January 2019 Student of the Month: Thomas Gabel (@gabel_thomas)

Every month we recognize a student within the Agricultural and Extension Education program who has gone above and beyond as our Student of the Month. A freshman, Thomas Gabel has been chosen as our January Student of the Month! Let's learn a little more about Thomas and why we've decided to choose him as Student of the Month.

Hailing from Newport Pennsylvania, Thomas is a proud member of #PSUAgEd22 with a passion to make a difference in the world of Agricultural Education. “Any time you have an opportunity to make a difference in this world and you don’t, then you are wasting your time on Earth”. This statement from Roberto Clemente is Thomas’s favorite quote standing as a testament to the way by which he conducts himself.

A trail of service and dedication to Agricultural Education follow Thomas in his FFA and 4-H experiences including being the 2017-2018 PA FFA State Vice President and the Wila 4-H President from 2013-2017. When asking Thomas why he chose Agricultural and Extension Education at Penn State he said, “because of the genuine individuals [professors] that seriously care and invest themselves in their students.” 

Outside of his coursework, Thomas has engaged himself in learning leadership experiences such as being the Public Relations Director of the Leadership, Education, and Agricultural Development (LEAD) Society, a Teach Ag! Avenger, and a Global Teach Ag! Intern. Additionally, Thomas is a proud member of the Agricultural Student Council, Collegiate Farm Bureau, and the Cedar Heights Church.

If you want more of Thomas, you can listen to him through the #TeachAg Talks podcast series or you can find him hanging out at Baby’s Burgers and Shakes downtown. Of course, you can always follow him on Twitter @gabel_thomas and Instagram @gabelt31.

A Glimpse of Thomas:
Hometown: Newport, PA
Graduation: May 2022 (#PSUAgEd22)
Birthday: August 28th, 1998
Favorite PSU Class: AEE 216: Practical Parliamentary Procedure
Favorite Sports Team: Indianapolis Colts
Favorite Hang-out on Campus: Ferguson 213
Favorite Place to eat in State College: Baby's Burgers and Shakes
4-H/FFA Background: FFA: 2017-2018 Pennsylvania FFA State Vice President, Newport FFA Chapter President (2014-2017), competed in various Public Speaking Leadership Development Events and was part of the 2017 State Winning Parliamentary Procedure team, 2019 American FFA Degree Recipient, 4-H: Wila 4-H President (2013-2017), participated in the photography project and entered photography books at my county fair and Farm Show
Favorite quote: "Any time you have an opportunity to make a difference in this world and you don't, then you are wasting your time on Earth" - Roberto Clemente

Justin Kurtz
Guest Blogger
Twitter Handle: @JustinDKurtz
2022 Agricultural Education Student Teacher

Recap: Farm Show Ag Ed Recruitment Event

PSU Teach Ag Avenger team, faculty, and professors talking with FFA students 

Penn State Teach Ag started the new year off with a bang at the Pennsylvania in Harrisburg PA! On Monday January 7th the Penn State Teach Ag Avenger team put on a workshop for 15 high-school students interested in teaching the future of agriculture. Throughout this workshop, students had the opportunity to as questions, and learn about what it means to study agricultural and extension education, and what it’s like to be a Penn State student. Students heard from current students, faculty, and professors of the Agricultural and Extension Education program to get an inside look at the opportunities Teach Ag at Penn State has to offer. 

One of the main discussions we had with students was that every single person involved in agricultural education has their own path. Luke Kerstetter, Teach Ag Avenger and current member of #psuaged20 said this about the event "Everyone has a different story behind their interests in Agricultural Education. It may be very diverse, but we all have the same goal in mind”.

This event was also held on the same day as the Pennsylvania FFA Mid-Winter Convention where 409 Keystone Degrees were awarded, and 365 first-year members put on their blue corduroy jackets for the first time. Seeing the impact that FFA and agricultural education has on so many students certainly was moving and truly was an amazing thing to watch.

Students at Mid-Winter Convention putting on their brand new FFA jackets for the first time. 

This was also the first day of student teaching for #psuaged19. Seeing the student teachers in action was such an awesome experience. Jess Barnhart, Teach Ag Avenger, and member of #psuaged20 said “I’d like to shine a light on our student teachers at Mid-Winter Convention. They truly were immersed in all that Ag Ed is really about by having that hands-on experience with their students.”

While speaking at Mid-Winter Convention, Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Pedro Rivera said: “today’s FFA members are tomorrow’s industry and community leaders”. Here at Penn State, we are proud to play a role in helping to develop those future leaders within FFA.

Erin Langdale

Communications Team Member

Twitter: @ItsErinLangdale

Agricultural Education Student Teacher 2020

2K18 NAAE Convention Highlights

In November the Pennsylvania Association of Agricultural Educators (PAAE) had several members receive awards at the 70th National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE) Convention in San Antonio, TX as well as other members from the organization attend to aid in directing the national association for the next year. 

The members of PAAE had also participated in professional development focusing on agriculture, sessions on building partnerships between agricultural educators, agribusiness leaders, and policy makers. Our award winners from PAAE were Meagan Slates receiving the Outstanding Early Career Educator Award and Janae McMichael receiving the National Teacher Turn the Key Award. 

Meagan Slates gets her drive by student success in and outside the classroom. She utilized technology and experiential based learning to make her daily instruction interactive. Along with experience based learning, Meagan makes her courses engaging, rigorous, and model job expectations. Meagan currently serves on the Policy Committee for both NAAE and PAAE, and has attended the National Policy Seminar in Washington D.C. to advocate for career and technical education. 

Janae McMichael is a strong supporter of the three-circle model for Agricultural Education, she actively searches for ways to incorporate the three components in a way to create contextual, inquiry-based, and engaging learning experiences for her students. Janae is devoted to be a lifelong learner and does her best to seek out opportunities to grow as an educator, advisor, team member, and industry representative.

Penn State University also had members from #PSUAgEd19 cohort at the convention to experience professional development at the national level as well as network with future colleagues. Three Penn State students received the Upper Division Scholarship from the NAAE, Victoria Herr, Ryan Rupert, and Lisa Boltz. Penn State University was also named Region VI Outstanding Postsecondary Agriculture Program. The faculty at Penn State, Dr. Daniel Foster, Dr. John Ewing, and Dr. Kevin Curry, provide their students with current methods and how to effectively use them. The curriculum utilizes eight core courses to prepare teacher candidates for their future career.

Congratulations to all award recipients, and we hope that the convention provided you with many new and innovative ways to lead your classroom and exceed expectations.

Luke Kerstetter

Communications Team Member

Twitter Handle: Luke_Kerstetter

Agricultural Education Student Teacher 2020