Education for me began in small schoolhouses in rural Nebraska, with one teacher for up to nine grades. Older students often taught younger ones—and I fell in love with helping students learn.
The most satisfying part of teaching was seeing students excel. I retired 12 years ago from Nebraska’s Naper Public Schools, where I was a librarian and English teacher. But I still get satisfaction today when I see my former students create successful careers and lives.
Early in my career, I began to recognize, forces outside of the classroom that kept us from doing our jobs properly. I would also see students who would be good teachers, but I knew they would not be adequately compensated.
After a few years, a colleague asked me to attend a meeting of my local union and I discovered it was a vehicle for teachers to have more of a say. Over time, I served in a variety of union positions locally and nationally.
In retirement, my wife and I moved to our family farm. We began to enjoy our dream of farming and travel until when we discovered that the Keystone XL pipeline was slated to dissect our farm.
We organized a concert with Willie Nelson and Neil Young, gave 10 acres of land back to the Ponca Nation, and created four huge crop arts about the struggle.
Changing the political environment has become critical to me.
One way I’ve been involved is by collaborating on giant crop art in Iowa. We created images that supported Joe Biden for president, called attention to the recent U.S. Senate elections in Georgia, and honored the late John Lewis with his image and a get-out-the-vote message.
I was recently elected as the natural resource district director for my region. This position gives me an opportunity to pass on information regarding the most efficient and environmentally friendly farming and land-use methods to others.
It is another opportunity to teach.
