Livia Doyle, a fourth-grade teacher at Mineral Point Elementary School in Iowa County, Wis., is the 2017 recipient of the Outstanding Teacher Award from the Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s Ag in the Classroom program.

Each year, the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation recognizes a teacher for his or her efforts educating students on the importance of agriculture. Teachers of all grade levels and subject areas, with the exclusion of certified agriculture education instructors, are eligible to apply.

“Livia is everything you could ask for in a teacher and educator,” says Darlene Arneson, Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s Ag in the Classroom coordinator. “She lives and breathes agriculture, and incorporates it when she can in her classroom and in everyday life.”

Doyle earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from University of Wisconsin-Platteville, with a minor in early childhood, inclusion (special education) and Spanish. She also earned her master’s degree in elementary education from UW-Platteville. She has taught in the Mineral Point School District since 2010. Doyle taught first grade for one year and then moved to fourth grade.

“Livia has used agricultural resources, grants and opportunities to enhance her classroom, school garden project and students’ lives in so many ways,” Arneson says. “Last year her class made history as they successfully lobbied the Wisconsin Legislature to make cheese the official Wisconsin dairy product.”

Doyle will be Wisconsin’s nominee for the National Excellence in Teaching Agriculture Award and will receive $500 to attend the 2018 National Ag in the Classroom Conference in Portland, Maine.

Source: Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation