Dr. Reynold GardnerDr. Reynold Gardner will take over leadership as the eleventh Specialist for Agriculture and Natural Resources in the Oregon Department of Education. Dr. Gardner began his new position on October 7, 2008.

A Wyoming native and past FFA State Officer, Reynold came to OSU on a wrestling scholarship and earned his B.S. degree in General Agriculture and his Masters of Agriculture at OSU. His first teaching position was in Junction City, Oregon, where he taught from 1996-2004. During his tenure at Junction City, the FFA Chapter earned state and national recognition in several Career Development Events. Under his coaching, Junction City FFA had two individual first place teams in National Career Development events and at the state level placed 1st, 2nd,or 3rd in 55 CDEs.

In 2005, Reynold was hired as an instructor in the Department of Agricultural Education and General Agriculture at Oregon State University. During his four year tenure, Reynold worked on a PhD and earned his degree in Educational Leadership in 2004.

Dr. Gardner is excited to serve as the eleventh Agricultural/Specialist for the State of Oregon. “I see a tremendous opportunity for Agricultural/Natural Resource Education in the State of Oregon. Even with the tough times that we currently face, there is a ground swell of activities and energy that surround Agricultural Education in the state.” Gardner went on to say that he would like to “see the further development and strengthening of Team AgEd as the vehicle to bind the common interests and stake-holders of the agriculture community together and further the expansion of Agricultural Education.”

As Advisor for Oregon FFA Association, Dr. Gardner will provide leadership in assisting in forging the connection between Agricultural/Natural Resource Education and the events and happenings within the Oregon Department of Education. Gardner presents the complete package with his experience in production agriculture, personal FFA experience, university training and eight successful years of secondary Agricultural Education classroom experience. Reynold is truly one of us and will represent the needs and demands of the agricultural education community.

Reynold and his wife Jennifer have three children: 8 year old Chandler Chandler, 6 year old Evan, and the newest member of the family family, 15 month old Elise.