Kalispell FFA adviser and agricultural education teacher Justin Heupel received the National FFA Organization’s highest degree for his exceptional service to agricultural education and FFA on a national level.

He was the only Montana teacher among 51 recipients nationwide to receive the 2022 Honorary American FFA Degree. The last Honorary American FFA Degree recipient from Kalispell was Steve Wilcox in 1988.

“It’s a huge honor to be recognized at the national level like that,” Heupel said.

He said the award represents a culmination of accomplishments and relationships built over time, beginning in 1988 when he was a high school student and active FFA member.

Heupel went on to obtain a teaching degree in ag education because it offered a chance to learn all the areas of agriculture, and if teaching didn’t work out, he had a good foundation to specialize.

After 27 years of teaching, with the past 19 at Kalispell Public Schools, his enthusiasm hasn’t diminished

“I was passionate about people understanding agriculture and the importance of having an understanding of where your food and fiber [such as cotton and wool] comes from, and an appreciation for it too,” Heupel said.

He extended that passion for education and agriculture to the state level with one of his proudest achievements being the year he served as the Montana Association of Agricultural Educators president and appointed a committee to pursue legislative action.

“I was part of that committee to see the work through and help author legislation and organize people to help inform our legislators about what the legislation would do,” Heupel said.

That legislation became the Advancing Agricultural Education in Montana program, which provided funding to improve the quality of existing agricultural education programs in addition to money for schools to start new programs. He said it piggybacked on a nationwide goal to increase the number of quality agricultural education programs.

“It passed in 2009. As a result, we’ve created 25 to 30 new programs in Montana,” he said, adding that the legislation went on to serve as a template for other states.

Heupel said he is also proud that nine of his former students have gone on to become agricultural education teachers.

“... and all have done exceptionally well in the profession and their chosen communities,” he said.

Heupel spoke to the usefulness of ag education even if a student doesn’t choose to pursue it after high school.

“A student, years ago made the comment ag education was the one class that applies subject matter and skills from all other classes — math, science, English and electives. I think there’s a lot of truth to that,” he said.

“As you know, kids who graduate from ag programs go on to all occupations. A student might enjoy the animal sciences but maybe they want to be in the human medical field and found that joy from being around animals,” he said to commonplace applications, “We might never grow an acre or more of wheat or other field crop but we have a yard and we have a lawn. How do we keep soil healthy and irrigate properly?”

Heupel currently teaches Agricultural Education 2 and 4 at the H.E. Robinson Ag Education Center, which serves Flathead and Glacier high schools. He also teaches Ag Welding 1, a dual credit program with Flathead Valley Community College. Also during his tenure, he served as one of the FFA advisers.

Within FFA, students refine their understanding of the agriculture industry and use this knowledge to compete at the state and national level in career and leadership development events that cover content areas from livestock judging to agribusiness and parliamentary procedure. Students are also involved in community service.

“The thing I appreciate about ag education and FFA — there really is something for everybody if they choose to pursue it,” he said.

Heupel said FFA teaches leadership, goal setting and teamwork.

“I always hope to impart just general life application of perseverance and working hard, and being part of something that’s bigger than yourself [where] other people are a part of the team depending on you,” he said.

The Kalispell FFA members have routinely proved to be top competitors for many years.

“It’s fun to go and win competitions and do well, but those awards, they just get dusty,” Heupel said. … The memories and the relationships we develop — those are the things we all carry with us forever.”

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.