Submitted by National Association of Agricultural Educators
NASHVILLE, Tennessee – Ashley Holloman, agricultural educator at Corinth Holders High School in Archer Lodge, North Carolina is one of six agricultural educators nationwide who received the 2025 National Association of Agricultural Educators’ Outstanding Agriculture Teacher Award. The award was presented during the 2025 NAAE Convention, December 8-12, in Nashville.
The NAAE Outstanding Agriculture Teacher Award recognizes active NAAE members who are at the pinnacle of their careers, conducting the highest quality agricultural education programs. It rewards them for their excellence, leadership, and service in the agricultural education profession. It highlights each teacher’s ability to draw upon community resources to provide relevant and meaningful educational experiences for all students. Award recipients demonstrate how they are innovators and catalysts for agricultural education. The NAAE Outstanding Agriculture Teacher Award is sponsored by Tractor Supply Co.
Over the past 12 years, Holloman has cultivated a classroom environment where students from all backgrounds feel seen, challenged, and capable of success. Through her leadership, she has secured more than $27,000 in grant funding to enhance her program’s school farm and facilities, providing students with hands-on experience in livestock production, animal handling, and biosecurity practices.
Holloman’s instruction extends well beyond the barn. Her students apply scientific concepts through activities such as cattle genetics laboratories and industry-standard expected progeny difference (EPD) analysis. Every student in her program completes a supervised agricultural experience (SAE), with many projects evolving into long-term career pathways. Most recently, Holloman was selected to participate in the NAAE National Agriscience Teacher Ambassador Program, further strengthening her instruction and impact on agricultural education.
NAAE is the professional organization for agricultural educators with over 10,000 members nationwide. The organization advocates for agricultural education, provides advancement through professional development for agricultural educators, and works to recruit and retain agricultural educators in the profession. NAAE offers a variety of programs and services to support this three-pronged mission. The mission of NAAE is “professionals providing agricultural education for the global community through visionary leadership, advocacy and service.” NAAE is headquartered in Lexington, Ky.