Eddie Smith
Eddie Smith was raised on a farm near Jet, Oklahoma, and graduated from Jet High School in 1963. While in high school he participated in FFA and sports. His high school athletic career culminated with winning a state football championship. He earned both a bachelor’s degree in vocational and general agriculture and a master’s degree in agricultural education from Oklahoma State University. He also served in the Oklahoma Army National Guard for six years.
Smith began his career in 1969 as an agricultural education teacher at Fargo High School.
During his time there, many of his students earned FFA honors, and he received the OVATA Young Agricultural Teacher Award as well as Ellis County Teacher of the Year in 1973-74. After five years at Fargo and one year teaching at Burlington High School, he joined the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education in Stillwater as a curriculum specialist. In that role, he developed and revised agricultural education materials, helping create some of the first standardized curriculum resources used across the state and nation.
In 1977, Smith became the northwest district supervisor of agricultural education, where he provided training, technical support, and supervision to teachers throughout the region. He served in this position until 1988, when he was named state supervisor of the agricultural education division and state FFA adviser.
As state supervisor, Smith guided policy and direction for agricultural instruction across Oklahoma, supporting nearly 500 instructors and approximately 28,000 secondary and adult students. One of his most important contributions was leading the modernization of agricultural education. He helped shift the focus from traditional production agriculture toward agriscience, agribusiness and technology, ensuring programs stayed relevant and forward-looking. This effort contributed to a 20 percent increase in student enrollment.
Smith strongly supported FFA as a leadership development organization dedicated to developing student potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. He also believed in involving teachers in decision-making and established an Agricultural Leadership Program to help educators better understand policy, leadership and the broader vocational education system. During his tenure he established the Oklahoma Agricultural Education Teacher Hall of Fame which continues to this day.
His influence extended nationally as well. Smith served as president of the National Association of Supervisors of Agricultural Education and completed a three-year term on the National FFA Board of Directors, including leadership roles on national task forces. He was honored by Oklahoma State University with the College of Agriculture Graduate of Distinction Award, received the Francis Tuttle Career Excellence Award and was a member of Class VII of Leadership Oklahoma.
Smith also contributed to rural economic development through a partnership between agricultural education and business and industry programs by establishing the Oklahoma Young Farmers Association. This collaboration led to the Vo-Tech Rural Development Initiative, a grassroots effort that strengthened local communities across rural Oklahoma.
Throughout his career Smith was active in the administration of the Oklahoma Junior Livestock Show, which later became known as the Oklahoma Youth Expo. He served on the Oklahoma Youth Expo and Oklahoma FFA Foundation Board of Directors for a number of years.
Smith retired in 2007. He and his wife, Barbara, enjoy traveling and spending time with their children and grandchildren.
