Chris Thompson. Provided photo
Chris Thompson, a Pendleton County native and agriculture teacher at Pendleton County High School, experienced a full-circle moment as he received the regional Golden Owl Award for his work as an agriculture educator from organizers of the same program he started in.
The Golden Owl Award is an honor presented by the Kentucky Future Farmers of America (FFA) Foundation. The award recognizes agriculture educators for their contributions in helping shape the next generation of leaders. Recipients can be nominated by students, colleagues and supporters.
Thompson said growing up in Pendleton County, agriculture was a part of his everyday life.
“It was just what we did. We were from a rural community,” he said.
His interest in agriculture grew through FFA involvement and activities in high school, along with admiration for his own ag teacher, Clay Sullivan, who worked at Pendleton County High School.
These experiences influenced Thompson to pursue a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky, which he completed in 2013.
He later earned a master’s degree in agricultural education from Morehead State University, followed by a second master’s degree in administration from Georgetown College.
Thompson described his classroom as a space built on respect and openness.
“Students in my classroom are safe,” he said. “They can be themselves. I strive to make sure that they understand that I accept them for who they are and that I respect their opinions and I respect them as an individual.”
Establishing trust, he said, is essential for effective learning.
“If there’s no trust in the classroom or if you’re scared, you’re not going to learn,” he said. “So therefore, we have to make sure that those barriers are broken before we move forward.”
That environment supports the hands-on learning that defines Thompson’s teaching style. He said he believes education is most effective when students are actively engaged in real projects.
His classes regularly take on projects that mirror real agricultural and technical work. Students have built a rabbit hutch, completed floral design projects and worked in the school greenhouse. They also participate in activities such as animal dissection and complete construction tasks.
One of the most significant projects was the construction of a 10-by-12-foot shed for school storage. Thompson led a group of senior students through the process, which was a first-time experience for many of them.
Community engagement is a major part of the agriculture program.
They collaborate with local organizations such as the Pendleton County Farm Bureau and fair board to address any needs they may have.
“We have a very small community, so we do a lot of outreach,” he said.
These partnerships give students access to opportunities beyond the classroom.
Thompson said that he was surprised yet honored to be nominated for the Golden Owl Award.
“It makes me proud that I have put in the work and that I have done things that have gotten me to that level,” he said.
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