By Andi Anderson
After more than two decades in agricultural education, Kurt Veldhuizen, agriculture teacher in the Webster City Community School District, continues to inspire both students and future educators. His message to aspiring agriculture teachers is simple: focus on students and build success over time.
Drawing from 24 years of classroom experience, Veldhuizen believes that strong teaching begins with understanding the purpose behind the profession. He emphasized the importance of keeping students at the center of every decision. As he explained, “Remember who you are doing it for – your students,” Veldhuizen said. “Making them better humans is what it’s all about.”
Veldhuizen recently participated in the Teacher in Residence Program organized by the Department of Agricultural Education and Studies at Iowa State University. During the program, he met with agricultural education students and faculty members, sharing practical advice about building a rewarding and sustainable career in education.
One of his key messages was the importance of patience and long-term planning. He encouraged future teachers to think about their professional goals over the next five and ten years rather than trying to accomplish everything immediately. According to Veldhuizen, “don’t have to do it all today.” He also warned of the challenges many new educators face, saying, “Too many times I’ve seen ag teachers early in their careers get burnt out because they’re trying to do everything all at once instead of building up their program and curriculum at a more sustainable rate.”
His influence extends far beyond the classroom. Katelyn Grein, agricultural education teacher and FFA advisor at Ogden Community Schools, credits Veldhuizen as a major inspiration in her decision to become an agriculture teacher. Reflecting on his mentorship, she said, “Since I have started teaching, he has always been my sounding board, assisting with technical issues, guiding me to resources, or even talking through situations when I’m having a bad day in the classroom.” She further added, “What I think sets Kurt apart is his patience and ability to make any lesson meaningful. He always told me that the students aren’t going to remember what you taught them years from now, but they’re going to remember the memories they made and how you made them feel.”
Throughout his career, Veldhuizen has helped expand educational opportunities for students. Over the past 20 years, the Webster City agriculture program has grown significantly, increasing from just two agricultural classes each day to 24 classes. The program has also added a greenhouse, established test plots, and developed hands-on livestock learning opportunities through a dedicated learning center.
Veldhuizen believes strong community support has played an important role in this growth. He shared, “It makes me proud to think how much growth the Webster City ag program has undergone and that the community knows what we do and finds value in it.” He also noted, “I think of what few ag-related experiences students in our district had when I started in 2004 compared to how much they have now. A big part of that is because we have focused on what our students need and what they can gain from our program.”
For Veldhuizen, the ultimate goal of agricultural education is helping students gain knowledge, confidence, and life skills. As he explained, “The end game is that the students had fun while learning and they’re able to take away something they will use the rest of their lives, regardless of whether they go into agricultural careers.”
His career serves as a strong example of how dedicated educators can shape future generations through meaningful learning experiences, patience, and a commitment to student success.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-lisegagne
Categories: Iowa, Education