Meet the Teachers

Ms. Hepner

Miss Hepner was born San Andreas, CA, attending Calaveras High School where she participated and found her love for the FFA. She attending CSU Fresno. When she came to teacher at West she found her ‘place in the world’ and says, “I am proud to be an agriculture instructor at Merrill F. West High School.” As someone who appreciates learning about all creatures; a major life accomplishment was attained when she went to the Galapagos Islands and swam through Shark Alley!! An educational goal she has includes learning various textile arts like how to create with macramé. When not at West, she rejuvenates in her yard pruning and gardening. She feels that being positively involved in this community is the best of life. When you see her out and about or at the Costco, please say Hi!

Ms. Farmer

Ms. Farmer was born in Merced, CA. She attended Golden Valley High School and was an active member of the FFA. She participated in numerous Career Development Events and Leadership Development Events such as Creed, Parliamentary Procedure, Dairy Products and much more. During her senior year of high school, she served as the Chapter FFA President. After graduating high school, she attended Modesto Junior College, earning her Associates Degree in Animal Science and Agriculture Sciences. While attending MJC, she was a Student Resident Intern working on the Poultry Unit managing a laying hen flock of 1,500 birds. Ms. Farmer then transferred to Fresno State and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Education. She started teaching here at West High in the Fall of 2021. She is currently teaching Agriculture Biology. In her free time, she is enjoying the outdoors on her motorcycle or catching up on her favorite shows with her cat and dog.

Mrs. Lehfeldt

Mrs. Lehfeldt was born in Sacramento CA. Throughout her years in FFA, she raised pigs and showed horses through various events and participated in Horse Judging and Agriculture Mechanics. She has ben teaching at West High School since 2021 and has been teaching Ag Chemistry and Ag Physics. She is the coach for Light Horse Judging, AET Record Book, Impromptu Public Speaking and the Swine Advisor. When she's not teaching, you can find her spending time with her husband, Son and Animals!

Check out her website to see updates for her class! https://sites.google.com/view/tmyersag/home

Mrs. Cabrera

Mrs. Cabrera was born in Turlock California. She has lived in Turlock, Madera, Chico, and now Tracy! She started in Ag through 4H showing horses, sheep, and goats. In high school, she raised show lambs and competed in horse shows. She competed in FFA through livestock judging, opening and closing, and veterinary science. After high school, she sold her show lambs to pay for college and started at Madera Community College. She transferred to CSU Chico and completed her Bachelor's in Agriculture Education, with an emphasis on Animal Science. She has been at West since 2022 and teaches Ag Chemistry, Ag Physics and Ag Business! Her family owns a small farm and goat dairy where they handmake soaps and lotions. Outside of teaching Mrs. Cabrera, enjoys shopping, watching Judge Judy and making terrible puns.

Ms. Petersen

Miss Petersen was raised in Mariposa, CA and went to Mariposa High and was in Mariposa FFA! She competed in the Natural Resources CDE contest and was able to win the state finals competition her senior year placing 3rd high in the state. After high school she went to Merced Community College as a Chemistry Major. She then tranferred to CSU Fresno as a Pre-Vet major and switched to Agricultural Education where she got her bachelors in Agricultural Education with an emphasis in Animal Science. While at Fresno State she worked at the Beef Unit on campus for 2.5 years! She got her credentials through Fresno State and moved up north to teach Ag Mechanics, Forestry Natural Resources, and Intro to Ag before coming to West in 2023. Petersen now teaches Ag Chemistry and Ag Mechanics while also coaching Spanish Creed LDE and Veterinary Science CDE teams! Outside of teaching Miss Petersen enjoys getting tattoos, going to metal concerts, and collecting crystals!

Ms. Nelson

Miss Nelson was raised in Tracy, CA and went to Ripon High and was active member of 4-H and FFA. She competed on the Meat Judging CDE and was part of her Ag Leadership throughout her high school career. After high school she attended MJC to complete her general education classes before transferring to Kansas State University in Manhattan Kansas to get her degree in Agricultural Education. She has been teaching out in the Midwest in Kansas in rural schools where she wore many hats and taught a Varity of Ag classes from shop to sciences. This is her fist year teaching in back home in California where she now teaches Ag Physics and Ag Biology. Outside of teaching Miss Nelson enjoys spending time with her family/friends but also spending time with her dog and cat!

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