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AG UPDATES
August 2023 Edition
Principal's Welcome Message
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Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year. I am excited to kick off

the year with our incoming freshmen class and see what our
students can achieve! It has been a busy summer and the ASTA
staff is looking forward to all that this year has in store.

Here is some important information regarding the upcoming

school year.

SAFETY: You have probably noticed an increase in the

importance of safety by NISD this year. ASTA intends to do
everything asked of us to help maintain the safest campus we
can for our students.

IDs: All students must have a visible school ID on their person

at all times while on campus during the school day. ASTA will
be providing lanyards to our students on the first day of school
as an option to display the ID. IDs were available at Prep Days
yesterday and freshmen were allowed to get them last
Thursday.

PARENTS ON CAMPUS: If you need to visit the campus please

check in at the A building office at the front of the school. You
will be given a name badge to wear. Please make sure this is
visible while on campus. The barn area will be closed to all
parents and students Monday-Friday from 8:55 am to 2:30 pm.
If you need to enter the barns during this time, please call our
office at 210-397-4779 and someone may be able to assist you.

PARKING: For safety purposes, please do not park on either

side of the road in front of the barns. This creates a safety
hazard for students who walk from the school to the barns. It
is difficult to see them when they walk between the cars to
cross the road. This is also an area where our buses drive and
it narrows the road for them. BY 5:15 pm, the majority of buses
have left and most of our students should be at the barns. If it
is necessary for you to park in this area, it will be allowed after
5:15 pm. Parking in the spaces in front of the barns should be a
loading/ unloading time. When you are finished with any heavy
lifting, please park in the lot across the street. There should be
plenty of space available. The gates next to the upper swine
barn will be closed and locked Monday-Friday. Students walk
their animals across that road so we do not allow traffic in that
area. Parking behind the barns will also be prohibited during
this time. This are is open on the weekends so please watch
for students crossing the road. The speed limit is 5 mph.

TRAFFIC: It’s bad(probably shouldn’t say that but you’ve seen

it…). The new construction on Bandera Road isn’t making it any
better. Combine that with the elementary school next door to
us, teenage drivers, buses, etc it will test your patience. Please
be patient and pay attention to the road. Parents of teen
drivers, please talk to them and emphasize safety while driving
on campus. Bus information will be available on the
transportation website on Monday, August 21st.

INFORMATION: At the beginning of each class period, our

teachers update Ag students with upcoming events. Our FFA
event calendar is also available to you at
https://astanisd.weebly.com/ with other useful information.
Project meetings are very important. Please attend every
meeting for your species. Our Booster Club is extremely
supportive of our students and we ask that all parents join. The
first Booster Club meeting will be Tuesday, September 5th at
6:30 pm in the cafeteria while students attend their FFA
meeting in the AMP. Booster Club fees are $5 per family. I also
will post information on our parent Facebook page. The
Facebook group link can be found here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/asta2021/

When the school year begins, I generally send an email every

Friday, detailing the events for the following week. An Ag
updates newsletter is sent out at the beginning of each month
as well.

If you have any questions or need anything at all, please give

our office a call and we will take care of you.

210-397-4779

ASTA WEBSITE
 SENIOR YEARBOOK INFORMATION

OHS PARKING PERMITS

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Tuesday, August 29th- Poultry Meeting 6:30-7:30pm
Tuesday, September 5th- FFA Meeting 6:30-7:30pm
Friday, September 8th- Chicken Orders due!
Saturday, September 9th- GERLACH WORKDAY 9am
Saturday, September 16th- Area Greenhand Camp
Tuesday, September 19th- Project Meetings (Lamb, Goat, Pig) 6-7pm
Saturday, September 23rd- PIG DISTRIBUTION

As always you can refer to the ASTA website front page for our calendar of events:
https://astanisd.weebly.com/

ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL MESSAGE

Mr. Johnson, Mr. Bohlken, and Ms. Zablocki will be holding an "Ag" assembly during Ag
classes on August 30th to go over expectations, safety, and protocols. Please take a moment
to review who to contact about different things at the Ag Academy.
COUNSELING UPDATES
Welcome back to the 23-24 school year! I am excited to work
with each of you during the upcoming year. Please take a
moment to read the schedule change policy moving forward.
As always, please contact me with any questions or concerns.

I ask for your patience and understanding in regard to

scheduling, and communication during the first 2 weeks of
school. I will try my best to get back to everyone in a
timely manner, but this may take longer than normal due to
the volume of requests.

pamela.zablocki@nisd.net 210-397-4760
 FFA STATE CONVENTION 2023

ASTA students attended the Texas FFA State Convention in Dallas where they attended
business sessions, received awards, and learned how to maximize their time in FFA. ASTA
was recognized for being the top seller in the nation for the Seitz fundraiser.
 TNLA (Texas Nursery Landscape Association) Expo

The ASTA nursery and landscape team were invited to the TNLA Expo to volunteer to set up
parks and patio displays. Various growers donate plants and our students arranged the plants
and built displays to showcase the plant products. Here are two of our student's designs that
they created under the guidance of Mr. Hawkins.

Check out the website here: https://www.nurserylandscapeexpo.org/

FFA OFFICER RETREAT

Our FFA officers and Ag teachers attended the annual FFA Officer retreat at Mo Ranch where
they planned for the upcoming school year, and competed in team building and leadership
activities. The officers are ready to serve our campus and FFA chapter to the best of their
ability!

GOAT DISTRIBUTION
Nearly 170 goats were distributed in August to many of our dedicated Ag students!
These students will spend the next 6 months preparing to showcase their hard work at the
annual Gerlach show in January. From grooming and feeding to workouts and mastering
showmanship, they're putting in the work. But there's more – keep an eye on these talented
individuals as they showcase their work at the Panther Round-Up, Bexar County Livestock
Show, San Antonio Livestock Show, and other events across the state.
Northside ISD - Nearly 170 Northside ISD - Nearly 170 … www.facebook.com
goats were distributed this...

Nearly 170 goats were distributed this past week to many of our dedicated
Ag students! These students will spend the next 6 months preparing to...
RAFFLE TICKETS TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS

2023 Former Students of O'… go.eventgroovefundraising.com

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WELCOME NEW AG TEACHERS

Ms. Zinsmeister
Eileen Zinsmeister

Ms. Zinsmeister was born in San Antonio and raised in Mico,

TX. She attended Medina Valley High School and was an FFA
officer, raised lambs, and competed in Chapter Conducting, Job
Interview, Horse Judging, Land Judging, and Homesite
Evaluation teams. Following high school she went to Texas
A&M University and graduated w/Bachelors's in Agricultural
Science, a Minor in Horticulture & Master's in Agricultural
Leadership, Education, and Communications. Ms. Zinsmeister
completed her student teaching here at ASTA this past year
and we are so excited that she will stay on with us! In her free
time, she enjoys crocheting and baking. Mr. Welch (a former
O'Connor Ag Teacher) was her Ag Teacher and inspired me to
pursue Ag Education. Ms. Zinnsmeister is the project leader
for lambs and will be coaching Ag advocacy, Homesite
Evaluation, Floriculture, and Nursery Landscape FFA teams.

eileen.zinsmeister01@nisd.net

Mr. Sullaway
Matthew Sullaway

Mr. Sullaway grew up right here in Helotes, Tx. Starting in his

6th-grade year, Mr. Sullaway participated in 4H and then all 4
years with OC FFA. He raised steers, and pigs, and competed in
livestock judging teams. Mr. Sullaway attended Tarleton State
University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in
Agricultural Services and Development. Mr. Sullaway is married
to his wife, Chelsey, and together they have a 2 year old
daughter and a border collie named Shiner. In Mr. Sullaway's
free time, he enjoys hunting, fishing, and attending stock
shows. In his spare time, he enjoys Texas country music and
likes to play the guitar. Mr. Sullaway will be coaching our
livestock judging team and will be the project leader for pigs.

matthew.sullaway@nisd.net
 Mr. Jacob Clay

Jacob Clay

Mr. Clay was born and raised in Helotes, TX. He attended

O’Connor in high school and was very involved in the FFA. As a
member, he competed in Chapter Conducting, Poultry
Evaluation, Land, Tractor Tech, Ag Mechanics, and Wildlife. His
Sr. Chapter Conducting and Poultry teams placed second in the
nation. Mr. Clay raised chickens and turkeys, and he served as
the Chapter President when he was in High School.

Mr. Clay graduated from Texas A&M University in 2023 with a

degree in Agricultural Science, so he could pursue a career
teaching and mentoring young people. He got married two
weeks later to his wife, Brittney, who was also a former student
of O’Connor FFA. She now works as the South Texas Regional
Director for Delight Ministries. Together, they enjoy spending
time outdoors with their rescue pup, Lance. When he’s not
teaching, you can find Mr. Clay building custom corn hole
boards for his small business, Graceful Grain Woodworks. He
also enjoys hunting, fishing, golfing, and grilling in his freetime.

Mr Clay is excited to get to serve the community that first

served him, and get to impact each of the students that walk
through his doors. Mr. Jacob Clay will be the assistant swine
project manager and will be coaching the land evaluation,
tractor technician, creed speaking, veterinary science and BBQ
FFA teams!

jacob.clay@nisd.net

SOME AG TEACHER FUN....

TRAILER CHALLENGE