Warren Schools Honoring Late Ag Teacher

Warren County High School’s Agriculture Wing set to be dedicated in honor of the late agriculture teacher Russell Watson.

Watson spent 44 yards teaching students. School Board Chair Chris Cope ssaid Watson made the county shine through his efforts leading the agriculture department and FFA program for such a long time.

“Just to have that impact, not only as a teacher in what he taught, that was probably the minimal impact he had on people,” Cope said. “But what he invested in his students, what he showed them that they could become, has created impacts for generations to come.”

Cope said he hopes the dedication will put more of an emphasis on the importance of agriculture programs and all the different benefits offered. Cope said most local farmers have been impacted by Watson’s devotion as he taught the children and even grandchildren of his students over the years.

“Agriculture and horticulture and these sciences are what we depend on to live,” Cope said. “So I think just if we can put a spotlight on that industry and on that section of education, maybe it will bring people to realize how important these programs are.”

Cope said Watson worked to change how agriculture was taught as he looked to the future of the industry in the region. Cope said Watson implemented courses that were unheard of at the time such as greenhouse management and agribusiness.

“I was talking to one of our county commissioners about this the other night and he said, ‘When I was a junior in high school, Mr. Watson was the first teacher that ever told me I could go to college,'” Cope said. “He said, ‘I never believed I could go.’ The guy graduated MTSU from four years, was valedictorian and has led his business and now his kids are in the business. So it’s just seeing that impact, and we don’t want that legacy to ever go away in Warren County.”