After earning a bachelor's degree in agricultural education and a master's in animal science from Clemson in 1983, Allen Williams started looking for a job as a county extension agent.
Fortuitously, as it turned out, a freeze had emerged on that position. Williams decided to apply at Wagener-Salley High School for the agricultural education vacancy. He got the job and kept it for 32 years. He will retire next month.
Williams and his wife, Kathy, live on 16 acres in Wagener, where they have about 50 sheep and two horses. They reared three daughters who participated in 4-H. Williams' mentor was Spencer Smith, who retired from that same position in 1982 and later sold Williams the property. Now nearly 93, Smith joined his wife in "treating us like we were their own children," Williams said. Over three decades, he has done the same thing - teaching hundreds, encouraging them to succeed in whatever fields they chose.
"I have been so blessed by the good Lord for Mr. Smith and the people of the Wagener and Salley communities," Williams said. "I have taught so many students, including Mr. Smith's children. Agriculture is still growing, especially with people who want to get back to family farms, growing more fruits and vegetables. I get a lot of satisfaction from that."
He took many of his students away from Wagener for national conferences over the years.
Trent Rushton, a Clemson student now, served as the S.C. FFA chapter president. Derrick Cooper is teaching agriculture at Gilbert High School. Williams also has mentored other young agricultural teachers - among them, the former teacher at Aiken High and her successor, Waylon Priester.
Three years ago, Wood organized a state convention in Aiken. To William's surprise, he was recognized as the first-ever winner of the Distinguished Teacher of the Year Award, presented by Rushton.
"You learn about agriculture, but also about respect and other life lessons," Rushton said then. "From the first day, he taught us how to decide our own future."
When Williams began his career in 1983, the Future Farmers of America organization was better known as FFA. Today, the full name is no longer used.
People still tend to associate agriculture training with the stereotype of the poor farmer, Williams said earlier. It's about processing and marketing of agricultural products, involving engineering, computers and other sciences.
The larger farms spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on equipment "to provide the safest, cheapest food in the world," Williams said. "FFA keeps a lot of ag teachers teaching. It provides so many opportunities for the students. Every student is looking for a niche in life, and FFA can do that."
Rob Novit is the education reporter.