Savannah Kuhns’ agricultural roots may have started on a beef cattle farm in North Central Missouri, but her journey took a new turn when she relocated to Illinois, following her husband. Embracing this change, Kuhns brought her passion for agriculture to Salem, where she now teaches agriculture classes and serves as the FFA chapter advisor. Despite the differences in land and landscape from her Missouri upbringing, Kuhns’ commitment to both agriculture and education remains deeply rooted, inspiring the next generation of agricultural leaders in her new community.

Now in her second year as an Ag teacher and FFA advisor at Salem Community High School, Kuhns is not just planting the seeds of knowledge—she’s nurturing young leaders who will shape the future of agriculture, whether they grew up on a farm or not.

“I think a lot of people assume that FFA is only for those who grew up on a farm,” she explains. “But agriculture is so much more than just farming—there’s marketing, technology, business, and even graphic design. The agriculture industry needs a wide range of skills, and FFA helps students develop those, whether they come from a farming background or not.”

Kuhns herself is no stranger to farming, having grown up on a cattle farm in Missouri. But her path to teaching was far from a straight line. After studying at the University of Missouri (Mizzou), where she made lifelong connections (including meeting her now-husband), Kuhns found herself drawn to education—specifically, to teaching agriculture.

Ag Classrooms: A Blend of Science and Tradition
In her classroom, Kuhns teaches a wide variety of subjects within agriculture, from plant and animal science to the inner workings of FFA. The curriculum changes slightly each year, but the goal remains the same: to expose students to the sheer breadth of opportunities within the agricultural world.

“I have an intro to Ag class that a lot of freshmen take, and it’s a little bit of everything—plant science, animal science, even some embryology in upper-level classes,” Kuhns says. “We also spend a lot of time learning about FFA and the leadership opportunities it offers.”

Her students don’t just sit in a classroom and read about agriculture, though. Kuhns emphasizes hands-on experiences, whether it’s working in the small greenhouse or helping students raise cattle, like those two of her recent graduates, Ella Douglas and Rachel Donohoo, who earned prestigious state FFA degrees—one through a baking business, the other by raising cattle. In addition to receiving their State Degree both Ella and Rachel are currently serving in areas of higher leadership with Rachel serving as our Section President and Ella serving as the Section Treasurer. The Salem ag program also has 1 American Degree recipient this year who will receive this coveted honor at the FFA National Convention in Indianapolis this October. This is an honor less than 1% of FFA members will receive.

In fact, one of the unique aspects of Kuhns’ program is its focus on the FFA’s “three-circle model”—a blend of classroom instruction, FFA leadership, and supervised agricultural experiences (SAEs) that allow students to pursue their own projects outside of school. “Some kids run their own businesses, like lawn care or raising livestock. For others, it’s a job or a community service project,” she says.

Preparing Students for the Future
While Kuhns is deeply invested in her students’ agricultural knowledge, she also understands that the skills they’re learning go far beyond crops and livestock. From leadership conferences to competitions, FFA helps students develop critical soft skills—public speaking, teamwork, problem-solving—that will serve them in any career they choose.

“I love hearing from people in the industry who say that students who went through FFA are just a little bit more polished. They’ve had the opportunity to practice interview skills, leadership, and they know how to work in a team,” she says.

In a world where technology is rapidly changing the face of farming, Kuhns believes her students are well-prepared to adapt. Whether they end up working in precision agriculture, animal science, or even agricultural marketing, she’s confident that their experiences in FFA will serve them well.

A Legacy of Leadership
Perhaps one of the most rewarding aspects of Kuhns’ role as FFA advisor is seeing her students step into leadership positions, both within the school and at state and national levels. Salem’s FFA chapter has a proud history dating back to 1930 (two years after the founding of FFA in 1928), and Kuhns is determined to help her students continue that legacy.

“I have six officers in our FFA chapter, and they’re really the ones running the show,” she says. “I’m here to structure the chaos, but they’re the ones planning events, leading meetings, and making decisions. It’s a student-led organization, and I think that accountability is so important.”

It’s clear that under Kuhns’ guidance, Salem’s FFA students are learning far more than how to grow crops—they’re learning how to grow as individuals, as leaders, and as future professionals in a wide array of fields.

“We have some really great kids here,” Kuhns says with pride. “And I know they’re going to do great things.”