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 Known to her students as “Doc” or Doc Penny,” Dr. Wittler has
been a teacher for several years. She began her career as a
collegiate professor but felt that she was not really answering her
calling as a teacher and advocate for agriculture. She wanted to
open eyes to the importance of agriculture, and she wanted to
cultivate the passion she feels for the Ag Sciences in the students
she is teaching. Now, four years into high school instruction, she
feels she has found the right place, not only on the age level of
her classes but also in the geographic location of Logan County.
Ag in the classroom is growing in Logan County, and Wittler is
pleased to be a part of that. She noted that she has approximately
140 classroom students this year and that approximately 80 percent
of those students are also members of FFA. In some schools, Wittler
said it is becoming a requirement that all Ag students belong to FFA.
She said it makes sense for the students because the classroom study
teaches the sciences, but it is FFA that incorporates other elements
needed for success, such as leadership skills.
 In the classroom, there are six classes students may take. The Intro
to Ag is a freshman class, and Ag Sciences is a second-year
extension of that class. Other classes available include
Landscaping, Horticulture, and Ag Management. A new program recently
introduced is the Veterinary Sciences and new for this school year
is a Conservation class.
Wittler said the Veterinary Science class is an extremely popular
one with the students because many come into it because they have a
love for animals, own animals and are considering becoming
veterinarians. She said that some do continue to pursue veterinarian
medicine in their higher education, but not all.
As a teacher, Wittler said that working with the high school
students imposes some interesting and fun challenges. She noted that
in FFA only about ten percent of the students have an agricultural
background.
In the classroom, that equates to two approaches.
She first wants to open the eyes of her inexperienced students and
show them how that Agriculture affects every aspect of their lives.
She said it is fun to see them come to realize that not only is it
the meat they eat their parent bought at the grocery store, but it
is also the clothes they wear and the homes they live in that are
provided through some form of agriculture.
At the same time, she does have the students who have grown up on
the farm. They know about crops, they know about animals, and her
challenge is to find new ways to challenge them and expand their
knowledge beyond what they already know.
Wittler said it was fun to watch both groups grow and learn. She
noted that she related to the “city kids” because as a youngster she
was not from a farming background. Growing up in Paris Illinois, she
said as a kid she had a curiosity about agriculture, she loved
animals and began exploring Ag Sciences through 4-H. She joined 4-H
and had a friend who was in the club also that showed animals. She
began helping with that, and her interest grew into a passion.
Wittler said that in Agriculture, 4-H and FFA marry well. She noted
that the advantage of 4-H was that kids can start learning at a
young age. The two programs teach many of the same concepts -
leadership, science, and life experience, so when students in 4-H
reach high school they are better prepared for FFA.
One of her students that stands out is Alyssa Summers, who qualifies
as one of those “city kids.” She said Alyssa began as an Ag student,
and then joined FFA. She has grown and become a vital part of the
local organization, even serving as an officer in the group.
In addition, there are several of Wittler’s FFA members who are from
agricultural farm backgrounds and also involved in 4-H. She noted in
particular Sarah and Dawn Irwin, whose family has one of the very
few dairy farms in Logan County; Reagen Tibbs, and Garrett Schreiner
- all of these kids showed livestock this year at the Logan County
Fair, and all of them did well.
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Reagen took Grand Champion Spotted Barrow, Champion Commercial Gilt, and Reserve
Grand Champion Gilt in the 4-H Swine competition this year. Dawn Irwin took
Grand Champion Heifer Overall Breeds in the 4-H Dairy Show. Sarah Irwin took
Grand Champion Cow Overall Breeds and Senior Showmanship in the Dairy Show.
Garrett Schreiner took Grand Champion Ewe Lamb, Grand Champion Ram Lamb, Grand
Champion Pair of Lambs, Grand Champion Ewe, and Reserve Grand Champion Wether in
the 4-H Sheep shows.
Looking forward, Wittler said that one area of understanding that she wants to
promote in the classroom as well as in FFA is the devastation of poverty. The
week before last Wittler accompanied Sara Irwin and Alyssa Summers to an FFA
conference in Washington D.C. At that conference, one of the workshops the girls
participated in was a demonstration of poverty.
Dr. Wittler explained the workshop was about food and what is or is not
available to certain income levels and countries. The room was divided into
groups and fed. Some ate what would be considered the food of the affluent -
steak, potato, vegetables. Others had lower quality, less expensive cuts of
meat, fewer vegetable, and one group had nothing at all. Wittler said the girls
were touched by the experiment and it was Sarah who commented that as she ate
great food, she was moved to give her food to those who had nothing, but she was
not allowed.
Wittler said this was a lesson she wanted to drive home to her students. Farmers
do feed the world, but not everyone is allowed to eat. Wittler said locally, she
wants to do more with her students to support feeding programs such as the local
food pantries. She has written a grant for additional funding to expand that
outreach but doesn’t know yet if she will get it.
Another program that Wittler brought to the local FFA is the FFA Alumni
Organization. Wittler said she was so happy with the group that is forming and
taking ownership of local agricultural efforts of the FFA and Ag in the
classroom. She noted the FFA Alumni provides assistance with the FFA fundraisers
such as the annual pancake breakfast in the spring and schnitzel fundraiser in
the fall. They serve as chaperones on FFA trips, and their membership fees
support Ag scholarships for LCHS students.
She noted that even though it is tagged as an “Alumni” group, being a former FFA
member is not required in the membership. All it takes is to have a passion for
Agriculture and a desire to help. The FFA Alumni she said is continuing to grow
in membership, and without them there are many things that she would not be able
to accomplish with and for her students.
Wittler noted that there are many agricultural opportunities for high school
grads. Going on to college, they can focus on many aspects of agriculture, and
there are many careers out there that are underserved right now. It’s not just
about growing crops and animals; there are needs for Agri-management
professionals, scientists, and Ag teachers, just to name a few.
Anyone who spends even ten minutes with “Doc Penny” will see that with exception
of her commitment to her family, her highest priority in life is to teach young
minds the importance of agriculture in this world. It is not just a job for her;
it is her passion and unbridled enthusiasm about agriculture that she wants
every one of her students to acquire. In the classroom and FFA, she encourages
her students to think outside of Illinois, to realize that agriculture is
everywhere and comes in different forms. It is not just about corn, soybeans,
and livestock; it is about food, clothing, and shelter. It is about being a
leader in the community, in the state and the country through Agriculture and
FFA.
[Nila Smith]
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