It's In My Nature

Ted Turner is known for launching CNN, TBS, being the owner of the Atlanta Braves and for launching Turner Enterprises, among other entrepreneurial pursuits. What many may not realize is, he also owns 2.2 million acres globally, spread across ranches and plantations, which is more land than the entirety of Yellowstone National Park. One of these ranches is located in southwest Montana, Flying D Ranch. We were blessed with an opportunity to tour this 115,000-acre operation, which is home to 5,500 head of bison. Bison Bull from Flying D Ranch As we toured the property, ranch manager Danny Johnson shared some fascinating details about the bison herd. This bison operation can grow to 7,500 head during the calving season. These bison even have an astounding 96% conception rate. The herd is rotating from pasture to pasture in order to properly manage grassland resources. Also, four of the famous Ralphie the Buffalo, the mascot of the University of Colorado Buffaloes, have co...

The TLT Symposium this weekend at Penn State was an awesome opportunity to learn about new technology and exciting ways to use that technology in the classroom. I gained so many cool and fun ideas from this weekend that I am so excited to try in my future classroom. Keynote speaker Dan Heath gave an excellent presentation about his book and the philosophy of making information stick. When students or anyone really, learn something new in the classroom, it is because they have a sense of relatedness to the information. There is a way to receive the information that students can relate to and help to make that information stick in their brains. Penn State (2019)  The best put in my of the whole symposium was the different sessions. I love this set up where educators can choose where to go and what presentations to listen to based on their own personal interests. I was able to learn about th...

Traveling across the state and even to Virginia, I have had the opportunity to see a lot of different schools with different programs. Through all of these experiences, I have learned that there is not one perfect school. However, it's cool to see new ideas and different ways programs run. You can begin to pick and choose different ideas that you would want in your future program! There's a lot of different things that I believe are important when looking for the right cooperating center. Types of classes are extremely important. I want to teach classes that I am comfortable in but also get new experience. I am not comfortable in the shop. Any Ag Mechanic classes I am not comfortable in due to my lack of experience and knowledge. One more class I am not comfortable in is animal science. I have experience with wildlife species but not animal science. My wheelhouse is definitely wildlife, forest...

Hunting is a North American tradition that has been passed down from generation to generation. Today, we have the privilege to enjoy nature. Truth be told, todays forests would not exist if it weren’t for the valiant effort to restore North America's wildlife and creating the North American model of wildlife conservation. Sometimes, wildlife managers, biologists, and conservationist forget that the greatest conservation success story is right in front of us. (QDMA 2018) For decades, we have enjoyed the reward of the greatest conservation success story in history, Wildlife Restoration. Through colonization, much of North America was stripped of wildlife and their ecosystems. Species were extirpated out of their native range; some species went extinct through overharvesting and lack of conservation. Th anks to the state and federal agencies that work to conserve, fight, and protect wildlife; through their careful work, we have wildlife, we have biodiversity, and we hav...

Over the last four years of college, I have received so many opportunities from Penn State that is nothing short of incredible. Through different courses and experiences, I have found my true passion. Since I was younger, I have always had a passion for the outdoors and wildlife. College has given me an opportunity to explore more adventures and interests in this field and is what has led me to agricultural education.  When I started college, I began at Penn State DuBois pursuing an associate degree in wildlife technology. I was dead set on becoming a wildlife biologist because I really enjoy research and wildlife management. Through those two years, I fell in love with wildlife. I had incredible opportunities to pull bear cubs out of bear dens, band northern saw-whet owls, go hawk trapping, help with elk calf capture, travel to a bat hibernacula to catch bats and so much more. I even had an o...