Ashlynn Johnson

Dorothy Martin Zabka
Memorial Scholarship

Ashlynn is the daughter of Kyle Johnson of Kersey.   She is a freshman at Casper College majoring in Agriculture to become an Ag teacher.

She chose to teach agriculture because of the profound impact her ag teachers and the FFA program had on her. During high school, she became deeply involved in her FFA chapter, competing in every event, spending countless hours in the ag room, and taking on various projects as a chapter officer. Through this, she formed close relationships with her advisors, who were always there to offer guidance, listen to her concerns, and support her during her toughest times. Initially, Ashlynn enrolled in school as an Occupational Therapy Assistant major, but over time, she realized that it wasn’t her true passion. After many conversations with her dad and reflecting on her experiences in FFA, Ashlynn discovered that teaching agriculture was the path she was meant to take. She aspires to be the kind of adult who students can rely on, someone they can trust and feel safe with. She wants to make a meaningful impact on students' lives both within and beyond agriculture, advocating for the future of the industry. Most importantly, she wants to educate those who may not know much about agriculture and show them its importance. The desire to teach and inspire others stems from the example set by her two ag teachers, who have been a tremendous source of inspiration in her decision to pursue this career.

Her participation in 4-H led Ashlynn to become actively involved in her FFA chapter, where she served in two officer positions. These leadership roles taught her the importance of responsibility, being a role model, and earning the trust of others. While her involvement in 4-H and FFA looked different, both experiences instilled in Ashlynn valuable leadership skills that have shaped the person she is today. One of the most impactful experiences Ashlynn had was attending the Citizenship Washington Focus trip, where she traveled to Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, and New York City.  She witnessed incredible historical landmarks and learned about our country’s past leaders. This trip gave her a deeper understanding of what it means to be a citizen—being an active and responsible member of a community, whether on a local or national scale. Overall, Ashlynn attributes her accomplishments to her time in 4-H and FFA. The relationships, lessons, and experiences she gained will continue to shape her as she strives to be a great leader and citizen.

Ashlynn is the recipient of the Dorothy Martin Zabka Memorial Scholarship.