Welcome our newest FFA Teacher, Brian Snyder! It’s his first year teaching Vet Science here at Tracy High, as well as Agricultural Chemistry. After teaching for a total of nine years at three different schools Snyder has chosen to stay at Tracy High because of the all-around positive community from staff and students.
Snyder explains why Tracy High is different from the previous schools he taught at.
“This is the first school that I’ve been at where the students are great and the staff are great,” Snyder explains.
Snyder has a long background in agriculture and FFA, growing up on a cattle ranch with an agricultural family and going through the FFA program himself in high school. He had a positive experience working in agriculture growing up and wanted to continue going down that path as a career.
Snyder took on teaching after being inspired by his own FFA teacher.
“There was this epiphanizing moment,” Snyder describes.
His teacher choosing him for a field trip, opening up a new world of FFA where he was able to get out of his shell and realize all the opportunities in front of him.
For some FFA students, Snyder not only takes on the role of a teacher, but also a mentor. Abigail Avila is a senior at Tracy High, as well as FFA’s vice president. Mr. Snyder is her dairy cattle advisor and dairy cattle judging coach.
“In each of these roles he has demonstrated an exceptional level of dedication to his students,” Avila states.
Snyder has created a very welcoming and supportive environment in his classroom that many students have quickly become fond of. Through his teaching you are able to see the passion he has for agriculture, FFA and his students. Although he has only been at Tracy High for a short amount of time he has had an outstanding positive impact for the school and students he teaches.
“Mr. Snyder has remained a constant source of encouragement and support,” Avila adds.
“I know that high school years can be tough,” Snyder acknowledges “There is a home for you to find in high school, you just have to look.”
A struggle he’s had to face himself, particularly while teaching is occasionally having students who have no prior knowledge or interest in agriculture.
“It was really hard to not take it personally,” Snyder expresses.
He explains, because of his background, family and cultural ties to ag. To overcome this feeling Mr. Snyder had to take on a broader outlook.
“Its been a challenge, but I’ve slowly gotten to the point where I know its not for everyone and I know its not necessarily personal,” Snyder states. “Its just like how math isn’t for everybody, science isn’t for everybody. Ag is the same way.”
Francesca Carillo, another FFA teacher here at Tracy High talks about his dedication to FFA and Tracy High.
“He is super passionate about FFA and he has been a great addition to the Tracy High Ag Department this year,” Carillo explained.
Mr. Snyder embodies and represents the family FFA is. He provides a safe place to grow and express yourself while learning!
