Chaffee science teacher hopes to connect students to modern agriculture through STEM

Chaffee high school chemistry students make diesel fuel from canola oil, corn oil and used cooking oil in Jon Rodgers' class last year.

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CHAFFEE — Jon Rodgers, a junior high and high school science teacher in the Chaffee School District, recently completed the Nourish the Future yearlong leadership program along with 37 others from around the country.

Jon Rodgers holds his completion certificate from the Nourish the Future program.

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The program helps show and teach educators how to connect students with modern agriculture through STEM — Science, technology, engineering and mathematics — education, aiming to inspire students to learn science, solve problems and explore careers in agriculture.

Rodgers’ time in the leadership program included conferences, Zoom calls and visits to events such as the Commodity Classic in Houston. He interacted with farmers, technologists and other agriculture experts, gaining insights into the industry. Rodgers developed lesson plans and hands-on activities inspired by the experiences.

“We went to the Commodity Classic, where we met farmers, technologists and even NASA representatives,” Rodgers said. “It covered a wide range of topics, from AI-powered farming equipment to genetically modified crops.”

Rodgers also participated in various labs and activities, eventually writing his own lesson plan, which he hopes to bring to his classroom soon.

He has already begun integrating new lesson plans and activities into his classroom. Last year, his chemistry class made biofuels from different types of oils, providing students with a hands-on understanding of the science behind fuel production.

“We made diesel fuel from canola oil, corn oil, and used cooking oil,” Rodgers said. “Students learned the process of making fuel and its real-world applications.”

Rodgers aspires to become a coach in the Nourish the Future program next year, helping other educators bring agriculture into their classrooms.

“Ag is science, and it touches your life in ways that you don’t really, truly understand, unless you do something like this program, or you go out and do the research yourself. It was a really cool experience,” he said.

Nourish the Future is a national STEM initiative designed to bridge the gap between classrooms and modern agriculture. The Teacher Leader Community program, part of the initiative, selects educators from across the country to participate in professional development activities. Industry partners such as the United Soybean Board and the National Corn Growers Association fund the program to help farmers educate the public on modern farming practices.