Leader Shadowing Case Study

For the Leader Shadowing Case Study, I chose to shadow Dennis Riethman. Mr. Riethman resides in Coldwater, Ohio, where he lives with his wife. Mr. Riethman’s professional history starts back when he graduated from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriscience Education in 1979. He later went on to receive his Master’s Degree in Agriscience Education four years later in 1983. Right out of college, Mr. Riethman stepped into a teaching job as an Agriscience Instructor back in his hometown of Coldwater where he advised the Coldwater Tri-Star FFA Chapter. He was very involved in the FFA and Tri-Star programs and taught numerous courses throughout his years there. Some of these courses include Production Agriculture, Structural Engineering, Mechanics, Animal Science, Plant Science, and Horticulture. After teaching at Coldwater for thirty-five years, Mr. Riethman retired. Soon after retirement, there was a job opening through the Mercer County Extension Office and Mr. Riethman was told by a friend to apply. Because he was familiar with the position and maintained his ties with the Ohio State Extension through his teaching job, he

Riethman encourages and embraces diversity with open arms. This diversity is mainly the new practices and technological advances seen throughout the agricultural industry. Mr. Riethman also pointed out that there is a big difference between country life and city life. While these two groups of people could possibly have very different views on certain topics, as the extension educator, Mr. Riethman has to remember to always treat both sides of the spectrum with the utmost respect in all cases. He preaches that everyone is a person and every person is entitled to their own unalienable rights in which nobody can deny. Although it is not his place to settle disagreements, it is his duty to make sure both sides are fully educated with accurate and up-to-date