Linnebur Recognized With NAAE Outstanding Young Member Award

State FFA Office - December 23, 2008

CHARLOTTE, NC - Kendra Linnebur of Cherryvale, KS is one of six individuals who received the National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE) Outstanding Young Member (OYM) Award on December 3rd at the NAAE annual conference.

"When students are encountered with situations that actively engage them in the learning process, the level of content comprehension is greatly increased," said Linnebur.  This philosophy has been helpful to Linnebur, who  coached the national championship agricultural communications career development event team at the 2006 National FFA convention.

Linnebur has completely restructured the agriculture curriculum at Fredonia.  During her career as an agricultural educator, she has developed curriculum for six new courses, offering a wide selection of opportunities to her students.  This experience in curriculum development goes beyond the local level; Linnebur serves on a committee to develop a state-wide food science curriculum and is a curriculum writer for the National FFA and USDA, writing a series of lessons for the National Animal Identification System Premise Registration project.  

 "Students learn best when they see a direct connection between the classroom content and the real world," said Linnebur.  "I believe it is my job to help students apply what they learn in class to situations that exist in the real world by teaching technical and life skills that students must have to succeed in today's society."

 "Mrs. Linnebur is an excellent communicator with a manner that is inviting but conveys high expectations at the same time," said Jim Lambert, Fredonia High School principal.  "More than anything, she expects her department to change and to change rapidly. The many chapter and individual awards achieved by her students speak volumes about her success as a motivator and instructor."

The mission of NAAE is "professionals providing agricultural education for the global community through visionary leadership, advocacy and service."  The NAAE office is located in Lexington, KY.