The University of Arkansas at Monticello Homepage

By Traci Rushing

University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture

When Brittany Leek walked onto the University of Arkansas at Monticello campus as a student studying animal science, she likely never imagined she would one day return to UAM to help shape the next generation of agricultural students.

Now, after 13 years of teaching agriculture at Drew County High School, Leek is back at her alma mater as an animal science instructor in the UAM College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources, bringing with her years of classroom experience, a deep connection to the local agricultural community and a passion for creating opportunities for students.

A return to where it all began

For Leek, returning to UAM feels like coming home.

“I’ll have the chance to stay connected to all the things I love and hold dear and continue to provide opportunities for a different type of student, as well as create opportunities for high school students and ag teachers to visit UAM,” Leek said.

Leek earned her bachelor’s degree in animal science from UAM before continuing her education at the University of Arkansas, where she earned a Master of Science in Agricultural Education. Her career then led her into the classroom at Drew County High School, where she spent more than a decade teaching agriculture and working with students through agricultural education and FFA.

Her own roots in agricultural education run deep. As a high school student, Leek was active in the Hermitage FFA chapter and showed market hogs. Her passion for showing livestock eventually became a family tradition. Today, she shares that experience with her son, Peyton, as they raise dairy goats and participate in livestock shows together.

That combination of education, hands-on experience and a lifelong connection to agriculture now comes full circle in her new role at UAM.

Fresh ideas and new opportunities

In addition to teaching animal science courses, Leek will serve as assistant manager of the UAM Farm, where she will oversee the university’s sheep herd. She is already bringing new ideas and enthusiasm to the farm and is excited about the opportunities the herd can provide for students to gain practical, hands-on experience.

“The student and their success will always be the thing I love the most about what I do,” Leek said.

That focus on student success is also behind one of the first initiatives Leek brought to UAM.

After joining the university, she applied during the summer to establish a Collegiate FFA chapter on campus. The chapter was approved and began this fall, with its first official meeting scheduled for September 15.

For Leek, Collegiate FFA is more than another student organization. It is a way to connect UAM students with the agricultural education community she has been a part of for years while also creating a bridge between the university and high school agriculture programs.

She hopes the chapter will provide opportunities for students to develop leadership skills, build connections within the agriculture industry and remain involved in an organization that may have played an important role in their own agricultural journey.

Leek also sees the chapter and her role at UAM as an opportunity to bring more high school students and agriculture teachers to campus, allowing them to see firsthand the educational opportunities available through UAM’s agriculture programs.

Coming full circle

Her return to UAM represents more than a career move. It brings together the different parts of Leek’s agricultural journey: a former UAM animal science student, an experienced agriculture educator, an FFA advocate, a livestock show family and now a university instructor and mentor. She is excited to share that experience with UAM students.

“I’m enthusiastic about coming back to my alma mater and having the opportunity to share my love for agriculture and animal science with students,” said Leek.

With her experience, community connections and commitment to student success, Leek is already looking ahead to the opportunities her new role can create for UAM students, local agriculture educators and the next generation of agriculturalists.

“Brittany brings unique strengths to this position. She is an alum of our agriculture program and stayed heavily engaged with us through her career as an agriculture teacher. Her teaching experience and perspectives are especially valuable with college study increasingly starting in high school,” said Michael Blazier, dean of the College of Forestry, Agriculture, and Natural Resources. “We’re looking forward to increasing our teaching footprint in high schools through partnerships that allow students to start studying UAM agriculture in high school; Brittany’s expertise will be foundational to building those partnerships.”

About the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Arkansas Forest Resources Center

The College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources, and the Arkansas Forest Resources Center, a University of Arkansas System Center of Excellence, brings together interdisciplinary expertise through a partnership between the University of Arkansas at Monticello and the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. The College and Center are headquartered at the University of Arkansas at Monticello campus, but their programs range statewide with the mission of developing and delivering teaching, research, and extension programs that enhance and ensure the sustainability and productivity of forest-based natural resources and agricultural systems. Academic programs are delivered by the College of Forestry, Agriculture, and Natural Resources through the University of Arkansas at Monticello. Through the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, research is administered by the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, and extension and outreach activities are coordinated by the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.