On any given day in Madison, Georgia, it’s easy to spot Morgan County High School agricultural science teacher Rachel Kinsaul – she’s driving a bus full of students around visiting working farms throughout the community – an activity she earned her CDL license to do. Kinsaul provides real-life, hands-on learning experiences for her agriculture students, whether it be their dairy farm visits, mock wedding floral design projects, or Future Farmers of America (FFA) competitions. Growing up on a beef cattle farm with roots in high school rodeo, Kinsaul draws from her experiences to deliver relevant instruction for students pursuing a degree or career in agriculture. By creating a floral design class, she helped grow the agriculture program’s female population significantly while engaging students and raising funds for the class through her Floral Arrangement of the Month (FAM) subscription service. As a class, students arrange and deliver a monthly floral arrangement to those with the FAM subscription – partnering with the school’s special education program. Kinsaul also works with students to develop their agriculture knowledge and skillsets outside of the classroom as the school’s FFA sponsor, leading students to compete and place at state and national competitions.
Kinsaul shines in sharing her knowledge and experiences with other educators. She mentors student teachers and regularly presents about effective instructional strategies throughout the state. With a knack for fundraising, Kinsaul led the charge to build the school’s agriculture barn, known officially as The Morgan Agricultural Learning Lab, working with various community groups to raise $166,000 toward the project. The barn allows students to advance their learning with hands-on experiences, such as raising livestock.
Strengthening her students’ community connections, Kinsaul began Sophomore Service Day, involving students in a number of community service projects each year.
Kinsaul is a two-time graduate of the University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, earning her Bachelor of Science in agriculture – animal science in 2009 and a Master of Science in agricultural leadership, education, and communication in 2011.
Press Release: Agricultural Science Teacher Honored with National $25,000 Milken Educator Award in Madison
