One of Iowa’s top leaders in ag education was recognized as the 2025 Iowa Teacher of the Year. Melanie Bloom, who has been teaching agriculture at Sioux Central Community School District in Sioux Rapids for 16 years, was announced as the recipient of the award last December by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Education. Stopping by the IARN Broadcast Shed at the Iowa State Fair, Bloom said she has deep roots in agriculture.
As new generations are born further removed from agriculture, Bloom said she has the opportunity to not only inform the next generation of consumers but also prepare the next generation of ag industry leaders.
Even though the Sioux Central Community School District covers a rural area, Bloom said less than a third of her students actually live on a farm. That means the goal in ag education is to foster a passion for agriculture in students who may not have much ag experience.
Bloom said her ag education program focuses mostly on production agriculture.
Bloom added that her favorite part of teaching is watching her students apply what they learn in their own lives.
For more information, visit educate.iowa.gov.
