ELGIN — Elgin High School agriculture teacher Daniel Bolen was the recipient of the Oregon Agriculture Teachers’ Association Outstanding Teacher Award at the association’s annual awards banquet June 20 at the Knife River Training Center in Albany.

Bolen, who has been teaching agriculture for 17 years, with the last 10 years at Elgin High School, has made strides to grow the agriculture program and FFA at Elgin High School, according to the announcement. He has raised nearly $1 million in grant funds to expand facilities, develop programs and add new equipment to the agriculture program.

Elgin’s agriculture program has more than doubled student enrollment and FFA membership in Bolen’s 10 years, and Bolen is working with district administration to develop an Agricultural Learning Center that will include an animal teaching facility and clubhouse near the high school.

In a letter of support for Bolen’s award, Elgin High School principal Dawn Guentert stated, “If I had to describe Daniel using only five adjectives, they would be gentle, mindful, consistent, hardworking and kindhearted. Daniel expects the best from those around him, but expects even more from himself.”

As the Oregon recipient of the Outstanding Agriculture Teacher Award, Bolen will now represent Oregon to compete for the National Association of Agricultural Educators Region 1 Outstanding Agriculture Teacher Award in the spring of 2025.