Jim Stephenson:
CLASS OF 1968
West Washington High SchoolClass of 1968
Campbellsburg, IN
Seymour High SchoolClass of 2013
Seymour, IN
Eastern High SchoolClass of 1984
Pekin, IN
Salem High SchoolClass of 1984
Salem, IN
Brownstown High SchoolClass of 1973
Brownstown, IN
Jim's Story
Life
Hi everyone. After graduating from West Washington HS, I went to Purdue, receiving a BS and MS in Agriculture Education. I also attended IU and received a minor in biology. I have taught agriculture and biology at Brownstown, Pekin Eastern, and Seymour High Schools. I have lived in Seymour since 1984, and am retired from my job here as agriculture teacher at Seymour High School. I managed the school's 215 acre farm as well as taught about 150 students per semester, and ran the FFA. I have trained several student teachers in agriculture here at Seymour HS, and I have worked as a University Supervisor for Student Teachers for Purdue also in the past. I love to work with kids which can be very challenging but also very rewarding. I play golf these days with some guys I played football with/against in high school. I like to grow a garden, I judge ag science projects at local county fairs, and try to exercise to stay in decent shape. I love Purdue sports... GO BOILERS!! It would be nice to hear from any of you that care to email me.
School
Favorite Teachers?? I had several I think. Teachers that inspired me were Charlie Hoten, Ross Brown, Art Sanders, Ronnie Gilmer, and Bill Tower. Yes, I would do it all over again...I actually enjoyed high school. One of the funniest memories...while running to lunch from ag class which we were just warned NOT to do over the intercom, the whole class almost ran over Joe Gili, the principal, who was strategically stationed just around a corner, and who promptly marched the whole class back to ag and chewed us out for running to lunch. He also chewed out our ag teacher, Ross Brown, for not accompanying us to lunch to be sure we didn't run. Ross happened to be in the tool room smoking a cigarette at the time, which didn't go over so good either. Needless to say, Ross was NOT amused, and there was no joy in paradise in ag class for about a week. We developed the ability to WALK real fast but not run after that incident!
College
I lived in Carey Quad my freshme...Expand for more
n year at Purdue. Decided I had to get out of that place, and I pledged Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity. I had a blast in the fraternity house and made friendships that have endured to this very day. I actually tailgate at Purdue football games with some of the guys that were in the house.
I remember the night that my "buddies" stripped me off, ran with me around the fraternity house in front of a bunch of girls, threw me in the trunk of a car, drove me to the Wabash River and threw me in. Why the "special treatment?" No, they weren't trying to "tell me something" or practice "ethnic cleansing." They were just reacting to my getting engaged...nice guys... It wasn't so bad except the fact that it was about 40 degrees outside. Ever been tossed into a glass of icewater?? That's what it felt like. I've hated cold anything on the back of my neck ever since. I have nightmares about being the winning coach at a football game and having the cooler full of GatorAid poured down my back!!! I cringe when I see it happen to the winning coach!! Definitely some kind of post traumatic syndrome I think....
Workplace
I started out working on the farm doing everything from baling hay to shovelling (well, you know). Worked at my dad's Farm Supply Business during summers in college years. Put up grain bins one summer. I have taught school my entire working life with the exception of 3 years when I was a fulltime farmer. I have taught at Brownstown Central HS, Eastern HS, and Seymour HS. I also taught an agriculture course for veterans in the evenings at West Washington HS for 6 years. I have worked for Purdue University as a university supervisor for student teachers in agriculture education. I've been at my present job since 1984 where I teach agriculture education, am advisor to the FFA Chapter, and manage the school's 215 acre farm. I am looking to retire from teaching in 4-5 years and try something else just for fun. At least, that's the plan. I'd like to start my own business maybe. We'll have to see how things play out.
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