Welcome! My name is Daniel Bolen and I am the Agricultural Science & Technology Instructor and FFA Advisor here at Elgin High School. I was born and raised in Hermiston, Oregon and attended Umatilla High School. In school I was actively involved in FFA and served as both Chapter President and the President of the Blue Mountain District. I'm also a proud recipient of the American FFA Degree.
After graduating high school, I attended Oregon State University and earned a Bachelor of Science in General Agriculture and a Master of Science in Agricultural Education. I put myself through college in part by working in the summers at Wallowa Lake for the Eagle Cap Wilderness Pack Station, taking tourists on horseback rides, packing mules, and coordinating a summer youth horse camp program. I completed my student teaching internship experience at Willamina High School. I was hired to replace my cooperating teacher, and taught a year at Willamina High School before moving to John F. Kennedy High School in Mt. Angel. Following that, I taught agriculture and manufacturing for five years at Colton High School in the foothills of Mt. Hood. In the spring of 2014, I interviewed and was hired to come teach at Elgin High School. Having grown up camping on our family property on Cricket Flat, it was exciting to make the move to Elgin and continue my teaching career here.
In June of 2005, my wife, Kim, and I got married. In July 2010, we welcomed our son, Garrett into the world. Just one month before moving to Elgin, in July of 2014, we welcomed our daughter, Isabella. We have settled just north of town, and spend our time working on our place. We raise sheep, enjoy being in the outdoors, and spend much of our summers boating on Wallowa Lake. We have also become certified through the state to be foster parents, and take great joy in opening our home and family to those children that are less fortunate.
I look forward to many more years here in Elgin and working in this great community!