Hello! My name is Sophie Voris and I am your McDowell High School Agriculture Instructor! I am ecstatic to be starting my 5th year of teaching in McDowell County Schools. I have previously taught at both East and West McDowell Middle School(s) as the Middle School Ag Teacher and for the past two years I have been blessed to teach here at MHS as the Agricultural Instructor and FFA (Future Farmers of America) Advisor. FFA is a national organization that has over a million members nationwide who are eager to be involved with agriculture and strive to be a leader in their home, community, and school. Our high school FFA chapter is rapidly growing and any MHS student who is enrolled in an Ag class can become a member. The agriculture classes that I offer at MHS are Animal Science I, II and Vet Assisting, Horticulture I and II, and Floriculture Design and Management. The career opportunities that can stem from these CTE courses are limitless. My career started after I completed all my courses at Blue Ridge Community College and the University of Mount Olive. I obtained my Associates in Science from BRCC in 2018 and then transferred to UMO where I earned my Bachelors in Agricultural Business in 2021. It wasn't until my first year teaching that I enrolled back into UMO to obtain my teaching license. While balancing teaching and school, I also carry the blessings of my family and farm on my shoulders. My husband of 7 years, Jacob is the West McDowell Middle Boys Basketball coach and he works for Case Farms as a Broiler Chicken Service Tech. While holding down our jobs, we also assist in running the Eplee Centennial Farm in Glenwood. The family farm is where we raise Berkshire Hogs for pork production and livestock show animal stock. Along with our careers, we also have two children and a basset hound. When we are not working, we enjoy hunting, fishing and keeping things competitive with game nights. I am an agriculture educator by choice and not by chance. I chose education as a career because when I was in agriculture classes and FFA as a student, I saw the impact that my own ag teachers had on me and what a difference they made in the lives of students. I come back every year to teach at MHS because of the amazing support that I get from the CTE (Career and Technical Education Department), the new administration, and above all my FFA members and students!