Triton Teacher wins Golden Apple Award
On Nov. 20 Triton AG Education Teacher and FFA Advisor Robert Ickler had a surprise of a lifetime when he was presented with the KIMT Golden Apple Award.
“It was quite a surprise,” Ickler said.
The award is given to one teacher each week in the viewing area and is selected based on nominations.
The student who nominated Ickler was Hannah Stark and the news crew went to present Ickler with the award during her class period.
For Ickler his journey in teaching began when he was in high school, in a small Wisconsin town called, Robberts, just 20 miles east of the Twin Cities.
There Ickler would work with fellow students who struggled a little bit in courses. During that time Ickler realized that teaching was something that he enjoyed and that he could make a career out of talking about what he is ‘obsessed’ with.
Agriculture.
“It dawned on me that I could talk about something that I am obsessed with all day,” said Ickler, “I also wanted to share my passion of AG with others,” he added.
After graduating from the University of Wisconsin River Falls with a degree in AG Education, Ickler began his career in teaching where he taught at a Wisconsin High School for six years.
Nine years ago he took a position at Triton where he has been ever since, helping students explore their passions, no matter what it is.
Ickler explained that one of his favorite parts about teaching is being able to help students explore what their niche is in the world of agriculture.
One of the advantages for this that he pointed to is the fact that Triton offers two Middle School AG classes something that is more than what other surrounding districts typically offer.
By having these courses at a younger age than just in high school it allows students to explore different areas of AG so students can eventually decide what they are most passionate about.
He explained that AG is important in any part of the country whether it’s a big city like in the metro or a small town in Dodge County.
“Agriculture is everywhere,” Ickler said, “ there’s AG going on in areas that we normally we don’t think of it’s important and impacts our lives,” he explained.
He explained that because of this it’s important for districts to adapt to what they teach and offer students based on the needs of the district.
“With ag it’s all about what the needs and industry demands of the district are,” Ickler explained.
Ickler, who grew up on a dairy farm, is excited to continue teaching the next generation of AG leaders something that he is passionate about, and is a very important field.
“There are a lot of job opportunities in it,” Ickler said.