Crystal Retzlaff
Agriculture Educator and FFA Advisor
Oconto Falls High School
Oconto Falls, Wisconsin
The Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation and the American Farm Bureau Federation are honored to have awarded the achievements of the 2010 $10,000 Agriscience Educator’s Award Columbus Scholar.
Crystal Retzlaff was born in New London, Wisconsin, and was raised on a 150 daily cow farm. Her love for animals did not end with the cows; she stated raising sheep when she was eight year old, and joined 4-H so she could exhibit them at the county fair. When her father passed away when she was 14, the cows were sold but she kept her sheep.
Crystal received her Bachelor’s of Science degree in agricultural education from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, and received her Master’s of Science degree in agricultural education in 2010. She has been teaching at Oconto Falls High School for seven years. She teaches Genetics, Biotechnology, Pet/Companion Animals, Exploring Agriculture, Veterinary Science, Food Science, Introduction to Career Foods, Food Processing, Wildlife/Forestry, Animal Science, Landscape/Floriculture and Anatomy/Physiology. She also advises the 125-member local FFA. She received the Wisconsin State Agriscience Teacher of the Year award in 2006.
She is married to Austin Retzlaff and they have two small children. They live on a 25-acre hobby farm raising a flock of 18 Texel ewes.
The Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation is honored to have had the assistance of the following distinguished individuals serving on the 2010 Agriscience Awards Evaluation Committee:
- MeeCee Baker, Ph.D.
Partner, Chief Operating Officer
Versant Strategies
Harrisburg, PA - Gary Matteson
The Farm Credit Council
VP Young, Beginning, Small Farmer
Programs and Outreach
Washington, D.C. - Meghan Mueseler
Cargill, Inc.
Wichita, KS - Kevin Paap
President
Minnesota Farm Bureau
Minneapolis, MN - Robert W. Clark, Ph.D.
Professional Personnel Development Center
Workforce Education & Development Program
Penn State University
University Park, PA
