How ATA Prepares Students for the Future
Alpha Tau Alpha (ATA) at the University of Wyoming supports students who want to pursue agricultural education. As a national honorary group, ATA helps future educators, extension agents, and agricultural leaders build their skills. The UW chapter brings students together for hands-on learning, professional growth, and service, creating a strong community dedicated to advancing agricultural education in Wyoming and beyond.
Alpha Tau Alpha was founded in 1921 to promote the highest standards in agricultural education and to support students preparing for careers in teaching and extension. At UW, the chapter is housed within the College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources, and it serves as a vital complement to the university’s agricultural education curriculum. Membership is open to students who have declared a major in agricultural education, extension education, or are interested in supporting Wyoming FFA.
ATA’s mission is about more than just academic achievement. The group helps members learn what it means to be an agricultural educator and explore the available opportunities. ATA also encourages students to connect with peers, faculty, and professionals, building a support network that continues after graduation.
A key feature of the UW’s ATA chapter is its focus on learning through hands-on experience. Members often join workshops, conferences, and networking events with agricultural educators from around the country. These experiences help students see effective teaching in action, learn classroom management tips, and discover new ways to teach agriculture.
In addition to national activities, ATA members join statewide projects. The chapter partners with the Wyoming State FFA Association to help plan, run, and judge camps and contests. By working behind the scenes, students learn how to organize and lead FFA programs, an important skill for future agricultural teachers and FFA advisors.
Club member, Jace Gregory, said, “ATA is good for non-ag ed majors too… at most state FFA conventions, there’s always some sort of career fair. So you get to see that and can find different connections with things more into your major.”
Service is central to ATA’s mission, and the UW chapter shows this through active community outreach. Members volunteer at local agricultural events, mentor high school students, and support youth development programs, all with a commitment to making a positive difference.
These service experiences strengthen the values of agricultural education and help students build the people and organizational skills they need to succeed. Leadership development is part of everything ATA does, encouraging students to take initiative, work well with others, and promote agricultural literacy.
UW’s ATA chapter also helps with fundraising and advocacy. During the university’s annual Giving Day, the group raises money to support travel, training, and enrichment for its members. They also help raise money for CALSNR during the annual AG Day barbecue in October.
For many students, ATA provides a sense of belonging and purpose at UW. The group builds a close community where members share experiences, offer advice, and celebrate achievements. Faculty advisors mentor students, helping them handle academic challenges and prepare for careers in teaching or extension.
This supportive environment matters, especially in a field that needs both technical skills and emotional strength. Agricultural educators often work in rural areas, take on many responsibilities, and serve as role models for students. ATA helps members build the confidence and skills they need to succeed.
Jazz Culp, a junior in the agriculture education department, said, “You definitely make friendships with high school teachers, because once you graduate, they are willing to help you out and can even assist in finding jobs. It’s all a big community.”
The University of Wyoming’s agricultural education program has a long tradition that reflects the state’s ranching and farming roots. ATA honors this history but also welcomes new ideas and change. Members learn about topics like sustainable agriculture, agri-science, and digital learning tools to keep their teaching current and effective.
This mix of tradition and progress shows in how the chapter develops curriculum, engages in the classroom, and reaches out to the community. ATA encourages students to think carefully about agriculture’s role in society and to inspire their future students to do the same.
As the need for skilled agricultural educators grows, groups like Alpha Tau Alpha matter more than ever. UW’s chapter prepares graduates who are knowledgeable, passionate, adaptable, and committed to learning throughout their careers.
ATA’s impact goes far beyond the university. Alumni lead classrooms, extension offices, and agricultural programs across Wyoming and the country. They carry the values of integrity, service, scholarship, and leadership with them as they help shape the future of agriculture.
For students thinking about a career in agricultural education, joining ATA at the University of Wyoming is more than a resume builder.
If you’re interested in joining the UW ATA chapter, visit the Cowbell website and search for their name.
