensures that all student interests are represented and supported.”
One of the strongest themes of the evening centered on soft skills, qualities that transfer to any vocation. Industry partners emphasized the importance of showing up on time, being responsible, thinking critically, solving problems independently, and presenting oneself professionally in interviews. They encouraged students to come prepared with thoughtful questions that demonstrate curiosity about the role and the company rather than focusing first on salary or time off. These foundational skills, combined with strong technical knowledge, position students for long-term success.
Liberty is incredibly grateful to the dedicated partners who gave their valuable time to invest in our students and our program. Their willingness to collaborate ensures that Liberty’s Agriculture Education program remains innovative, rigorous, and aligned with industry needs.
The success of this inaugural meeting highlights the power of school community partnerships. Liberty looks forward to building on this momentum and hopes to expand this advisory model into other programs across campus to continue strengthening pathways for all students.