Washington Soil and Water Conservation District honors Blinn professor Doug Pierce

Agricultural Sciences Department instructor receives Conservation Teacher of the Year honor

September 10, 2021

Blinn College District Agricultural Sciences Professor Doug Pierce has been honored for his commitment to conservation education.

Washington Soil and Water Conservation District No. 348 named Pierce its 2020 Conservation Teacher of the Year. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a reception honoring Pierce was postponed until Friday, when a reception was held at Blinn’s W.J. “Bill” Rankin Agricultural Complex.

A former Washington County Extension agent before joining Blinn College in 1993, Pierce is nationally recognized for his leadership in the education field and his willingness to volunteer to help students at local, state, and national events.

Ronnie Schulte, chair of the Washington Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Directors, said Pierce is deserving of recognition by the organization, not only for his conservation efforts but his devotion to helping others. Pierce was a unanimous selection by the conservation district board of directors.

“We got to know Doug through 4-H when our kids were involved. Doug was the Extension agent here,” said Schulte. “Through all those years, he’s shown his commitment not only to agriculture but to helping youngsters. He helps everyone he can.

“When my son was trying to get into vet school, Doug was kind enough to write letters for him. He’s just always been willing to help the young folks out. He puts the kids first.”

Debbi Vavra, Dean of Blinn’s Division of Arts, Kinesiology, and Agriculture, said Pierce “is a truly gifted teacher and advocate for agriculture.”

“He has spent countless hours working with students and community members to promote agriculture and soil and water conservation,” Vavra said. “His passion and love for agriculture have made a tremendous impact, particularly on the youth of our community.”

Pierce asked that in lieu of an award, the conservation district fund a $250 scholarship and chose Blinn agricultural sciences student Richard Schilling Jr. to receive it. The scholarship was presented Friday to the Blinn College Foundation.

“I chose Ricky because he has been very heavily involved in agriculture since he was very young,” Pierce said. “Ricky is not your typical 4-H and FFA students. Yes, he’s been very successful in his projects, winning nationals with his ag mechanics projects, but he has also been involved in hands-on ag – planting, harvesting, and feeding crops – for many years. Ricky ‘lives’ his passion for ag and understands how conservation of resources affects his future profession.”

Blinn’s Agricultural Sciences Program is the largest two-year agricultural program in the state. It also has one of the most active extracurricular programs in Texas, including the Agriculture Club, Agricultural Mechanics, and livestock judging team.

Blinn offers agricultural sciences classes in Brenham, Bryan, Schulenburg, Sealy, and at its facilities on The Texas A&M University System’s RELLIS Campus in Bryan.

For more information, visit www.blinn.edu/agricultural-sciences.