The 2026 Minnesota Agricultural Education Intern spotlight series wraps up with Gracie Sellner, an Agricultural Education student at South Dakota State University. This summer, Gracie is interning with the Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart FFA program alongside mentor teachers Mrs. Jill Grams and Mrs. Cassidy Forst.
Gracie is from Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, where she grew up on her family’s sixth-generation dairy farm. She was also active in Brown County 4-H, FFA, and the Brown County Dairy Princess program. This fall, she will begin her senior year at SDSU and is looking forward to student teaching in the spring.
Throughout the summer, Gracie has been developing a middle school agricultural mechanics curriculum, helping with FFA leadership activities and events, and learning what it truly means to be an agricultural educator.
Finding Her Place in Agriculture
Gracie’s passion for agriculture started early through her family’s dairy farm and involvement in 4-H, FFA, and the Brown County Dairy Princess program. Those experiences helped shape her path toward teaching agriculture, food and natural resources.
“Ever since I was a little girl running around my family's farm in my teal dress and red boots I always knew I wanted to be a part of the agricultural industry,” Gracie shared. “It wasn't until I received my very first FFA officer polo when I was a freshman in high school, that was the moment I knew I wanted to follow my dream of being an agricultural educator for high school students.”
For Gracie, agricultural education is also about helping every student see where they fit.
“I believe everyone has a place in agriculture, whether they grew up on a farm or in town, and I can't wait to share why agricultural education is so important to me,” she shared during her takeover.
Building Curriculum from the Ground Up
One of Gracie’s most significant internship projects has been creating an eight-week middle school agricultural mechanics curriculum from the ground up. The project included designing presentations, hands-on activities, worksheets, and lessons that are engaging, purposeful, and safe for students.
“This experience has given me a whole new appreciation for the work teachers put in before students ever walk through the classroom door,” Gracie shared. “It's exciting to know that something I'm creating now will help students build confidence, learn new skills, and discover opportunities in agricultural education.”
Through this project, Gracie has been able to combine her interest in agricultural mechanics with her goal of helping students learn by doing.
Learning Through BLHS FFA
Gracie also shared a look at a busy summer for the Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart FFA Chapter. In June, chapter officers traveled to Atwater for their annual retreat, where they focused on teamwork, communication, leadership skills, and building relationships with one another.
BLHS FFA members also took part in several leadership experiences throughout the summer. Four members attended the Minnesota FFA State Greenhand Leadership Conference in June, and two members represented the chapter at State Leadership Conference for Chapter Leaders in July. These opportunities gave students the chance to grow as leaders and connect with FFA members from across Minnesota.
The chapter also stayed active in the community. During Corn Chaff Days in Hector, BLHS FFA members volunteered in the food stand during the annual softball tournament. Members also attended FFA Day with the St. Paul Saints, where they spent time together and connected with other FFA members.
Looking Ahead
As Gracie continues preparing for her future classroom, she is especially interested in teaching classes such as animal science, agricultural mechanics, welding, and introductory agriculture. Her college experiences in welding, teaching and learning, dairy foods, agricultural mechanics, and electrical courses have helped her build connections and grow as a future teacher.
Through her internship, Gracie has had the chance to see more of the behind-the-scenes work that goes into agricultural education and FFA. From curriculum planning to leadership events, she has seen how agriculture teachers create experiences that help students learn, lead, and find their place in the agriculture, food and natural resources industry.
Thank You to the 2026 Interns
Gracie’s spotlight closes out this summer’s Minnesota Agricultural Education Intern series. Thank you to Gracie, Chloe, Ellie, Sarah, Holly, and Katie for sharing your experiences, learning alongside students and educators, and showing the many ways agriculture, food and natural resources education makes an impact across Minnesota.
Your commitment to growing as future agriculture teachers helps strengthen the future of agricultural education. Teach Ag Minnesota is grateful for the time, energy, and heart each of you brought to this internship experience.
