Department of Agricultural & Technology Education, Montana State University

08/27/2026

Tonight is the BART Farm Field Day from 4-7:30 pm, dinner included!

Be sure to join us at the Bozeman Area Research and Teaching Farm to see the great opportunities for students in the College of Agriculture!

08/26/2026

🌟 Welcome Back, Bobcats! 🌟

The Department of Agricultural and Technology Education faculty are excited to welcome our students back to campus for a new year of learning, leadership, and opportunity! Whether you're stepping into your first class, returning to continue your journey, we're glad you're part of our department family.

Here's to a semester of discovery, growth, and making a positive impact in Montana and beyond. We can't wait to see what you'll accomplish!

💙💛 Go Cats!

08/14/2026

Dr. Walach and his students in the news!

MSU’s Nationwide Eclipse Ballooning Program draws international interest as Aug. 12 event nears.

08/10/2026

The third annual Montana Agritourism Conference will be held on Nov. 5-6 at the Yogo Inn in Lewistown bringing together farmers, ranchers, tourism professionals, educators and community leaders to explore opportunities to strengthen Montana agriculture

07/22/2026

This is agricultural education at its best! The TEACH (Technology Education and Agricultural Collaboration Hub) Trailer is on the road this summer, making stops at MSU Agricultural Research Center Field Days and bringing education, technology, and innovation directly to communities across Montana.

A big thanks to Dr. Paul Nugent, Dr. Cooper McCann, graduate student Brett Griesbaum, and undergraduate student Clara Griffith for representing MSU at the Southern Agricultural Research Center Field Day in Huntley, and beyond! This is what our land-grant mission is all about...meeting people where they are, sharing knowledge, and inspiring the next generation of agricultural leaders.

06/13/2026

We had an incredible few days hosting our second annual eDucATE Academy at Montana State University!This year, we welcomed 10 students representing Augusta, Belgrade, Dillon, Huntley Project, Lewistown, Ronan, Roundup, and Stevensville. Throughout the week, students explored Agricultural Education degrees within DATE at MSU, including pathways in Communications, Leadership & Extension and Broadfield Teaching.

Participants learned about coursework, internship opportunities, and experiences available within the College of Agriculture, MSU Extension, Department of Agricultural and Technology Education and Gallatin County! They also engaged in hands-on learning by teaching micro-lessons to their peers over the following topics: branding, injections, nutrition, leadership, and social media.

Beyond the classroom, students participated in team-building activities and formed strong connections as a cohort. We’re excited about these future agricultural educators!

05/22/2026

The Montana State University Department of Agricultural and Technology Education was proud to be represented at the National Conference of the American Association for Agricultural Education in St. Petersburg, Florida by Dr. Shannon Arnold, Dr. Dusty Perry, Dr. Emily Sewell, and Faith Droszcz (undergraduate and graduate program alumna, former graduate teaching assistant, and recent adjunct instructor for the department). Undergraduate alumna Elise Wilkins also attended the conference, representing the University of Idaho as a graduate student!

✨ We are especially proud to celebrate Dr. Shannon Arnold, who was recognized as a 2026 AAAE Fellow for her outstanding service and contributions to agricultural education and the state of Montana.

✨ Faith Droszcz presented her graduate thesis research through a peer‑reviewed paper presentation, contributing to national conversations focused on teaching, learning, and agricultural literacy.

✨ MSU DATE faculty and students also shared innovative research and poster presentations highlighting undergraduate and graduate student work, Montana tourism, and agricultural education. Dr. Dusty Perry presented a collaborative discussion with his multi-state research team focused on strategies for delivering agricultural safety education professional development.

✔️💰 We are proud to recognize Dr. Dusty Perry who was elected to serve the American Association for Agricultural Education as Treasurer‑Elect. This national leadership role reflects Dr. Perry’s commitment to service, collaboration, and the continued advancement of agricultural education. His election to this position highlights the trust and confidence placed in his leadership by colleagues across the profession.

🤝 Throughout the week, our team connected with colleagues, mentors, and friends from across the country while learning new ideas and engaging professionally with the Agricultural Educators and Communicators across the nation!

Special thank you to American Association for Agricultural Education for the PhotoCircle resource!

05/21/2026

Our Gallatin County MSU Extension Office is hosting an MSU student summer intern - welcome Kassie Lindeblad! She started with our office this week and we are so excited to have her.

Hi everyone! My name is Kassie Lindeblad and I am from Santa Rosa, California. I am currently studying Agricultural Communications with a minor in Agricultural Business at MSU with the intention of pursuing a career in Extension. Outside of the classroom I love going to concerts, being outside, and spending time with friends and animals. A fun fact about me is that I love antique stores and I can't wait to work with you this summer! Hope to meet you soon.

05/15/2026

Congratulations to Emmalee Rotlisberger on successfully defending her thesis on “Bridging the Gap: Evaluating Employability Skills of Agricultural Education- CLE students”!

Committee members: Dr. Shannon Arnold, Dr. Emily Sewell, and Dr. Elizabeth Greenfield

05/08/2026

Congratulations to our Bobcat Graduates! 🎓

Our department always looks forward to celebrating our graduates—both at our graduation celebration and at commencement—and this spring was no exception!

The Spring 2026 DATE graduates represent one of our largest cohorts, and each of you played an integral role in shaping our department community.

As you step into your next chapter, remember to stay present, believe in yourselves, and embrace every opportunity ahead.

We are so proud of you and truly honored to have been part of your journey. Once A Bobcat, Always A Bobcat! 💛💙