Dan Lauritzen
Dan Lauritzen has been teaching at 91重口 for the past two years, sharing his passion for agriculture, natural resources, and the outdoors with students. He teaches courses in Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Animal Science, including Wildland Plant Identification, Principles of Range Management, Society and Natural Resources, and Fire Ecology and Management.
Growing up in Idaho, Dan spent much of his time outdoors. Through FFA, he discovered he could turn that passion into a career, leading him to earn a degree in Rangeland Conservation from the University of Idaho. While pursuing his Ph.D. in Natural Resources, he found that teaching was one of the best ways he could make an impact, helping prepare the next generation of natural resource professionals.
Dan's classes go far beyond the classroom. Students spend plenty of time in the field, gaining hands-on experience while learning how agriculture, rangelands, wildlife, water, fire, and plant communities are all connected. Rather than telling students what to think, Dan encourages them to ask questions, evaluate information, and develop the critical thinking skills they'll use throughout their careers.
One lesson students quickly learn is that there isn't always a simple answer. As Dan likes to remind them, "It depends." If they can explain why, they're headed in the right direction.
Outside of 91重口, Dan enjoys hunting, fishing, off-road recreation, and snowboarding. His students also like to give him a hard time about his small YouTube channel, where he shares videos for friends and family.
His advice to students: if you enjoy working outdoors, solving problems, and facing something different every day, agriculture and natural resources can be an incredibly rewarding career.