McLouth FFA Facebook page

Hinrichsen, a 2007 Tonganoxie High School graduate, went into animal science at K-State.

She said she didn’t have any forethought into a career. Many go into pharmaceutical sales or agriculture production. She also was considering a job with K-State Research and Extension.

During a summer internship with research and extension in Great Bend, someone walked into the office and asked what she planned to choose for a career. The person then mentioned that K-State recently was approved for agriculture instruction.

The conversation stuck.

Hinrichsen continued toward her bachelor’s in animal science and earned a master’s in agriculture instruction. She also earned minors in leadership and business. In the process, she became the first Wildcat to complete that master’s program.

She headed to Marysville to complete her student-teaching requirements and then landed quite close to home to start her own program.

Hinrichsen became the first agriculture education teacher at McLouth in 2013 and started an FFA chapter there as well.

“We started with 26 students and now have 85,” Hinrichsen said about the chapter.

McLouth also hired a second teacher in 2021.

Marie Umphenour, who student taught under Hinrichsen, teaches food science and plant science.

Timing worked out well for both Hinrichsen and Umphenour.

Hinrichsen came to McLouth after longtime industrial arts teacher George Karn retired. McLouth moved toward a metals shop and Hinrichsen taught welding and animal science. Umphenour arrived after longtime family and consumer sciences teacher Sandy Walbridge retired. Umphenour’s emphasis on food science helped fill that void while offering more agriculture science classes.

For Hinrichsen, the McLouth position was at a challenging crossroads if you ask some in the profession — a first-year teacher starting a new department.

“I would say the word that describes it is “exciting,” Hinrichsen said. “They say it’s two beasts you don’t want to tackle simultaneously. For me it worked.”

Hinrichsen said she was at an advantage because she knew in March she had the job, so she had several months to prepare. She also cited resources, networking and “a lot of professional development” preparing her for the position at McLouth.

“It also helped that I was welcomed into a community that was ready to have an ag teacher,” Hinrichsen explained. “It made that transition, I would say, seamless.”

The McLouth FFA chapter has continued to grow and found major success along the way.

Her students have won a state horse judging competition and represented Kansas at nationals, something Hinrichsen described as a “huge accomplishment.”

“We are pretty fortunate to have some success in state horse judging, ag sales, food science, pretty consistently,” she said.

A priority during Hinrichsen’s tenure has been community involvement.

“Our FFA chapter tries really hard to be present in the community, focus on community need and community service projects,” she said.

For instance, McLouth has the Pals Program in which MHS juniors and seniors are pared with elementary classes for ag literacy lessons and to help foster that education at the elementary level. It also opens the door for students who have an interest in the ag program, which actually starts with classes in seventh grade.

The FFA chapter also runs the school’s food pantry. String bags are available to students from preschool through 12th grade. Perishable items such as fruits, vegetables, chicken breasts and hamburger are sent home with students, while any student can utilized the food pantry during the week. The chapter secured grant funding to help make the pantry a reality.

FFA students also are in charge of the recycling program at the middle and high schools.

Keeping with the community involvement, FFA recognizes faculty and staff within the school through special recognition, such as bus driver, administrator, counselor and nurse appreciation days, to name a few.

Students provide cookies and hand-written cards “to show these adults that are working we see their hard work and that we appreciate them,” the McLouth ag teacher said.

In addition, students volunteer twice a year at the Ronald McDonald House in Kansas City.

Growth in the department has also been experienced in the plant sciences.

The school district completed a greenhouse on campus earlier this school year. Umphenour had been using garden towers in her classroom her first three years. Now, students are gearing up for their first plant sale, which will be April 25-26 at the greenhouse on the McLouth schools campus.

This summer, McLouth students who are in 4-H can continue to enter categories at the Jefferson County Fair, but that fair is working toward adding some FFA divisions as well.

Hinrichsen’s thumbprint on agriculture in McLouth continues to be seen. She credits her time in Tonganoxie for fostering her drive with her career. And, she’s thankful to be back in her home area after college.

“I think Tonganoxie was an excellent place for me to develop passions and in a supportive environment and encouraging environment,” she said. “Tonganoxie has always been home to me. It’s where I want to be home.”

She has that passion for the agricultural field and is thankful she had the opportunity to immediately return home after college.

“It helps the stability of my program,” Hinrichsen said.

She said her students will tell her “don’t go anywhere” and she has no plans than to continue to grow the program at McLouth.

“I grew up a Chieftain,” Hinrichsen said. “My personal kids go to Tonganoxie because we live in the school district.

“But now I’m a Bulldog.”