Sampson Middle School Career and Technical Education teacher Katrina Boykin is committed to introducing her students to the many paths available after high school, all while providing resources to her fellow teachers as well — in August a farmer’s market.
Tables were set up outside the cafeteria with fruits and vegetables arranged, bags were available for the teachers at the end, and a colorful banner hung above with fruits and vegetables painted on it. Country music played, and Boykin was decked out in overalls and a straw hat.
“It’s been a busy day, but a great day,” Boykin shared about the farmers market and the agribusiness speaker, Heather Watson, who talked to students in each of the grade levels during lunch about career opportunities in the agriculture field.
This is Boykin’s third year as the CTE teacher at Sampson Middle School, and part of her role is introducing students to careers — especially ones they “maybe haven’t thought of,” shared the teacher.
Boykin highlights a career of the month, giving another example from last year — mail carrier, and that month she decorated her room to look like the post office and students wrote and delivered letters.
In August she doesn’t typically pick a career because the start of the school year is “so hectic,” but she said she wanted to highlight farming this year. “We live in an agricultural community, but many students still don’t think of farming when considering careers,” she explained.
The CTE teacher also said that August “was the time” because of all the fresh fruits and vegetables available.
Boykin has a mannequin outside her classroom that she dresses up for the month’s career, and showcases the career of the month on her bulletin board beside her door. In August, the mannequin was decked out in jeans, a button down shirt, a Bass Pro Shop hat, and work boots.
When you walk inside her classroom, her white board is covered with names of local farmers who donated produce as part of farming month. Each week a few teachers were given “prizes” of fresh fruit or vegetables, which Boykin said was so exciting for her colleagues. Many who didn’t win, she stressed, kept asking “what about us?”
That’s when Boykin decided to end the month with a farmer’s market where teachers could “shop” while their students were hearing from Heather Watson about agribusiness opportunities during their “lunch and learn.”
The CTE teacher explained how interested the students were in listening to Watson speak and the Sampson Community College instructor “jumped right in without even waiting to be introduced,” asking the students “do you know what a hog is?”
Boykin emphasized how important it is for students to know “there are options,” and that is why she is committed to exploring careers each month, and showing students the many paths that are available after high school.
“Everyone isn’t meant for a four-year university,” emphasized Boykin, and “I want them to know there are other paths out there.” The teacher stressed the importance of farmers are to everyone, and noted that she wants her students to see farming, and careers like it, as a good and viable option.
“We’re just trying to move them from point A to point B,” the teacher declared, adding that she is also trying to start Future Business Leaders of America for the first time at Sampson Middle, for more ways to prepare students for a successful future.
“This is the first time they haven’t had FBLA at Clinton High School in a while,” Boykin shared, “but they told me if I get enough eighth graders they’ll start it back at the high school too,” she explained with excitement.
“We’re working together,” Boykin stressed.
Produce for both the farmers’ market and giveaways earlier in the month were donated by Ranch QD, Ashley Walton, Pastor Louie Boykin, Larry Peele, Ezell’s Catering, Hope Farms, Billy Phipps, Terry Bryant, Coach Strickland, Heather Register, Walmart, Big Moe’s Restaurant, Tropicana, Food Lion, The Rock Church, Pope and Sons Inc, Renee Raynor, Mercantile Farms, Frances Tate, Cates Pickles, Fann Family Farms, Pope & Sons, Hope Farms, Twisted Vines, and Ethan Hope Farms.