Morrisville professor is finalist for Ag Educator of the Year

MORRISVILLE, N.Y. — SUNY Morrisville professor Charles (Chip) Ax III has been recognized with a Nationwide Golden Owl Award, naming him a finalist as the 2021-22 Ag Educator of the Year. 

Ax, associate professor of diesel technology and agricultural engineering, is one of 11 finalists across the state for Ag Educator of the Year, SUNY Morrisville said. The annual award recognizes “extraordinary” teachers and supports their educational efforts, per the university’s news release. Ag is short for agriculture and agricultural.

As a finalist, Ax is now in the running to win the New York State grand prize, which will be announced in May, per the website of New York State FFA, an organization dedicated to New York agricultural education.

Ax grew up on a fruit farm in Pennsylvania and would eventually go on to have roles with FFA, operating a crop farm in St. Lawrence County. He would later become a high school and BOCES ag teacher, before moving to a college classroom, where he has been educating SUNY Morrisville students to become agricultural leaders for more than a decade. 

Ax’s work in educating students and supporting agriculture happens not only in the classroom, but also in his work as advisor of SUNY Morrisville’s Collegiate FFA. Throughout his tenure, the college’s program has “flourished and forged strong connections” with other agricultural-related schools, including Cornell University, Alfred State, and Paul Smith’s College.

“Chip is a tireless advocate for our students and for ag students everywhere,” Anthony Contento, dean of the School of Agriculture, Business & Technology, said. “He spends much of his free time working with younger students and helping them plan their careers in agriculture. We are fortunate to have him as one of our faculty and division chairs at SUNY Morrisville.”

Ax’s career has included providing students with hands-on learning and offering students opportunities through FFA to volunteer, develop their leadership skills, and impact the community through agricultural education. 

“I want students to realize their full potential in whatever it is,” he said of his goal as a teacher. 

A graduate of SUNY Morrisville’s fruit and vegetable production program in 1988 and agricultural engineering program in 1989, Ax returned to his alma mater in 2010 to teach, the school said.