Michigan Ag Teacher Wins National Award with Food Lessons

Kera Reterstoff's students at Ravenna High School have a running joke that FFA stands for "Free Food Always," and their beloved teacher couldn't be prouder.

The Michigan agriscience educator just won the Honored National Teaching Award for March 2026, becoming the first agriculture teacher ever to receive this recognition in the nonprofit's decade-long history. Her prize includes $5,000 and a featured podcast spot celebrating her creative approach to farm education.

"You can always motivate kids to do things by food," Reterstoff explained after hearing the news. She uses taste-testing and food models to teach zoology concepts, making agricultural science irresistible to teenagers who might never have considered farming careers.

Student Kodi Hackenberg nominated her teacher for the award, praising how Reterstoff makes everyone feel welcome. The impact shows in the numbers: 223 of Ravenna High's 292 students are FFA members.

Reterstoff didn't grow up on a farm herself, though her grandparents raised dairy cattle. She discovered her passion for agricultural education at Michigan State University after spending her own high school years focused on sports and activities like Girl Scouts.

Now in her seventh year of teaching, she focuses on connecting classroom lessons to real-world careers. "If they can make those connections when they're in my class and then go out and find a job or find something they're passionate about, I think that's the most rewarding thing," she said.

Why This Inspires

Reterstoff's teaching philosophy centers on authenticity and embracing mistakes as learning opportunities. She champions paper-and-pencil problem solving over technology-dependent answers, pushing students to think creatively.

"People find solutions for things by thinking outside of the box," she explained. She gives students challenges that can't be solved with a quick internet search, teaching them that making mistakes in high school is not just okay but essential for growth.

Her approach to leadership development through FFA extends beyond agricultural skills. Students build confidence, collaboration abilities, and practical life skills that serve them whether they pursue farming careers or completely different paths.

Honored has shared more than 16,500 teacher stories and distributed over $500,000 since its founding, but Reterstoff's win marks a milestone for agricultural education recognition. Among roughly 100 award recipients over the years, she's opened the door for other farm educators to gain national attention.

One teacher in rural Michigan is proving that good food, genuine relationships, and creative problem-solving can transform how the next generation sees agriculture.