AWC teacher is recognized statewide for agriculture award

Arizona Western College has recognized a teacher with an Arizona statewide agriculture award.

Leigh Loughead has been in the agriculture field for about three decades.

Loughead said her choice to be in that field was second nature.

“I’ve been involved in agriculture my entire life. My father was a cooperative extension agent for the University of Arizona and we’ve always raised animals and crops,” said Loughead.

Today, she is heavily involved in agriculture as not only a teacher but as a member of several agriculture councils and organizations.

When Loughead heard that she was honored with the Arizona Agriculture Teachers Association’s Outstanding post-secondary educator award, she was surprised but humbled.

“Because one, I was nominated by my peers for this award and then that it’s recognition of the work, the hard work, that goes into teaching agriculture science to college students, whether their from Yuma, Imperial Valley or other parts of the state,” said Loughead.

Her mission as a teacher is to lead the next generation of agriculturists.

“Agriculture is everywhere and everybody relies on it and so it is extremely important that we are educating the next generation of agriculturalists to be sustainable and to make sure there is going to be enough food and fiber for generations to come,” said Loughead.

The award ceremony was on Tuesday at The University of Arizona in Tucson.