Nathan Thompson and the Edgerton Ag Program was honored earlier this month by the Minnesota Association of Agricultural Education. Edgerton’s program was chosen as the Outstanding Middle School/High School Ag program in the State of Minnesota.

This award comes after the school’s program was chosen as the Region 6 MAAE Program of the Year (Southwestern Minnesota) back in January and qualifies the program for National Association of Agricultural Educators award, which will be announced later in August.

Edgerton High School’s Agricultural Education program has completed its fifth year. It is directed by Nathan Thompson, who came to Edgerton in 2016 after a 24-year career in ag education at Hayfield.

In the 1980’s and 1990’s Edgerton had a shop program under the direction of Bob Starzl, who focused on carpentry skills. About 10 or so years ago, the school tried to pair with Luverne on FFA and ag education, but that did not work out so well.

Under Thompson’s direction, the ag program has flourished, with new classes being added each year. Prior to Mr. Thompson arriving, the program was a part-time wood’s program paired with Luverne. In 2016, with Thompson assistance, it became a Full-Time position by adding classes such as Introduction to agriculture for 9-10^th, Exploring Agricultural 7 & 8 for Junior High, Welding, Leadership, Small Engines, Farm and Residential Wiring, and ag business to the curriculum. In 2017/18 the program included wildlife management and that is also the year that the work based or on the job training program started. The OJT program has been hugely successful, with students using it as a launching point for learning about a specific area of work.

Also in 2017 was the year that the school was given the opportunity to “lease” 10 acres of land by Herm and Jan Bos. Since then, that land has been used to raise corn and beans which are sold to fund the school’s FFA chapter and used as study lab for the agronomy units taught in all the curriculum.

In 2018, the Agriculture Business class was structured to meet the state’s credit requirements for economics. That year Thompson also added a wood working class to the program, which now is taught alternating years, with ag structures being taught on the opposite years.

In 2020, the woodworking class qualified as an art credit and in 2021 Thompson added horticulture to the growing list of possible classes at Edgerton Public School. He and his students, working with community members and businesses, have been building a greenhouse and instructional room.