Emily Jay is named Agricultural and Extension Education March Student of the Month!

 AEE March Student of the Month

The Center for Professional Personnel Development would like to recognize Emily Jay as the March Agricultural and Extension Education Student of the Month. Emily is from Shermans Dale, Pennsylvania and is a graduate of West Perry High School. Emily received an associates degree in General Studies from Fort Hays State University in 2021 and a graduate certificate from Miracle Mountain Ranch School of Discipleship in 2017. Currently, she is majoring in Agricultural and Extension Education and will graduate in May. Emily shares, "Ever since I began school, I wanted to attend Penn State (the best school in the state!). Also, my dad attended Penn State."

During her time at Penn State, Emily was a member of the PSU FFA Alumni & Supporters Chapter and also a Teach Ag! Avenger. Her favorite class at Penn State was Ag Mechanics with Dr. Ewing. On campus, she enjoys hanging out in Ferguson 213. Her favorite place to eat in State College is Chick-Fil-A. Of course, her favorite team is the Penn State Football team. Emily enjoys riding horses, painting, swimming, and hanging out with friends.

With an extensive background in her own FFA chapter, Emily is no stranger to the duties of an ag teacher. She was a part of the West Perry FFA chapter and held officers positions such as Vice President and Secretary. Emily has received her Greenhand, Chapter, CDP Area, Keystone, and American degree. She has competed in Parliamentary Procedure, FFA Knowledge, Vet Science Skills, and Farm Business Management at PA FFA State Convention.

Emily has had a couple of different internship experiences. First, with Miracle Mountain Ranch as Summer Barn Staff. Also, she was a part of the Global Orientation to Agricultural Learning Program where she not only got to attend the World Food Prize but also have a short teaching immersion. She spent a week in Minnewaska, Minnesota teaching Global Agriculture to middle schoolers.

Some defining experiences during her college career have included working at Sheetz while also completing her degree. She also got to assist state officers and other Ag Ed students with the Fall Leadership Conference for two years, helped to create an exam and judge the 2023 Horse Evaluation CDE at PA FFA State Convention, and is ServSafe Certified. Her passion is teaching animal science as well as just helping her students to reach their full potential and be better consumers in the world.

Emily is completing her student teaching experience at Big Spring Middle School in Newville, Pennsylvania. She is teaching a variety of classes including 7th/8th grade Woodshop, 6th grade Intro to Ag, 7th/8th grade Family and Consumer Science, Plant & Greenhouse, and Living On Your Own. When asked what she is most excited for during her time student teaching, Emily says, "Planning and taking FFA events/trips like the Spring Ag Careers Day and Trout in the Classroom(Earth Day-release day)!"

For her future, she states, "[my future plans are] to teach at either a middle school, high school, or both (wherever this profession takes me) [and] work towards my master's after teaching for a few years." Emily does not have a specific area of agriculture that she hopes to teach. She shares, "What I enjoy most about agriculture is its diversity in subjects, so it’s difficult for me to pick one area I like the most."

Emily's favorite quote:

"To succeed in life, you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone, and a funny

bone." - Reba McEntire

Follow Emily on Social Media: @EmilyJay0108

Erica Teagarden

CPPD Student Worker

Agricultural and Extension Education

Class of 2026