Picture yourself nominated for a prestigious national award that recognizes you for going above and beyond as an educator, only to be genuinely surprised when you win because, after all, you were just doing what you love.
That’s Michaela Kehrer’s story.
Mrs. Kehrer is an Ag Teacher at Greenville High School and a 2026 recipient of the Honorary American FFA Degree. It’s the highest honor a member can achieve in the National FFA Organization.
The FFA’s progressive degree system rewards members for active participation, leadership, and hands-on agricultural experience. Achieving its highest honor is rare, accomplished by fewer than 1% of members. According to the organization’s website, "Each year, those individuals who have made outstanding contributions to national FFA are honored with the Honorary American FFA Degree."
Mrs. Kehrer’s dedication caught the eye of the Executive Secretary of the New York State Association of FFA, who nominated her for the award. Karleigh Kehrer took the stage at the 99th National FFA Convention and Expo in Indianapolis this week to accept the award on her mother’s behalf.
Though Mrs. Kehrer humbly insists she’s just doing her job, it’s clear why she was selected to receive this remarkable distinction.
Mrs. Kehrer’s FFA journey began back in Rhode Island, when her father’s friend, an agriculture teacher, challenged her to attend an FFA meeting, promising that if she didn’t enjoy it, he’d never ask again. Spoiler alert: she enjoyed it. Mrs. Kehrer continued her FFA career throughout school, and eventually chose to pursue a career in Ag Education.
From 2006 to 2017, she taught in Greenville and played a vital role in the FFA chapter. Her next adventure took her to Berne-Knox-Westerlo, where she helped launch their Ag Program and FFA chapter from the ground up. Her efforts earned her the National Association of Agricultural Educators Region VI Outstanding Secondary Agricultural Teacher Award in 2021. This year, Greenville welcomed her back.
Mrs. Kehrer takes a unique approach to teaching. Just this week, her Ag Business class was spotted outdoors, hands in the soil, planting garlic. Students are learning about value-added products and how they can transform raw materials into even more valuable products to extend their sales season and reduce waste. The class’s homegrown garlic will soon become a real-life value-added product, like garlic-infused olive oil, garlic powder, or roasted garlic.
Her philosophy is simple: get to know each student’s goals and interests, then shape her teaching to help them thrive.
“I’m not naive enough to think all of my students will go into Ag, but I can support all of their interests.” Recently, she discovered several students who hope to become wildlife rehabilitators… a perfect fit for her curriculum! Instead of stopping at a few engaging lessons, she’s taking things a step further by helping them prepare for the Wildlife Rehabilitator Exam in May, so students can leave her class having taken a step toward achieving their goals.
Mrs. Kehrer is thankful to FFA for the opportunities it provides students. She explained that the organization is more than just farming education: it’s business, biotechnology, animal science, environmental science, and so much more. FFA is a space where students can connect, discover new perspectives, and carve out their own unique experiences. “There’s a place for every kid at the table in FFA.”
Mrs. Kehrer kept the news about her award to herself. When asked about it, her response was simple: “It’s an honor and a privilege.” She went on to talk about her students and her team. “Education is a team effort. It’s about supporting kids. There’s nothing better than seeing kids be successful at what they do.”
It’s this humility that truly sets her apart. Mrs. Kehrer’s focus remains on her students and their success, never on herself.
Greenville Central School District is proud to have such an inspiring educator among our faculty. Congratulations to Mrs. Kehrer - the Honorary American FFA Degree is truly well deserved.