Rusty Finch -Teacher of the Year award.

One item occupied Rusty Finch’s mind: a sick pig.

During Cashmere High School’s end-of-year awards ceremony on May 31, the agriculture teacher constantly left the festivities to chat with a student whose young hog was experiencing respiratory issues. Unbeknownst to Finch, his frequent absences caused respiratory issues for his fellow humans in attendance. As the ceremony continued, Finch saw his wife Frederica and daughter Maggie in the back of the room. He became suspicious. Just two minutes before someone called his name, he solved the mystery.

Moments later, Finch was named the Theo Allen Teacher of the Year, a commendation voted on by CHS seniors.  “I was on the phone with a kid who had a sick pig, and I kept getting up to answer that phone call and they thought I was leaving,” Finch said, recalling being curious. “Why is everybody so worried I’m leaving?” Finch had arrived just five minutes before the ceremony from a meat judging contest in Pullman. His colleagues informed him that his seniors would be receiving scholarships and awards at the assembly. That part proved true. They kept his personal award a secret. CHS secretary Angela Landes worked hard to keep Finch seated.

CHS social studies teacher Andy Groce also knew the surprise. The two have been close friends and colleagues since Finch came to Cashmere twelve years ago.

“He probably should get it every year honestly,” Groce said of the award. “He is the first one here in the building. I roll in at a zero hour class before school starts and he beats me every time. He’s one of the last to leave. He puts FFA as a varsity sport. That’s the way he treats it. He wants commitment from kids and tells them, ‘Hey, if you want to be successful, you have to put in the time.’”

Finch’s teaching journey began with a desire to be a veterinarian. Raised in the Palouse north of Pullman, he grew up around wheat and alfalfa hay farms and labored constantly with animals, particularly hogs. His father Mike worked as an agriculture teacher and instilled in his son a voracious work ethic. He taught him a variety of skills including welding, construction, small engine repair, crops and soil science and animal husbandry. When “the money ran out” on his veterinarian ambitions, teaching seemed a natural fit for the young Finch.

In 1998, he began teaching in Sumner. Describing that first year as “chaos”, Finch found education simultaneously exciting and exhausting. For accreditations reasons he combined agriculture and science courses and soon felt comfortable teaching subjects like biology and chemistry. Crediting his mentor Greg Pile, Finch quickly learned the intricate harmony of science and agriculture.

After 13 years, Finch moved to Cashmere, a small town surrounded by blankets of orchards. He knew nothing about fruit, but quickly learned its local importance. He now wants his students to know the origin of their food.

“There’s ton of risk involved and it’s kind of the heart and lifeblood of this valley. Ultimately, this whole valley is founded upon these orchards, so that’s what I try to instill in these kids,” Finch said. He tells his students, “Most of you aren’t going to be a farmer, but every single one of you is going to be a consumer and a voter. You need to know what these guys go through to produce a high-quality product.” With a quarter century of teaching experience, Finch noted that adapting to the impacts of technology has proved the biggest challenge. He mentioned how smart phones have pulled students in many directions and have weakened their ability for authentic communication. Besides the intricacies of agriculture, Finch has emphasized personal connection in his teaching.

“I feel good that my program and my content is forcing those kids and requiring them to get out in front of people, communicate face to face rather than on a text or social media,” he said. “Technology, while it’s been our savior, it’s also been an obstacle and it’s created a culture where they stray away from communication.”

The advent of digital technology has shown Finch the need to be direct with students and adapt along with them. He gives them caring yet firm advice regarding the importance of human interaction:  “You’re going to eventually interview for a job and I don’t care if you’re on Zoom. You’ll still eventually have to communicate with somebody face to face, shake a hand, look people in the eye, answer a question, take time to think about that question and answer it intelligently,” he tells his pupils.  Finch’s sincere concern for each individual shows in the success of Cashmere’s FFA program. Nearly every year, he brings double-digit students to Nationals. Though he comes from an urban background, Groce has seen both his children involved in agricultural classes. His son became a meat evaluator while his daughter earned honors as the top youth apple judge in Washington.

“He’s just incredible and the amount of work he puts in,” Groce said. “The FFA program, when he started here it just took off and turned into what it is today. We’re thankful that he is a Bulldog.” Whether he is offering advice on produce or encouraging public speaking skills, Finch has found his vocation. Though he once longed to be a vet, his way with people has proved its own reward.  “The irony is they’re giving me this award and then at the same time I’ve getting blown up on my phone about a sick pig,” he said. “In all reality, I think I was meant to do this more than be a veterinarian. I think I can impact more people and still be connected to animals.”