By Emmy Powell
Communications Specialist

Sarah Galloway has been an agricultural science teacher and FFA advisor for 10 years.

She’s made it her mission to help connect youth with agricultural information and careers.

The Seagoville teacher grew up on her family’s cow-calf operation, participated in FFA and is an active Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) Young Farmer & Rancher Advisory Committee member.

“I’ve been able to really enlighten some kiddos, and they’ve actually changed their career paths to agriculture after they’ve been with me in class,” Galloway said. “We have a 50-acre farm at school, so we’re raising beef, go over our grasses and our quality and how to keep things.”

She shows students in an urban area a glimpse of agriculture and rural life.

Galloway credits the success and growth of the Seagoville FFA and agricultural program to their traveling team.

“COVID was tough on our program because we couldn’t travel. This last year, it’s just blown wide open. I ended up with eight seniors on my traveling show heifer team,” she said. “These kids had never touched a cow before, and we went from basically zero to hitting the jackpot. At he beginning of October, we hit a jackpot run where we did 12 shows to the middle of December, and then we did the entire major show run. And now those kids are hungry for more.”

Galloway has helped foster students’ relationships with agriculture through hands-on experiences in and out of the classroom.

“Anything I throw at them— ag related, barn related—they want to do,” she said. “Even if it’s down to basic chores, they’ve come to love it. They have fallen into a routine out at the barn, and it’s super peaceful for them.”

Many of her students never saw themselves involved in agriculture, but thanks to Galloway, they wouldn’t have it any other way.

Galloway is just as excited as the students for the years to come.

“Because of those eight going all over the place and our social media footprint, now I have younger students who are coming on board for this next year,” she said.

Galloway emphasizes how vital it is to show students the importance of agriculture.

“Agriculture is a very large industry, and we need people of all facets to work in the various agricultural careers available,” she said. “And if we’re not promoting that industry when those kiddos are freshmen or even eighth graders, they’re going to be very misinformed, and we’re going to end up with a huge gap.”

She encourages students to become involved with TFB and to take advantage of opportunities like the Student Success Series and to apply for TFB scholarships.

Galloway also encourages her seniors to become involved in TFB’s Young Farmer & Rancher program.

“Promoting our Young Farmer & Rancher program is huge because that’s the age group we really need to work on right now. That’s your next generation coming in to really take care of our industry,” she said.

Galloway will continue to do her part in the classroom, encouraging students to learn more about agriculture and exploring ag-related careers in the future.