CORVALLIS, Ore. — Jessica Jansen is stepping down from Oregon Agriculture in the Classroom after serving as its executive director for nine years.

Jansen, 31, began her position at the nonprofit back in 2014, before even graduating college. The state chapter of the nationwide organization educates children about agriculture’s impact on society.

Since starting as executive director, Jansen has seen Oregon Agriculture in the Classroom through challenges with funding and transitioning to online education during the pandemic, all while agricultural literacy continues to dwindle in the general public.

“It’s been my life for the last nine years,” Jansen said. “This transition is really bittersweet for me because I absolutely love the work of the organization.”

Jansen is stepping down to spend more time with her daughter, who was born last year. She hopes to keep working part time in agricultural literacy as a consultant or contractor once the new executive director is trained.

Her last day as a full-time employee was July 8. Brittany Capell, the education programs coordinator, is managing the programs and projects during the transition, while Jansen is still involved with the administrative side until a full-time replacement is hired and trained.

Dawn Alexander, Oregon Agriculture in the Classroom’s board president, said Jansen will be missed. Over the years, Alexander said, Jansen has been instrumental in creating workshops for teachers and building relationships across agricultural commodities.

“We’re really sad that we’re going to be losing Jessica,” she said of Jansen, “but we’re excited to see who we get.” Alexander hopes to have a new executive director in place by the end of summer.

Current staff members are staying on, so Alexander expects the transition to go smoothly, especially since Jansen is available to assist. Oregon Agriculture in the Classroom looks forward to new leadership, Alexander said, and continued partnership with educators and agriculture industry members.

As she prepares to depart, Jansen has been considering her impact.

“We’ve really carved out a space in the K-12 education arena for ourselves,” she said. “I think we’re seen as a really credible education organization. And I think that we’ve made great strides in that work over the last several years.”

Oregon Agriculture in the Classroom works with almost 5,000 teachers across the state, providing training and educational materials for them.

“I’m just really proud of how it’s grown and how it’s developed,” Jansen said. “I almost think of it like a child. I’m like, ‘OK, now go to college, now go to the next stage. You’re going to be great.’”

After she leaves, Jansen hopes Oregon Agriculture in the Classroom continues to grow, despite consolidation of the agriculture industry. She believes the next executive director will need to maintain the clear mission of the organization while finding new ways to expand and develop with the continued support of the Oregon agricultural community that she has worked with for nearly a decade.