When James Boggan returned to Riggins in 2022, he thought he knew what to expect. The Salmon River High School graduate with a degree in rangeland ecology and management from the University of Idaho had worked for Agri Beef Co. and Simplot before stepping into the classroom. But teaching quickly proved to be a different kind of challenge and opportunity.

“I had to learn how to be a teacher and I really had no clue where to start,” said Boggan. “Going through the Inspire Ready program and First Camp helped me a lot. Having support from other educators around the state made a huge difference.”

His vision soon expanded beyond the classroom. With the support of the district, Boggan has added a greenhouse, doubled the number of welding booths and secured a new plasma table. He is also laying the groundwork for an aquaponics program.

“I thought I was just going to be in the classroom and in the shop,” said Boggan. “But opportunities kept opening up and we’ve been able to expand in ways I never expected.”

One of his biggest accomplishments was rechartering the Salmon River FFA chapter in 2023. What started with three students has grown to 10, all eager to take on Career and Leadership Development Events.

“It’s amazing how the FFA program helps students grow into leadership roles,” said Boggan. “I’ve seen them become more accountable, more confident and more driven.”

For Boggan, the impact of FFA is personal. As a student, he was part of the first chartering class in Riggins and credits those early experiences with shaping his own career. Now, he uses CDEs and LDEs not only as competitions but as curriculum guides, helping students tie classroom learning to real-world applications.

“Livestock evaluation has been the event students connect with the most,” said Boggan. “But now I have kids interested in public speaking, horse judging, forestry and parliamentary procedure. That’s exciting.”

He points to individual stories as proof of the program’s value.

“One student was a natural welder and always excited to take on new projects. He showed younger students what he made and now they’re all excited to be in shop class. He’s pursuing a degree in welding,” said Boggan. “Another student loved plant and animal science and took charge of our buck and bull scoring fundraiser. They even bought their own scoring kit and now measure elk and deer for people in the community.”

Looking ahead, Boggan has ambitious goals: strengthen welding and mechanics programs, expand the greenhouse, build aquaponics systems and take students to the FFA National Convention.

“One of our chapter goals is to go to Nationals in the next five years,” said Boggan. “The students are already working hard to make that happen.”

For Boggan, it all comes back to giving students opportunities that prepare them for the future—whether that’s in agriculture, leadership or life.

“I didn’t know if I would enjoy teaching when I started,” he said. “But seeing the look of surprise on a student’s face when they learn something new—that’s what makes it worth it.”