New Year, New Goals, New Semester!
Hey Aggies!
First off, I’m so excited you’re here in my little corner of the internet. Second, if you’re reading this while multitasking—like grading papers, fixing a small engine, or planning your next FFA meeting—I salute you. You’re living the ag teacher life to the fullest, and this blog is for you. I first want to introduce you to The Dakota Owl, aka me. I thought it was a pretty cool name because, yanno, we’re owls, and I live in South Dakota. And, it was like the only word that I could add to owl that wasn’t already taken so… check out my website! I’ll be slowly adding to it every day and hopefully have something pretty cool by the end of the year for ag teachers like myself- the insane multitaskers of the world with too much energy.
I’ve got some big goals for myself this year that I hope to share with you all along the way. I feel like after five years and finally working at my forever school, I’m officially ready to take my teaching to the next level. I am using this website to somewhat add a little excitement to my own career and life. I’ve always loved the idea of “romanticizing” everything you do, I want to do exactly that and I hope you’ll join in on the fun! If you’re an Ag teacher like me, then you know we have like the coolest job in the world. Why not show off all the cool things we get to do every day?!
A Little About Me
I’m Sarah McClure, an ag teacher with 5 years of experience in rural South Dakota. I’ve taught everything from plant science and livestock anatomy to welding and the art of not panicking during a CDE competition. (Pro tip: Breathe. Then double-check your bus list.)
I live in Pierre, South Dakota with my boyfriend, Bryan, and our four dogs (yes, four) and two cats! It’s kind of wild in our house. I have two amazing parents, Torrey and Dawn, and one sister, Katie. They’re all pretty cool.
I currently teach in Gettysburg, SD and love every day. Crazy thing is, I didn’t grow up on a farm. Actually, I was a military brat until I moved to South Dakota in the 6th grade. First time I saw a combine coming down the road, I remember thinking “They make tractors THAT big!?!” World-shattering for me, and that was my introduction to such an amazing industry.
I always knew I’d be a teacher- but the crazy kind?- okay, most would’ve guessed that too but maybe not to this extent. My students are well aware that there’s basically no such thing as “child labor laws” in my classroom; my idea of a good teaching strategy is putting them to WORK. Being an Ag teacher just seemed to fit that style of teaching the best. And well, here we are!
Why This Blog?
Let’s face it: teaching ag is not for the faint of heart. One minute you’re explaining soil profiles, and the next, you’re trying to convince a student that, no, “farming simulator” does not count as an SAE project.
That’s why I created this space—a judgment-free zone where we can share the chaos, celebrate the wins (like not losing a single student at state convention), and laugh at the moments we probably shouldn’t put on our resumes.
Here’s what you can expect:
Teacher Tool Box: Lesson plans, activities, and ideas you can actually use (or at least adapt when things inevitably go off the rails).
Lesson in Life: Right here! Stories from the inside and outside of my classroom (and others if they’re willing to share!) that will hopefully make you laugh and remind you we’re all in this together.
The Teacher’s Lounge: Honestly, it’s so hard to find good professional development you can do that’s fun and on your own time, so hopefully you can find that here!
What to Expect
Coming soon to this blog:
Curriculum and lesson plans like tool identification and workstation design, because apparently, “the thingy that tightens bolts” isn’t the technical term.
Ideas for weaving CDEs and LDEs into your curriculum without losing your mind.
Ways to keep students motivated when they’d rather TikTok than ribbon soil.
Fun, hands-on activities that will have your students saying, “This is actually kind of cool.”
Let’s Connect!
I’d love to hear from you! What’s been your funniest or most “why me?” moment in the classroom? What do you need to help keep your head above water (besides coffee, because I can’t mail you that)? Drop a comment below or reach out to me on social media.
Thanks for stopping by! Here’s to growing crops, leaders, and maybe even a little sanity along the way.
Happy teaching (and surviving),
Sarah <3
