Retired Wiggins FFA Instructor Officially Inducted as a Legendary Owl at CSU Ag Days
- Media Logic Radio
- Sep 8
- 2 min read
Updated: Sep 9
Rockie Ernst of Wiggins received the honor of becoming a Legendary Owl at the Blue Jacket Society and Legendary Owl Breakfast, an event hosted by the Colorado FFA Foundation during Colorado State University's (CSU) annual Ag Days celebration on Saturday, September 6, 2025. The award recognizes outstanding individuals who support agricultural education.
Sarah Madsen, Weld Central Ag. Ed. Instructor/FFA Advisor, nominated Rockie and spoke at his induction ceremony. Rockie has been a mentor to many FFA Advisors and students in Northeastern Colorado.
The Legendary Owl program
What it honors: The award, given to nominated individuals, highlights their contributions to supporting Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapters and the field of agricultural education.
Recognition: A Legendary Owl recipient's name and chapter are featured on a special display in the CoBank Center for Agricultural Education at CSU.
A related honor: A similar honor is the Chapter Member Award, where FFA chapters are recognized with a displayed jacket in a wooden shadow box.
Ernst retired from the Wiggins School District in May 2025 after 40 years of serving as the school's agricultural education teacher and FFA Advisor. He has taught more than 1,000 students in agricultural education, eighth grade shop, and mechanics classes. Under Ernst's leadership, the Wiggins FFA chapter achieved three state FFA officers, 94 State FFA Degree recipients, 16 American FFA Degree recipients, and seven student teachers.
After growing up near Arickaree in eastern Colorado, Ernst become a CSU Ram in order to pursue agriculture education. He had been on campus a number of time for FFA activities, so CSU was his school of choice. He was a member of Farmhouse Fraternity, involved with the Ag Council, and served as a Ram Handler. Elected state FFA vice president for 1982-83, Ernst took a year off due to the extensive travel required of state officers, then returned to finish his degree. This award-winning teacher has high praise for his former professors in the College of Agricultural Sciences and still keeps in touch with many of them.
Ernst did his student teaching at Cortez in southwestern Colorado. He graduated from CSU Spring 1985 and then started his own teaching career at Wiggins.
Ag Day is a long-standing tradition and celebration of Colorado agriculture and CSU’s College of Agricultural Sciences. We are proud to host the Nutrien Ag Day BBQ in partnership with Colorado agricultural partners from around the state. This tradition honors both the institution’s roots and Colorado’s rich agricultural history in a celebration that appeals to all ages.
