Buddy Orsak of Three Rivers High School and Jim Harris of Tilden High School were recognized by the Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association of Texas (VATAT) during their Professional Development Conference for Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources gathering, July 27-31, in Lubbock.

VATAT members from across Texas received VATAT Tenure Awards at an awards ceremony held Wednesday, July 29, at the Holiday Inn Hotel and Towers. Tenure Awards are a benefit of the VATAT which are given in five-year increments to agricultural science teachers and associate members of the Association who have dedicated themselves to teaching and/or supporting agricultural science. Recipients with 20 or more years of VATAT tenure are honored with a commemorative plaque and lapel pin. Orsak and Harris both have 25 years tenure.

“It does not surprise me at all that Buddy was recognized at the state level. He is an incredible ag science teacher who works countless extra hours with kids. His students consistently place at the top of the shop project competition at the Live Oak County Fair and have won several South Texas welding contests. He is committed to our students, our school, and our community,” commented Kenneth Rohrbach TRHS principal.

Agricultural science teachers spent the week attending professional development workshops, educational tours and general sessions with motivational speakers. Agricultural science teachers attend the annual conference to enhance their current teaching methods and keep up with the latest curriculum developments in agricultural education and technology.

Teachers who attended the VATAT Professional Development Conference earned Continuing Professional Education (CPE) hours towards their teaching certificate. Teachers in Texas are required to earn 150 CPE clock hours every five years in order to keep their teaching certificate current.

There are more than 1,600 agricultural science and technology teachers in Texas impacting more than 100,000 students enrolled in agricultural education classes at the secondary level. The Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association of Texas is a professional organization for agricultural science teachers and supporters of agricultural education. The VATAT is an organization dedicated to member services. The Association informs agriculture teachers about the latest agricultural education practices, encourages higher standards of teaching agriculture and provides agriculture education a unified voice in the state legislature.