Being part of the Ag Education program at Oakwood High School has changed Rachel Cyphers’ life.
As a freshman, Cyphers came into the high school set on becoming a veterinarian.
But, she wasn’t qualified to take an upper level science class as a freshman, so the closest she could get to animal science was an Ag Orientation class.
“As a freshman, you can not take zoology, you have to take biology first but I wanted to get as much information as I can concerning animals so I picked Ag Orientation because I could learn what animals eat,” Cyphers said.
Oakwood Agriculture Teacher and FFA Advisor Darcy Nekolny said that Cyphers’ growth over the last four years in the program has been exceptional.
“She went from a student who had very limited experience with what agriculture really was to being one of my main spokespeople for the FFA Chapter,” Nekolny said.
“It really brought me to what my passion is,” Cyphers said. “I can talk about agriculture all day. It makes me happy.”
Quickly volunteering for opportunities within the program, Cyphers served as the Green Hand Vice-President the first year. Since then, she has been tasked as the reporter and served as the vice-president for two consecutive years.
Cyphers has also brought the Vermilion County community and agriculture history to life as the Heritage Committee Chairperson during her sophomore and junior years.
Looking to get potential students in junior high interested in FFA while educating them at the same time, Cyphers developed a life-size monopoly game as a sophomore.
“(Students) got a chance to learn more about legislature, the three branches of government and some about the presidents,” Nekolny said.
Cyphers also played an integral part in establishing the junior high LEAD program, which introduces teenagers to the FFA program through activities once a month.
In November, she worked with a fellow student to create a positive environment throughout the halls of Oakwood High School during Mental Health Awareness week. Then, in the middle of February, she helped to organize the FFA Career Fair during FFA Week.
“I like to say that I got into agriculture by chance, and want to help others get in by choice,” Cyphers said.
All of her hard work is paying off in March.
By exploring different agriculture topics and competing against some of the state’s finest ag students, Cyphers is hitting her stride as a senior.
During the last month, she finished second in prepared speaking and first in the job interview category at the FFA Leadership Development Event section competition. Cyphers will participate in districts for prepared speaking on April 10 and job interview on March 20.
Cyphers also placed first in the soils competition at sectionals after placing second as a junior.
In the FFA Supervised Agricultural experience, Cyphers placed first in District 4 for her Food Service record book, and will advance to the state competition on March 23.
Through her work with FFA and the Supervised Agricultural experience, Cyphers has earned an FFA State Degree.
Learning how to keep records and becoming better at record keeping was a process for Cyphers.
Without a farming background and without livestock to attend to, Cyphers had to figure out how to keep up with other students competing in the record books category.
The first year she trained her dog, Chloe, keeping records of training hours and progress. Her sophomore year, Cyphers was hired on in the kitchen of Red Lobster. For the last three years she has recorded the time she spends working, the tasks she completes, the money she is paid and how the money is spent.
Through the record book, Cyphers has learned money management and accountability in a way she believes will better her life as an adult.
“I feel like (Ag and FFA) class is one of the only classes I’ll take outside of high school,” she said. “I feel like all of this I could use again; everything I’ve ever learned in this class I can take somewhere else.”
Upon graduation, Cyphers plans to take her education to new levels.
She will enter the Parkland Pathways program before transferring to the University of Illinois to study for a career in ag leadership and advocacy.
Advocating for FFA and ag programs is something that Cyphers is considering.
Her prepared speaking topic was “Importance of funding for agriculture education in the state of Illinois.”
“Our budget has increased, and we are very lucky for the budget that we do have, but I think we would be able to grow more with grants and things that go towards the teachers,” Cyphers said.
Having witnessed her creativity and work ethic, Nekolny believes Cyphers will take her passion to elevate her future work.
“I think she’ll be great; she’ll be a great spokesman for the agriculture industry, agriculture education and FFA, as well,” Nekolny said.
“The National FFA Organization has taught me primer leadership, personal growth, and career success through a wide variety of conferences, conventions, Career Development Events, and Leadership Development Experiences,” Cyphers said. “My ag courses I have taken in the past year have taught me how to better myself in every way imaginable.”
