Aces of Trades: Brenna Loxley is helping to build a new program at Harding High School
She’s a teacher — now. But growing up, she never even thought about it.
“I was a pretty active kid and loved living on the farm,” recalled Brenna Loxley. “I was really involved in our county 4-H program and Junior Fair. I also really loved showing swine at our county fair.”
“I also really liked school,” she added, “especially art, social studies, and science classes. When I was younger, I remember wanting to be an artist. Then a lawyer. Then I actually decided on swine nutrition, which was what I declared as my major when I applied to college. I never even considered teaching.”
Started the agriscience program at Harding
Today, Loxley is the agribusiness instructor and FFA advisor at Harding High School.
“I teach courses in the agribusiness pathway,” she explained. “This past year I taught agriculture, food, natural resources and animal and plant science. This coming school year I’ll be teaching those two courses, along with greenhouse and nursery management and agricultural business.”
Loxley grew up in western Ohio, in a small town called Arcanum. She graduated from Arcanum High School in 2017, then Ohio State with a degree in agriscience education.
“I always liked working with the younger kids in my 4-H club,” Loxley said, “and I loved being a camp counselor and assisting with programs where I got to teach new ideas and skills. But again, I never really considered being an actual teacher. It wasn't until my senior year of high school that I thought about it. We didn’t have an agriculture program at my high school until then. I wasn’t familiar with what was taught or really what FFA was either. But once I actually had the opportunity to partake, I fell in love with it. I decided that spring to go ahead and change my declared major to agriscience education. I never looked back.”
Loxley started teaching at Harding in 2022.
“I came across the posting and saw they were looking to start a new agriculture program, which really appealed to me since I had come from a new program myself," she said. "So after a little research about Marion and Harding, I knew this would be a great fit. I knew I wanted to be in a more urban/suburban district, and then with the addition of the Microfarm, I was sold.”
Marcia Pitts is the college and career pathways supervisor at Harding High School.
A passion for the agriculture industry
“We’re fortunate to have Brenna developing and building our agricultural pathway at Harding High School,” assessed Pitts. “Her knowledge and expertise in the field are immeasurable assets to our students and community. She strives to provide new opportunities for learning and leadership through her courses and the FFA program.”
“I love being in the classroom and working with the students,” Loxley responded. “I also have a passion for the agriculture industry. There are so many amazing things that an agriculture program offers students. I find a great deal of value in being able to teach students about where the everyday items they consume come from, and that agriculture is much more than just farming.”
“I’ve found a great home here at Harding,” she summed. “I adore the individuals I work with and the students I’ve been fortunate enough to have in my classroom. There’s never been a day I dreaded coming to work here. I’m very blessed to be where I am!”
Aces of Trades is a weekly series focusing on people and their jobs – whether they’re unusual jobs, fun jobs or people who take ordinary jobs and make them extraordinary. If you have a suggestion for a future profile, let us know at news@marionstar.com.
This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Brenna Loxley shares her passion for agriculture with Harding students
