The author is a product of school-based agricultural education. In a way, this distinguished lecture could also be called a tribute to his high school ag teacher, John Stimpert. Mr. Stimpert was a true professional and an excellent teacher. He changed and he changed the program with the changing school and community. The more the author became involved in agricultural education as a teacher, a state supervisor, and a teacher educator, the more he understood and appreciated just how good Mr. Stimpert was. In this lecture, the author shares three points that he believes to be key issues that need to be addressed: (1) Agriculture is a science and always has been; (2) Agriculture is problem solving; and (3) Agricultural educators are the architects of their own fate. He encourages agricultural educators to be more like Mr. Stimpert, who knew the science of agriculture and taught it that way. They need to be sure that their graduates not only know agriscience but also know how to teach agriscience. Mr. Stimpert taught using problem solving. They need to be sure that their graduates know how to teach students to solve problems rather than simply memorize scientific facts. Problem solving is what sets them apart from other subjects, including other sciences. And they need to control their future. Mr. Stimpert revamped his program to better fit the needs of a broader range of students. They need to do that in school-based agriculture education and in their university programs.