AIKEN --- A seed planted more than 30 years ago still blooms for Joe Wilson.

The Aiken County teacher received a new Toyota truck for leading his adult agriculture program to one of six national awards from the National Association of Agricultural Educators.

Although he retired from the school system last year, Mr. Wilson still spends his afternoons pruning and caring for the Aiken High School greenhouses. At 7 p.m. each Monday, he leads adults in their quest to have the best yard in the neighborhood.

"I'm not so much a good teacher as perhaps a good facilitator," Mr. Wilson said about the award, which he received in December. He got the keys to the pickup last week.

Each of the six award winners received an all-expenses paid trip to Las Vegas to receive the award, which recognizes visionary leadership, advocacy and service. Mr. Wilson said he couldn't have achieved the milestone without those in his program.

"I've just been blessed to form partnerships with a lot of people in the community," he said. "The way the award is written, it shows what all the people in the program are doing. I can't just park the truck out in the community, though. I'm the only one that can drive it."

Mr. Wilson began teaching agriculture more than 30 years ago and helped the Aiken High FFA program become one of the best hands-on learning environments at the school. He added the adult evening classes so he could share his knowledge with the rest of the community.

His teaching style has become very hands-off over the years. Mr. Wilson said he just provides the activities and gets out of the way.

During the next year, Mr. Wilson will cruise around in the truck spreading the word about the award-winning programs.

"It's nice to be recognized, and through these programs I've been blessed to get an awful lot of recognition," he said.

Reach Julia Sellers at (803) 648-1395, ext. 106, or julia.sellers@augustachronicle.com.