Noel Pack teaches at Meade County High School, where she also graduated from in 2005. Submitted photo
After 16 years of teaching agriculture in the community where she was raised, Noel Pack is being recognized as a regional Golden Owl Award winner.
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.
Pack graduated from Meade County High School in 2005 and attended the University of Kentucky, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in agriculture education.
She has taught at Meade County High School ever since.
However, Pack’s connection to agriculture began long before she started teaching.
“I was really fortunate. I was born and raised on a farm here in Meade County. My dad is still a full‑time farmer. We had pigs, tobacco, grain crops, hay; you name it,” she said. “So my love and passion for it started as a young child when we all had to go out and work. That was part of daily life.”
Her interest in agricultural education grew during her own time as a member of Future Farmers of America (FFA) and from her high school teachers.
“My agriculture teachers were my role models,” she said. “I just felt like they loved their job, and they made an impact on students every day and I just felt like that seemed so fun to intermingle my interests of educating people and agriculture, and I could do it all at the same time.”
Pack teaches 10th through 12th grade, focusing on the school’s animal science pathway.
She said she believes in creating a welcoming, student‑centered environment in her classroom.
“I really strive to create one where students feel safe and comfortable, first of all,” she said. “Because if they feel safe and comfortable in the classroom, they’re going to be more likely to participate and engage in whatever it is we’re doing for the day.”
She also prioritizes activities that push students to think critically.
“It’s trying to find those engaging activities that allow students to use critical thinking skills and take a deep dive into the content,” she said.
Pack said that hands‑on learning makes the biggest impact.
“I’ll always say hands‑on activities make the biggest difference,” she said. “Anyone can give a lecture and the students will either engage or they won’t, but almost all students will engage in something that’s hands‑on.”
Whether students are dissecting a fetal pig or working through veterinary procedures, Pack said the experience helps them retain knowledge.
“Anything that we’re able to do in class where they’re learning the content but taking it one step further with that hands‑on activity really helps them retain the knowledge,” she said.
Pack credits her school district and community for helping strengthen the program.
“We’re really blessed to live in a very supportive school and community that really embraces our agriculture program,” she said.
She regularly collaborates with local extension agents from Meade County, farm bureau leaders, farmers and other agricultural partners.
“People sometimes forget to rely on those who are experts in their field,” she said. “To have them cooperate with the students and collaborate with them in order to pass along their knowledge is huge.”
One of her most memorable classroom experiences came from a collaboration with the local extension office.
“We took all of my animal science kids to a local farm that had bred cattle, and there was a veterinarian there checking their pregnancy,” she said. “They allowed the students to palpate the animal and feel the fetus on the inside. It was really cool to see the light bulb go off in the kids’ heads and see the excitement.”
Being recognized with the Golden Owl Award was motivating for Pack.
“It was humbling and surprising,” she said. “As ag teachers, we’re all one big family and we support each other. We all put in the extra time that a lot of people forget about.”
She said the recognition reinforces her commitment to her students.
“For me professionally, it’s a push in the direction to keep doing what I’m doing and maybe even strive for one step more,” she said. “To keep learning myself and keep trying to incorporate new things for my students, because those things matter to them and are important to their learning.”
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