(Middlefield, OH) - A fresh face has officially made her way to the classroom for the first time on September 3rd. Freshly graduated from The Ohio State University, where she graduated from the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences with a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Communication, and also two associate’s degrees. She also earned her American FFA Degree. Raegan Soltis, a first-year agriculture instructor, joins the ACE Academy team. Her youth and professionalism will serve greatly for the second-year program.
“My favorite part of being a teacher involved in agriculture is the people,” said Soltis. “I love collaborating with others who want to see the next generation succeed. Agriculture impacts every facet of my life, and I hope to inspire the students to find their own passions, whether it's in agriculture or another trade.”
Soltis graduated in 2020 from Plymouth-Shiloh High School in Plymouth, Ohio, located about two hours west of Middlefield. During her time there, she was actively involved in FFA (Future Farmers of America), FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America), and Student Council. She also served as a Class Officer representative, was a member of the Prom Committee, and participated in athletics and activities as a volleyball player, a softball player, a cheerleader, and a majorette.
“I grew up in a rural farm community similar to this one, and I got my start as a 4-H and FFA member. Through these organizations, I found my passion for agriculture and serving others,” said Soltis.
She was recognized for her work while in high school and college. Through FFA and 4-H, Raegan began working with agriculture and livestock and earned many awards, including the AgCredit 110% Award for her efforts with that group, while also winning some public speaking contests. This award is given to a student or students who are involved in the FFA and who have gone above and beyond. The award is sponsored by AgCredit, a lending cooperative in northern Ohio that provides loans for agricultural services.
Perhaps the most influential factor in Soltis’ success is not her physical awards, but her experience in the field and the places that it took her. While in college, Soltis took part in many internships where she could build her skills in policy and the world around her.
“I was lucky to have so many great internships while I was in college,” said Soltis. “I worked at various places such as Kalmbach Feeds, Heritage Cooperative, Weaver Livestock, Mahoning County Extension, and at the office of the Dean and VP of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. These companies all gave me different perspectives on the agriculture industry, and I'm very grateful that I was afforded such opportunities.”
She has had the opportunity to do work in Sandusky, Ohio, Delaware, Ohio, and, of course, Columbus, Ohio, where she spent many days in the College of Food, Agriculture, and Environmental Sciences.
As an officer for the FFA while in high school and college, Soltis completed tasks such as running chapter meetings, spreading the word about the FFA, and recruiting for their local chapter. While completing these duties, it helped prepare Soltis for the responsibilities that she now has on the Ashtabula County Farm Bureau. There, she attends conferences and conventions to help improve her knowledge of policies and stay up-to-date with the world around her.
Looking ahead to what Soltis is hoping to accomplish for the students in her building, she talks about the importance of making the most of their education and giving them as many opportunities as possible.
“Staying motivated in this job will come naturally for me as my Agriculture Education classes were the best part of my childhood, and I want to provide the opportunity of FFA and Agriscience Education to my students,” said Soltis.
Last year’s students spent a lot of time in the welding lab and worked a lot with drones. The students enjoyed being outside of the classroom and participating in the activities that were provided for them.
“My best advice would be to give Agriculture Education a chance. It can be scary to get out of your comfort zone, but I have found firsthand that many of my peers tried FFA and Agriculture Education without prior experience, and it opened them up to a whole world of opportunities, both personally and professionally,” said Soltis.
Soltis began her teaching career on September 3rd with her ACE Academy students. In their first year, ACE proudly graduated two students whose main focus was on welding. Second-year instructor Ryan Eubanks and Richard Blamer will return as the welding and aviation instructors, respectively.