Golden Apple: Kerry Travis

When News 10's Patrece Dayton was researching our next Golden Apple Award winner, she came across a quote that seemed kind of funny at first...but then it started to make a lot of sense.

When i was doing my research into our next golden apple award winner...i came across a quote that at first seemed funny.

But then it made a lot of sense.

It goes like this.

"if at first you don't succeed...try doing it the way your ag teacher instructed".

To some...this might make you laugh.

But once you get to know the ag teacher at oblong high school in oblong, illinois...then it all seems to fit.

Tonight's golden apple award winner teaches much more than "cows...plows..and sows."

He teaches our teenagers confidence, comradery and community service.

//////////////////// presentatio} video nat...we are going to learn about annual and perenial} when you walk inside oblong high school in oblong, illinois...you'll find what many call a "fixture" in the building.

Ag teacher kerry travis has been teaching for the last 29 years...every single one of those years here.

A "main stay" in the small community...litterally teaching generations.

15:33:10:0} ..it's different than maybe english or math.

You might have them a semester or a full year, but then they're gone.

A lot of times when i get students in ag classes they're gonna be there for all four years... oblong high is a small school.

Only about 175 students.

But each year, about half of the student population takes at least one of travis's classes.

He says very few of the kids come from a family farm.

But the kids enjoy hands-on learning.

They do things in the shop or the greenhouse.

Travis takes them on field trips to different businesses and farm machinery shows.

And he teaches them about commodities on the chicago board of trade.

Video nat...how many bushels is in a contract of beans on the board of trade} learning life long lessons... like career building..resume writing and interviewing skills.

15:28:06:2} ...it's definitely not cows, sows and plows anymore.

It's so much more than that with the leadership, public speaking, and everything else.

Computers and we just started a job interview... 15:28:26:0} ...there's so much more out there that meets the eye of what agriculture or ag education used to be than what it is now.

I don't care if you come from a farming area or an area that's more urban...agriculture and ag education are still so very, very important.... travis is also the school's f-f-a advisor.

An organization he says teaches his kids leadership..work ethic and community service.

Kerry travis has been described as having a heart for serving others.

He's well known in the small community for "digging in and helping out".

15:34:45:2} ...groups call me all the time and say hey can i have just like last week we were putting up american flags..can you have 4 people ready to go tomorrow to put flags up on the telephone polls for labor day or can you have 20 kids out tomorrow putting up christmas lights at the park... but perhaps this teacher is more known for his love of laughter.

When i asked him what he wanted students to remember about him?

He had this to say.

15:38:46:0} ...i love to be funny and cut up.

I just think that's important every day.

Even it you're not making people laugh you should laugh at yourself....especially in today's world as crazy as it is and not so funny.

I think it's important that you're having fun in life... musi} kerry travis says teaching..like ministry..

Is a calling.

He believes educators are "called" into their profession to make a difference in the lives of young people.

This educator's been making a difference for nearly 3 decades.

A golden apple award winner shaping the lives of young people for generations{music end} /////////// patrec} tomorrow our final winner takes us back to terre haute.

With photo-journalist tony kassissieh...i'm patrece