Jay Shepherd is much more than an educator; he is a man with many hats. In this episode of Beyond the Gate, Jamie sits down with the Lawrence County native to reflect on a 27-year career dedicated to the "three-circle model" of ag education combining classroom learning, FFA leadership, and hands-on projects.

From teaching the FFA Creed in a neighbor’s kitchen to seeing a student become a Star American Farmer, Jay shares the stories that define his "calling" to the classroom. We dive into the grit required to build an animal science lab from scratch and why modern ag ed is still the key to feeding the world in 2026. It is a raw look at the power of setting high expectations and watching students discover their own potential.

​​​​​​​Thanks to our sponsor, Co-Angler! 

Jay Shepherd is much more than an educator; he is a man with many hats. In this episode of&nbsp;Beyond the Gate, Jamie sits down with&nbsp;the Lawrence County native to reflect on a 27-year career dedicated to the "three-circle model" of ag education combining classroom learning, FFA leadership, and hands-on projects. From teaching the FFA Creed in a neighbor&rsquo;s kitchen to seeing a student become a Star American Farmer, Jay shares the stories that define his "calling" to the classroom. We dive into the grit required to build an animal science lab from scratch and why modern ag ed is still the key to feeding the world in 2026. It is a raw look at the power of setting high expectations and watching students discover their own potential. ​​​​​​​Thanks to our sponsor,&nbsp;<a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__t.dripemail2.com_c_eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.7870HZ2Qe8-2DKAGsmyFpUzI9YRFZ0GTwX0F-2Dyjz0Uw-5FM&amp;d=DwMFaQ&amp;c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&amp;r=ux_7MDobVJweUTsDAx6WvxozYTVP8fIp2wOO-IdRP4Y&amp;m=VbuvLMz228C6_DZDHrxIwDesFg6cnYijaDcspJ-kz8Inq5hkfGpkg3gIxnZpJlBx&amp;s=LNMT7hYHy3jvMUVhdDgDQDchW5rwGHXZIDpAWZIvwnk&amp;e=" data-cke-saved-href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__t.dripemail2.com_c_eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.7870HZ2Qe8-2DKAGsmyFpUzI9YRFZ0GTwX0F-2Dyjz0Uw-5FM&amp;d=DwMFaQ&amp;c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&amp;r=ux_7MDobVJweUTsDAx6WvxozYTVP8fIp2wOO-IdRP4Y&amp;m=VbuvLMz228C6_DZDHrxIwDesFg6cnYijaDcspJ-kz8Inq5hkfGpkg3gIxnZpJlBx&amp;s=LNMT7hYHy3jvMUVhdDgDQDchW5rwGHXZIDpAWZIvwnk&amp;e=">Co-Angler</a>!&nbsp;

Join host Jamie Johansen for Beyond The Gate, a podcast sharing the grit, growth, and spirit of rural life. From fields to front porches, this is where the heart of agriculture comes alive as we celebrate the people, challenges, and triumphs that define rural life.

Whether you’re in the tractor, at the kitchen table, or on the road, we’re bringing the heart of agriculture straight to you. The gate’s open… are you ready to step through?

Join host Jamie Johansen for&nbsp;Beyond The Gate, a podcast sharing the grit, growth, and spirit of rural life. From fields to front porches, this is where the heart of agriculture comes alive as we celebrate the people, challenges, and triumphs that define rural life.
Whether you&rsquo;re in the tractor, at the kitchen table, or on the road, we&rsquo;re bringing the heart of agriculture straight to you. The gate&rsquo;s open&hellip; are you ready to step through?

Beyond The Gate

Join host Jamie Johansen for Beyond The Gate, a podcast sharing the grit, growth, and spirit of rural life. From fields to front porches, this is where the heart of agriculture comes alive as we celebrate the people, challenges, and triumphs that define rural life.

Whether you’re in the tractor, at the kitchen table, or on the road, we’re bringing the heart of agriculture straight to you. The gate’s open… are you ready to step through?

Episodes drop every other Wednesday, starting TOMORROW, on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.

Join host Jamie Johansen for Beyond The Gate, a podcast sharing the grit, growth, and spirit of rural life. From fields to front porches, this is where the heart of agriculture comes alive as we celebrate the people, challenges, and triumphs that define rural life.
Whether you&rsquo;re in the tractor, at the kitchen table, or on the road, we&rsquo;re bringing the heart of agriculture straight to you. The gate&rsquo;s open&hellip; are you ready to step through?
Episodes drop every other Wednesday, starting TOMORROW, on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.