Middle School, Major Impact: How Emilyn Sharpless' Ag Programs is Growing Leaders

In this episode, we’re joined by Emilyn Sharpless, a dynamic agricultural educator at Bok Academy in Lake Wales, Florida. With 10 years of teaching experience—six of those spent transforming Bok’s ag program—Emilyn shares how she rebuilt the curriculum from the ground up to align with FFA standards and student-driven learning. Her efforts paid off: Bok Academy was recently named one of Florida’s Finest FFA Chapters and is a National Chapter Finalist heading to national competition.We explore how Emilyn engages her 185+ middle schoolers daily across six packed classes (with a student waitlist!) through a fully student-run program. From managing animals and greenhouse operations to using professional-grade equipment, her students gain hands-on experience and ownership in every aspect of their education.Emilyn also reflects on her own journey—from FFA student to ag teacher—and what it means to guide the next generation of leaders. We dive into the high demand for ag teachers, the importance of land labs and contests in FFA, and how passion, mentorship, and real-world application are at the heart of her classroom.If you care about agricultural education, FFA, or inspiring future farmers and leaders, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.