Culpeper County Middle School FFA members celebrate a year of growth, achievement and leadership during their end-of-year banquet. The event recognized students for their hard work in agricultural education and FFA activities, highlighting the dedication and teamwork that define the chapter’s success.
In classrooms filled with blue jackets and bright ideas, Stephanie Emmel spent nearly 20 years showing students that true leadership begins with service.
From lively discussions around tables to hands-on projects in school gardens and FFA events, her lessons taught students how to lead with purpose and serve their community. Whether guiding a student through a new skill, leading a chapter meeting or organizing a project, Emmel made “Living to Serve” more than a motto — she made it a way of life that shaped her students into compassionate, capable leaders.
Emmel’s passion for agriculture began long before she became a teacher. As a youth, she was deeply involved in FFA and 4-H, earning awards such as the National 4-H Beef Award and 4-H All Star — experiences that sparked her love for farming and community involvement. Those early lessons in mentorship and service would become the foundation of her approach to teaching.
Stephanie Emmel and her husband, Derek Emmel.
For more than 20 years in education — two at the high school level and 17 at Culpeper County Middle School — Emmel inspired her students to see agriculture not just as a subject, but as a way to make a meaningful impact. Her classroom buzzed with activity as students explored Supervised Agricultural Experience projects, career and leadership development events and chapter initiatives that connected learning with real-world service.
“My proudest achievement was making sure every student understood the importance of agriculture and had the opportunity to explore every aspect they were passionate about,” Emmel says.
This philosophy that became evident in the achievements of several of her students. Many earned area, district and state-level recognition in both CDE and LDE competitions. In 2023, one of her former students, Grace Wolbroehl, was elected as Virginia FFA state secretary, a milestone Emmel had long hoped to see.
Culpeper Middle FFA members display their awards earned at the 98th annual Virginia FFA State Convention.
The achievements of her students spoke to their hard work and skill, but for Emmel, true success wasn’t measured by awards alone. Beyond competitions, her students carried the principles of leadership into the community, organizing food drives, local cleanup projects and more. Through these experiences, they learning that leadership is about more than accolades; it’s about making a difference.
That same commitment runs through every part of her life. As the eighth generation on her family’s farm, which was founded in 1795, Emmel continues to raise beef cattle and crops while preserving her family’s heritage. In addition, she serves as secretary and treasurer for the Culpeper-Madison Feeder Cattle Association and as a board member of the Culpeper County Farm Bureau, giving back to the wider agriculture community in every way she can.
Even in retirement, Emmel remains connected to her students and community. She mentors young agriculturists, volunteers her time and supports local initiatives. “The highlight of being an agriculture teacher is knowing you’ve helped shape the lives of future agriculturists, leaders and beyond,” she says. “That influence doesn’t end when you retire.”
Through decades of teaching, farming and community involvement, Emmel has shown that “Living to Serve” is more than a phrase or a portion of the FFA motto; it’s a lifelong commitment that doesn’t end when the school bell rings or a career concludes. Her dedication continues to inspire students and community members alike, proving that leadership rooted in service leaves a lasting impact.
