The Agriculture Ambassador Team utilizes top-agricultural literacy educators to provide training and advise on the resources, trainings and experiences offered by the Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom program.

During the 2024-2025 school year, the Educator Ambassador Team will present workshops, share lesson ideas and experiences and meet quarterly to review and guide current and future AITC programming and resources.

Meet the 2024 Team!

Emily Kamps

Fennimore Elementary School

Hi! I am a fourth-year teacher at Fennimore Elementary School, where I teach third grade after two years in fourth grade. I love agriculture! I enjoy teaching with agricultural concepts to engage my students in my classroom. I teach agricultural themed summer school classes as well, including an agriculture careers course where students meet and tour agricultural businesses in our community. My students have participated (and even won!) the Wisconsin AITC Essay Contest. I was honored to have been named the 2023 Outstanding Teacher by Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom. Outside of school, I help out on my in-law’s farm, Lazy M Farm, with my husband, Ryan, and our four children. I am an active member of the Fennimore FFA Alumni and Grant County Farm Bureau. In my free time, I enjoy family activities, attend tractor pulls, and visits cattle shows – especially the World Dairy Expo Show each fall in Madison, Wisconsin.

Josh Gonzalez

River Trail School for Agricultural Sciences – Milwaukee

I am a second-grade teacher at River Trail School of Agricultural Science in Milwaukee Public Schools. I teach all subjects. At my school, the second grade is responsible for utilizing our hydroponics towers. This is my 19th school year teaching. I am also my school’s Agriculture Committee Chairman. In addition to all my other duties, I also serve as the webmaster for our school’s website. I grew up in Milwaukee and love having the opportunity to teach students from the neighborhoods I grew up in. Many of my students have no experience with agriculture education, and it is fun showing them how to eat healthy and be more self-sufficient. I am an avid world traveler and have been to five continents. I have jumped out of planes, swam with sharks, hiked up mountains, and played college football. I love going to church and am happily married with three children.

Mary Cooper

St. Mary's Catholic School – Richland Center

Bio coming soon!

Travis Sprague

Sun Prairie West High School and Prairie View Middle School

Hello, my name is Travis Sprague and I am an Agriculture Teacher/FFA Advisor in the Sun Prairie School District teaching at Sun Prairie West High School and Prairie View Middle School. I have been teaching for 6 years and currently teach grades 6-12. Courses that I currently teach are the following: Companion Animal Science, Natural Resources: Wildlife Management, Food Science, Plants, Animals, and Food, The Wonders of Plants, Animals, and Foods, and Exploring Animals, Plants, Food, and Natural Resources. I am originally from Wittenberg, WI, and graduated from Bowler High School. I obtained my Bachelor's of Science from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. During my free time you can catch me playing volleyball (competitively), working out, and walking my Goldendoodle named Arlo. I also love to travel, hike, and do anything outdoors. I am a huge Wisconsin Badger, Dallas Cowboys, and Nashville Predators fan.

To be considered for the WAITC Educator Ambassador Team, a teacher must:

• Hold a current WI teaching license.
• Have participated in at least one WAITC professional development opportunity (any workshop, teacher tour, webinar, led by WAITC, or past Outstanding Teacher of the Year)
• Be a current classroom teacher.
• Plan to teach during the 2024-2025 school year.

Application Process

Applications for the 2025-2026 Educator Ambassador Team, as well as expectations, key dates and important program updates will be available in early January 2025.

Please reach out to Beth Schaefer, or call 608-577-6845, with any questions.