I got the chance to meet some very inspiring young women in Iowa this week. Lilann Tjaden-Duff and Trinity Barth, current and former students of the Des Moines Central Campus Agriscience Academy, are in a courageous fight against the school board to stop a one-year pause of their ag education program, which was founded in 1975, and their ability to participate in livestock shows through the National FFA Organization.
Trinity and Liliann contacted FarmHER + RanchHER for help spreading the word about their mission—and they need our help! You can also watch a live interview with Trinity + Liliann today on RFD-TV’s Market Day Report (see below!) and visit rfdtv.com for a copy of the Des Moines Public Schools’ official response on their reasons for pausing the program.
DES MOINES PUBLIC SCHOOLS’ AGRISCIENCE ACADEMY IS IN JEOPARDY
The Des Moines FFA Chapter is in jeopardy after the Des Moines County Schools (DMPS) Board recently announced their decision to pause the DMPS Central Campus’ Agriscience Academy and other career-readiness programs for one year as part of a larger project to rebuild its Career & Technical Education curriculum.
“I can’t stand by and watch the Des Moines FFA Chapter and Agriscience program disappear,” said Liliann, a current senior at Roosevelt High School, passionately addressing the DMPS School Board at their meeting on March 4.
The program footprint includes a brand-new learning facility, an on-site barn, a student-run store, and three greenhouses. All these fantastic resources will be inaccessible to students for an entire year if the district moves forward with its one-year pause to redevelop the curriculum.
“We cannot let this program disappear,” Agriscience Academy Alumni Trinity Barth wrote in her letter to me asking for help. “This program is one of the most unique and impactful agricultural education programs in the state of Iowa. It is one of the most diverse, with students from a wide range of backgrounds, and a majority of its members are female–things that are especially significant in an industry that is historically dominated by white men.”
While the DMPS School Board leaders argue that the program “lacks credibility” and “does not reflect the diverse lived experiences of DMPS students,” the students strongly disagree. They are now eloquently defending the program, point for point, in a way that only an FFA student could!
“[Our district] is home to one of only two Jr. MANRRS (Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences) programs in Iowa, helping introduce students of all backgrounds to careers in agriculture and natural resources,” Trinity continues in her letter. “MANRRS is most commonly found at the collegiate level, but our school is one of the few high schools in the country to offer it. We even collaborate with MANRRS students at Iowa State University, giving our students direct connections to future industry professionals and real-world opportunities.”
Here are just a few of Trinity and Liliann’s most esteemed accomplishments, which they credit to their enrollment in the Agriscience Academy:
- In 2023, Trinity and her team won the Iowa FFA Veterinary Science CDE, earning them a spot at nationals. The team earned a bronze medal at the national competition, and she earned a silver medal individually.
- One week later, Trinity competed in another national Veterinary Science CDE through Texas A&M University, where she placed second in the nation.
- In 2024, Liliann, their FFA Chapter’s current president, took home the first-place plaque in both the sub-district and district Job Interview LDE, earning a spot at the state competition.
- Last July, Liliann was crowned the Polk Country Fair Queen, an opportunity she found directly through the passionate advisors of the program.
Photos Courtesy of Trinity Barth and Liliann Tjaden-Duff
ADVOCATING FOR AG TEACHERS
They are also speaking out to protect the job of their ag teacher, Mr. Kevin Anderson, and further destabilize the program’s future. (A reasonable fear stems from the district’s decision last year to eliminate the position of their former horticultural expert, Ms. Heidi Mandt, who was laid off due to budget cuts. The girls believe this decision caused many engaged students to exit the program.
“This program—and more importantly, Mr. Anderson [the program’s teacher] have shaped who I am today. Without them, I wouldn’t be standing here as the Polk County Fair Queen and a State Veterinary Science Champion, or a contender on the state job interview stage. I would not have the passion or the skills that I carry with me every day. Mr. Anderson is the most passionate individual I’ve ever met. He doesn’t just teach ag; he lives it. He invests in his students and pushes us to be better, and he helps us find opportunities we never could have imagined. He taught me leadership, professionalism, and the value of hard work. Without him, I wouldn’t have stepped into the Fair Queen role. I wouldn’t have competed at the highest levels, and I certainly wouldn’t have the voice to stand before you today.”
THE FUTURE OF AG EDUCATION IN DES MOINES
“But this program is not about me,” Liliann told the School Board. “It’s about the hundreds of students who have benefited from opportunities that no other FFA chapter in the state can provide. We are the only chapter in the state with an on-site barn. We also have three greenhouses, a hydroponic system, and an orchard. We are on the cutting edge of agricultural education, providing hands-on experiences to prepare students for their futures. We are a self-sustaining program with help from our student-run plant sale and livestock auctions. Why take away these life-changing opportunities for students who genuinely want to participate in them?”
That’s a great question! Beyond its association with MANNRS, the Academy also works directly with NASA. It also listed FarmHER as one of its Environmental and Agri-Science Partners. As one of the program’s partners, we are horrified to learn its future is in peril.
FARMHER’S ROLE IN THIS FIGHT
This comes directly from Trinity’s letter to FarmHER:
“FarmHER has been a champion for women in agriculture, highlighting the stories of those breaking barriers and making a difference. This program has been doing just that: encouraging young women to step into an industry where they are still underrepresented. If the program is paused, many of these young women may never get the chance to pursue agriculture, livestock, veterinary science, or agribusiness.
I am reaching out to ask if FarmHER can help us spread awareness about this issue and rally support to save our program. We need all the support we can get to ensure that this program, our FFA chapter, and Jr. MANRRS continue to serve students for years to come.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I truly appreciate everything FarmHER does to empower women in agriculture such as myself, and I hope we can work together to jeep agricultural education alive in Des Moines and keep it accessible to urban youth!”
Here are some resources about our program and our fight:
- Sign Their Petition: https://chng.it/vtNTgXyfK7
- Watch a Recording of the DMPS School Board Meeting on March 4, 2025: https://www.youtube.com/live/pI8OLVxHpWs?si=lnFxeAgY6woDIngL&t=334
- Reach out to the Des Moines School Board with personal stories of how agricultural education and participation in the National FFA Organization led to your success in agriculture.