ESTHERWOOD – Dr. Bradley Leger of Estherwood is one of six individuals who received the National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE) Outstanding Service Citation Award on December 5th at the NAAE annual conference in Charlotte, NC.

Dr. Leger has worn several different hats for agricultural education in Louisiana. He began his agricultural education career as a teacher, and then served as the executive secretary for the Louisiana FFA Association before continuing to his current position as an agriscience program specialist. As a specialist Leger helps agricultural educators in southern Louisiana with classroom curriculum and agricultural education standards.

During his teaching career, Leger won the National Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association’s (former name of NAAE) state outstanding young teacher award and regional outstanding teacher award in 1982 and 1992, respectively. Starting in 2000, he led a major effort to reorganize the Louisiana FFA Alumni Association. During his service as the Louisiana FFA executive secretary, he worked with the state FFA officers and cooperated with state and national partners to organize Louisiana Team Ag Ed. He has been an outstanding advocate for Louisiana agricultural education through many efforts, including meeting with legislatures during the annual FFA at the Capitol Day and serving as the legislative task force committee chair for the Louisiana Vocational Association from 1999 to 2000.

“When Leger served as our executive secretary, the Louisiana FFA Association flourished under his leadership. His work with the state FFA officer program has been surpassed by few. Leger’s Team Ag Ed approach has strengthened Louisiana agricultural education and the FFA,” said Kathy Conerly, agricultural educator at Zachary High School and NAAE Region II Vice-President.

Each of the six regional Outstanding Service Citation winners was recognized with a plaque at the annual NAAE conference in Charlotte. Animal Industry Alliance sponsors the Outstanding Service Citation Award.

NAAE is the professional association for agricultural educators. The mission of NAAE is “professionals providing agricultural education for the global community through visionary leadership, advocacy and service.” The NAAE office is located in Lexington, KY.