John T.  KabatAdvisor

John T.  Kabat

Advisor

Stationed by the owl

Fast Facts

  • Age: 46
  • Birthday: May 29, 1962
  • Advisors:
  • SAE: My SAE in high school was swine, beef, forage, corn, and soybeans.
  • Future Plans: I hope to continue to promote agriculture education.
  • Favorite Color: blue and green
  • Favorite Animal: hogs and cattle
  • Favorite CDE: soils, agronomy, livestock, meat science
  • Quote: Life is short, live it to the fullest each and every day.
  • Hobbies: Any activity outdoors including softball, walking in the woods, traveling, working with animals and anything on the farm.

What has been your most challenging FFA experience?

My most challenging experience teaching agriculture students for the past 24 years is trying to get everyone of my students involved in some event during the year. I want every student to learn about all the 300 career possibilities that they can pursue in their life. Most students do not understand that they can have a very rewarding career in the agriculture industry. We have a very severe shortage of students pursuing these 300 or more careers which make up 33 % of the workforce. Another challenging part of my life is balancing my FFA and agriculture experiences with being active with my family. I have a wonderful wife, with three children that are in the Senior class, Freshman class, and the sixth grade class.

Who has had the greatest impact on your life?

I have so many people that have affected my life, because my goal is to learn something good from everyone that I meet in my life. I especially am thankful to my parents who taught me about God. They showed my the big picture of life. I am especially thankful to my wife, Marcia, who has always been kind in letting me do so much teaching agriculture and running a fairly large livestock and grain farm. I also think about six to ten of my teachers who taught me so much about lessons and essential subjects in my life.

If you had a million dollars, what would you do with it?

If I had a million dollars, I would pay off my debt on the farm. I would also help my organizations like the FFA and feeding the poor. I would make matching gifts to encourage others to help the less fortunate. I don't want to see anyone starving in our great United States of America or any othe country. There would be no wars if everyone knew where their next bite of food would come from.

Final thought

I believe that everyone is put on this earth for a purpose. I don't think that we should feel sorry for ourselves, but we should always be thankful for what we have and try to encourage everyone around us to be a better person. I believe the field of agriculture has helped me to put my life in perspective with God and all the work he expects me to do. I have a great respect for human life and all God's creatures.




Advisor

Cherie Rogier

Advisor

Stationed by the owl

Fast Facts

  • Email: crogier@roe25.com
  • SAE: Beef Production, Landscape Management, Oil Crop Production
  • Future Plans:
  • Favorite Color: Orange and blue
  • Favorite Animal: Cows, cats
  • Favorite CDE: Public Speaking, Parliamentary Procedure
  • Quote: "You can't let one bad moment spoil a bunch of good ones."  - Dale Earnhardt
  • Hobbies: Tractor pulling, NASCAR, University of Illinois basketball and football

Why did you join FFA?

I was completely set against taking agriculture classes and joining FFA going into high school.  Our school's FFA advisor, Don Schmitz, talked to me and convinced me to try it for a year, and if I didn't like it, I could quit.  I took the class, went to National FFA Convention my freshman year, and was hooked.

Who has had the greatest impact on your life?

My parents have had the greatest impact on me.  They taught me that hard work, dedication, and perseverance are the keys to success.

If you had a million dollars, what would you do with it?

I would start my own herd of Simmental cattle and buy an International Pro Stock pulling tractor so I could spend my summers tractor pulling.

Final thought

Life life to its fullest, because you only live once.