2015 Steven Keown
Gregory Steven Keown was born in Madisonville, KY to James and Hattie Keown. He grew up on the family beef, row crop and tobacco farm. Steve graduated from Madisonville North Hopkins High School in 1979.
He attended Murray State University and graduated in Agriculture with an emphasis in Education with his Bachelor’s Degree in 1984. Following graduation, he accepted a teaching position at Carroll Jr./Sr. High School, where he has served the students, school and community for 31 years. While being employed at Carroll, Steve attained his Master’s Degree in Education from Purdue University.
Steve married Melissa Doom on December 28, 1981. They have a son Chandler Keown who is 24 and a graduate of Purdue University. Melissa is a Biology and Agriculture teacher at Carroll Jr./Sr. High School as well as an FFA advisor. She is also a Murray State University and Purdue University graduate.
Steve is a member of the Carroll County 4-H Exhibit Board and the Indiana Association of Agriculture Educators. He has spent many enjoyable hours helping his Agriculture students and FFA members achieve high levels of success throughout his years. He has helped to train 4 State FFA Officers, 2 National FFA Officer Candidates and has had 27 FFA members as National Proficiency Finalists with 13 National Winners. Steve has also had a National 1st place Soils Judging Team and a National 3rd place Dairy Judging Team that traveled to Scotland and competed at the Royal Highland Livestock Show. The thing he enjoys most in the FFA is the community service projects that the members take part in such as Christmas with the Animals.
He also has coached baseball and football at Carroll for 22 and 27 years. Steve was a varsity assistant on the 1995 State Championship Football Team and the 1996 State Runner-ups.
He has received recognition over the years for his work in the classroom and with the FFA. Steve was named District V Outstanding Young Agriculture Educator. He has also been presented with his Honorary Indiana FFA Degree and was one of the youngest agriculture educators to earn the Honorary American FFA Degree. The thing he most enjoys about his profession is seeing students and members continue in the Agriculture profession and become outstanding members and contributors to their local communities.
Steve is very grateful for the opportunity to be able to work in such a progressive and innovative Agricultural community. His students and FFA members will always be very dear to him and the success that he has had could not have been achieved without the support of his family, friends, parents and students.
March 03, 2015
