Duane Fisher receives Lifetime Achievement Award from National Ag Educators

ATLANTA – Duane Fisher, retired agricultural educator from Vinton-ShellsburgHigh Schoolin Vinton, Iowa, is one of only six individuals nationwide who received the National Association of Agricultural Educators Lifetime Achievement Award on November 30 at the NAAE annual convention in Atlanta.

Fisher taught agriculture at Vinton-ShellsburgHigh Schoolfor 37 years before retiring in 2010. During his career, he was valuable asset to the Vinton-ShellsburgSchool Districtas well as the agricultural education community at large. With Fisher’s guidance, the Vinton FFA Chapter produced two Iowastate FFA presidents, numerous other state and district officers, 112 state FFA degree recipients, and 18 American FFA degree recipients. In addition to his high school program, Fisher also taught continuing education classes for 25 years and started an eighth-grade exploratory agriculture class. Throughout his teaching career, he was an active member of various local school committees.

Professionally, Fisher spent his career as an advocate for agricultural education. In the mid-1980’s, he was part of a committee that began the Iowa FFA Foundation. Fisher also helped to organize the special fundraiser, Sharing with Pride, a multi-year giving program designed to increase the general fund for the Iowa FFA Foundation. Fisher was also an annual contributor to the Iowa FFA Foundation for 25 years and served as an executive sponsor to the National FFA Foundation for 16 years.

Fisher has been an active member of the NAAE, the Iowa Association of Agricultural Educators, the Association of Career and Technical Education, and the Iowa Association of Career and Technical Education for 39 years. He is involved with the Iowa Farm Bureau, Pork Producers, and Beef Producers. Fisher is also a lifetime member of the FFA Alumni Association, the Iowa State Alumni Association, Gamma Sigma Delta, Alpha Zeta, and Phi Kappa Phi.

Each of the six regional Lifetime Achievement Award winners received a plaque at the NAAE convention in Atlanta. Ford sponsors the Lifetime Achievement 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.

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DJ December 5, 2012, 5:08 pm Job well done Mr. Fisher!

pw December 5, 2012, 6:44 pm Great job and thanks for the many farmers in my family that you mentored!!

CA December 5, 2012, 10:14 pm Congratulations Mr. Fisher from all of the Appleby\'s!

SF( December 6, 2012, 9:13 am Congratulations Mr Fisher you are a wonderful supporter of agriculture and do a wonderful job of inspiring youth to stay involved with agricutlture.

S&AH December 6, 2012, 9:38 am Great Job Mr. Fisher! We are proud to call ourselves one of \"Fisher\'s Kids\" Thank you for seeing potential in EVERY student that you taught no matter what the situation!

JAZ December 6, 2012, 12:55 pm I took a horticulture class from Mr. Fisher back in the late 80s and I remember him as one of the most positive, supportive teachers I\'ve ever had. Even though I wasn\'t an \"ag kid\" he took interest in making sure we all understood the importance of our environment, how to interact with it and how to better it. Mr. Fisher is indeed a role model and someone who not only deserves this award, but has worked hard to earn it.

JFMM December 6, 2012, 2:05 pm Congrats Mr. Fisher. I had taken 4 Years of FFA Under Mr. Fisher and he supported me all the way. He had helped me see both the inside and outside of the box. For his guidance over the years I had done many Livestock farmhands after high school in which I learned that farm life is not easy by any means. With hard work education is needed. Granted I did not pursue my degrees in Ag, but I had learned to never give up attitude. Mr. Fisher is a big influence for my successes in life. So, I thank you and congrats for all your successes.

AH December 6, 2012, 3:14 pm If it was not for Ag Class and FFA I would not be where I am today, almost graduating from college and hoping to go further. Mr. Fischer contributed so much to us. He is certainly one of the most dedicated teachers I have ever had! Way to go Mr. Fischer! You deserve this!

JW December 6, 2012, 6:26 pm Congratulations Mr. Fisher. My time in FFA and the Ag classes are still very very fresh, even with them being over 20 years ago. The lessons you taught were more than just academic. They were life lessons we continue to use every day. You are well deserving of this honor.

RF December 8, 2012, 10:30 am We who worked with you at V/S are re proud for you. A well deserved honor.

Et cetera : Duane Fisher receives Lifetime Achievement Award from National Ag Educators

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