After more than twenty years working with FFA, Purdue AGR alumnus Rick Nagel has decided to pursue a different calling. Nagel announced in August that he would be leaving the Indiana FFA Organization and begin studying theology at St. Meinrad’s Seminary in southern Indiana. Rick is currently in his first year of Seminary. His study of Theology is a five-year formation program in which he will have the opportunityto study the Christian faith, serve in hospital ministry, study Spanish in a Central America emersion program and study in Rome and the Holy Land. He is studying for the Indianapolis Archdiocese and will be ordained as a parish priest to serve within the diocese.

Rick’s journey in the FFA began just three weeks after he graduated from high school, when he was elected to serve the Indiana FFA Association as their student president for one year. He traveled over 30,000 miles giving keynote addresses, challenging high school students through leadership sessions and sitting with his peers one on one to share life experiences and answer life’s tough questions for teens. Nagel says that it was during this time that he “developed a greater love for servant leadership and community development.”

After his year of service with the FFA, he headed off to Purdue University to study agricultural education to teach high school. It was then that Nagel found Alpha Gamma Rho and met many mentors and friends.

While in college, Nagel enjoyed some great summers in Washington DC as an intern. While working for the US Department of Education through the National FFA Organization as a leadership counselor and director, his team taught patriotism, leadership and community building skills to hundreds of kids from across the
country.

Soon after graduating from Purdue University, Rick taught high school agriscience, agribusiness and leadership classes in a rural farming community in northwest Indiana. After six years at Tri-County High School, he took a one-year position to build and open a new agriscience and business magnet program in inner city Indianapolis, STAR academy. Living and working in the city was a great challenge for Rick, but he learned that kids are kids, no matter where they live. Thus, they created one of the first urban agricultural programs for college bound students in the world.

His journey in education then took him to the State Department of Education where he served for three years as the Executive Director of the Indiana FFA Association. While there, he led the 9,000 student organization in planning, leadership development, visioning and programmatic implementation. Finally, his career path led him to serve as State Executive Director for the Indiana FFA Foundation and Leadership Center.
His responsibilities included fund raising, leadership development, and visioning.

Nagel says that his “career with the Indiana FFA was more of a vocation than a job. I always felt blessed to be given the opportunity to give my time to youth leadership, career and personal development.
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As an agriculturalist, it was rewarding to represent the future generation of leaders in our industry while working alongside outstanding professionals from across the state and nation.”

When asked how his experience in Alpha Gamma Rho has affected him, Nagel said, “I am proud to be an AGR for ‘four years and a lifetime.’” My experience as an undergrad challenged me to grow professionally, socially and personally. The impact that my peers had on me influenced many of my life decisions. Today, I am proud to hear of the successes of my brothers; from career to family and from their personal contributions in agriculture to the impact they have made on their communities. Personally, I have found the greatest satisfaction in encouraging young men to become AGR Brothers as I know they will become better men because of the experience.”


Nagel also credits his family for his successes: “God called me to serve Him as a Seminarian (and eventually as a Roman Catholic Priest) by giving me people in my life who helped me see my calling. Undoubtedly, being raised in a Catholic Christian home was the foundation for my faith. While my father passed away five years ago, he is still ever present in my life today, as he was prior to his passing. And, my mother is a living example of Christianity. Together, they raised nine kids on 350 acres of cropland and livestock. The way in which they chose to live their lives is one of the examples I try to follow every day.
Rick Nagel is an AGR brother that all can be proud to call “brother.” He is grateful to understand that there is something greater than self to serve and thanks God for the gifts he has been blessed with to be a servant leader in life.

Rick also has had the opportunity to share classes and fellowship with a fellow AGR brother while attending seminary school. T.J. Hart, from the University of Arkansas (Alpha Iota Chapter) is also attending seminary school at St. Meinrad’s. Rick said that it has been wonderful having a fellow AGR brother attend classes with him and really shows what a small (AGR) world it is!

Brother Hart also said that it was somewhat of a surprise to meet a fellow AGR brother at seminary, but it has been a blessing for him. The two have become very close friends, and have found many commonalities. The brotherhood bond that they have in AGR has been streghthened in the bonds of the Lord.

If you would like to contact Rick, his e-mail address is:
rnagel@saintmeinrad.edu
 

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