Erin Gorter, a lecturer in the Agricultural Education and Communication Department, was awarded an Honorary State FFA Degree at the 2023 California FFA State Leadership Conference in Ontario, California in March. The award is given to individuals who have provided exceptional service on a national level to agriculture, agricultural education, or the FFA. Gorter taught agriculture and leadership courses at San Luis Obispo High School (2008-2010) and Templeton High School (2010-2014). She teaches classes and supervises student teachers. She currently serves as the President-Elect for the California Agricultural Teachers’ Association and is the program director for the South Coast Region Agricultural Education Consortium. Gorter was influenced by her high school agriculture teachers to choose agriculture education as a career and hopes to instill the same passion in others.