Professional Development
Each summer and winter, as well as throughout the school year, the Minnesota Association of Agricultural Educators (MAAE) offers a variety of workshops for Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources teachers to help them grow professionally and keep their content relevant.
MAAE Opportunities
Semiannual Conferences
MAAE Conferences are offered twice a year. Agriculture teachers from across the state find value in attending these conferences to continue to help them keep their content relevant and allow them to continue to grow professionally.
- AgTech Conference - January in St. Cloud, MN
- Summer Conference - July (Locations Vary)
Workshops
The MAAE organizes several professional development workshops over the summer for agriculture teachers. These professional development opportunities help agriculture teachers increase their knowledge and confidence in the classroom, lab and shop, which, in turn, helps retain them in the profession and positively impacts the students in their classrooms.
Topics for professional development are determined through an annual survey, assessing the priority needs of the teachers. The most recent set of workshops will include:
Home Repairs • Animal Health/Vet Science • Junior High Activities and Curriculum • Small Engines • Crops and Agronomy Curriculum • Greenhouse Management • CDE
These events are designed to help our current and new instructors learn and develop curriculum to bring back to their classrooms as well as find a comfort level in teaching these areas to their students. Agriculture teachers, as well as the Agricultural Education collegiate students, are invited to participate.
Other Opportunities for Educators
They also offer occasional workshops such as ideas and innovation retreats, multi-educator program workshops and more.
DATES: Nov. 12-13, 2025
EVENT LOCATION: Delta Hotels Minneapolis Northeast, 1330 Industrial Blvd., Minneapolis, MN 55413
SUMMIT THEME: Our upcoming Summit theme is Leadership in Motion
DATES: December 8-12, 2025
EVENT LOCATION: Nashville, Tennessee
Join us in Nashville, Tennessee this year and experience the premier ag ed professional development event of the year: the 2025 NAAE Convention. Find the piece to your professional development puzzle in over 80 different ag ed specific professional development workshops or network with your peers from across the nation. There is no better way to invest in yourself as a professional! You won't want to miss it!
The NAAE Convention is held in conjunction with ACTE's CareerTech VISION. NAAE members have access to both conventions at a discounted NAAE member only rate. The NAAE Convention schedule aligns with the VISION schedule, so that our members have the opportunity to experience both conventions for one price. Check out what is going on at VISION and so much more!
Professional development is required in order to access the curriculum for an entire class based on that content area.