The National FFA Convention and Expo: A Blue and Gold Evolution

Throughout my life I have experienced the National FFA Convention and Expo a total of four times; as a senior in high school, as a Pennsylvania FFA State Officer, as a Pennsylvania FFA Delegate, and as a sophomore pursuing Agricultural and Extension Education with The Pennsylvania State University. Each trip entailed around sixteen hours in a van, a week away from home, a chance to be surrounded by blue corduroy (quite literally for three out of four of those trips), and an entirely unique experience. In joining the National FFA Organization, I was told of the incredible opportunities, growth, and brotherhood that I would be blessed with, but I was never made aware of the Blue and Gold Evolution I would personally experience until heading home from the 92nd National FFA Convention and Expo a week ago.

My first year attending the National FFA Convention and Expo, I went with my local chapter to experience the organization that gave me a passion for Agricultural Education at the national level. While I did not compete, I gained a true understanding of the scope of  FFA, made friends from across the nation, and grew closer to the members of my chapter. I could feel myself being swept up in the atmosphere of fun and fellowship as I collected signatures from one member from each US state and territory, danced during sessions, and toured a few sponsors local to Indianapolis. While I had felt a part of something larger when I first joined the Elizabethtown FFA Chapter, being at the National FFA Convention and Expo gave me tangible evidence of my individual importance in a united purpose as an FFA member.

The second milestone in my Blue and Gold Evolution built upon my newfound sense of belonging. I was a State Officer, and after studying and preparing to be blessed with the opportunity of a lifetime, after reflecting on how the National FFA Organization had taken my shy disposition and transformed it into a passionate confidence, and after feeling the rush of ecstatic joy when my name was announced as part of the new team, I was back at the National FFA Convention and Expo in an Association jacket. While I did not expect to have the opportunity to return to National Convention after graduating, I felt more a part of the organization than I had in high school. I attended every session, contributed to the delegate process, made friends with State Officers from across the nation, and was greeted by Pennsylvania FFA members with excitement. In short, I felt as if I had reached an importance that I had never had before. Not only was I part of a united purpose in FFA, but I could feel the weight of my year of service through a lack of sleep and a heart full of the friendships, memories, and opportunities that I made in that short week.

Retiring from the 2017-2018 Pennsylvania FFA State Officer Team was the most emotional experience of my life. I was overjoyed for the newly elected team and the passions and talents that they would get to experience and share with Pennsylvania FFA, but I was sad to be letting go of a position that showed me the working relationship between love and service. So, when I applied and was selected to serve as a Pennsylvania FFA Delegate with my teammate Thomas Gabel and the 2018-2019 Pennsylvania FFA State Officer Team, another opportunity to enjoy National Convention in the midst of the chaos of my freshman year was a pleasant surprise. Once more I was able to discuss the future of FFA through the delegate process, form new friendships, receive my American Degree, and talk to different supporters of the National FFA Convention. After struggling through my first semester of college at Penn State Harrisburg, completely disconnected from Agricultural Education, a week at the National FFA Convention and Expo allowed me to see the faces of students who won a Career or Leadership Development Event after months of hard work, cheer on members that I knew personally, and admire the dedication that each of the advisors present had for their students. In short,  I got to reconnect with the reasons I was pursuing a career as an Agricultural Educator.

After three years of experiencing a Blue and Gold Evolution at the National FFA Convention and Expo, I returned for the first time this year and walked the streets of Indianapolis without my blue jacket. While I did get the opportunity to participate in my first Parliamentary Procedure competition at the National ATA Conclave, I felt saddened at first; disconnected from the organization that I fell in love with during my sophomore year of high school. However, as I bonded with my Agricultural Education family, caught up with a few old friends, and watched the members around me realize their own individual importance to FFA's united purpose, I respected the feeling of separation that came over me. While some FFA members evolve to work directly in agriculture, I realized last week that my Blue and Gold Evolution led me to feel the humble disconnect of a future Agricultural Educator. Though I no longer feel like an FFA member, I am proud of this newfound separation, because FFA is no longer about the relationships that I will make and opportunities I will take, it is about them, those students beginning their own Blue and Gold Evolutions, and what they will do for the future of agriculture.

Taylor Halbleib

Agricultural and Extension Education

Class of 2022

Connection to Industry: AgChoice Farm Credit

Over the course of this fall semester, The Center for Professional Personnel Development is connecting Agricultural Education to the industry through webinars. Each webinar will feature a different presentation and presenter. Our goal is to provide educators with resources and knowledge to better serve their students.

Industry

Our featured industry for the month of November is AgChoice Farm Credit. Some of us may know what the services AgChoice provides for its members. However, to reiterate their services, AgChoice is a member-owned cooperative that supports rural communities and agriculture with loans and financial services. They serve 10,000 customers in 52 Pennsylvania counties and four counties in West Virginia through ten branch offices. AgChoice has been providing services to its members for over 100 years. 

Presenter 

Our presenter, Ryan Davis, is the Director of Credit Administration. His overall mission at AgChoice is to establish and promote a positive credit culture. "My role is to establish and promote a positive credit culture through loan approvals, credit training, and procedures. This is accomplished through serving on our Senior Leadership Team, Credit Committee, and various other credit functions within our Association." - Ryan Davis. He had attended Messiah College where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a Finance concentration. He further went on to receive a Master in Business Administration degree from Penn State University. When asked how he became interested in AgChoice Farm Credit he stated, "I was attracted to AgChoice Farm Credit because of their strong focus on helping their customer-owners succeed in an industry that is vital to both Pennsylvania and national economy. My position combines an overall leadership focus with training and development – an opportunity to positively impact both our customers and employees."

Webinar Highlights

The webinar will focus mainly on the "5 C of Credit" - the areas of focus that are used to make a good credit decision. Through the discussion, he will also touch on factors that impact credit score and share resources that AgChoice can provide in the classroom. The webinar will be held on Wednesday, November 13th at 3:30PM follow the link to participate https://tinyurl.com/AgChoiceFarmCredit

Luke Kerstetter

2020 Agriculture Teacher Candidate

Twitter Handle: @Luke_Kerstetter

The Intern's Eye View of The World Food Prize

When I first sat down to write this post, I wanted the direction to be centered around why educators should take students to the World Food Prize to participate in the Global Youth Institute. Starting with explaining what The World Food Prize (WFP) and the Global Youth Institute (GYI) are and then move into some of my experiences that might motivate educators to want to take students or inspire students that might read this to want to attend themselves because that fits the audience of these blogs. As I began to write and really reflect upon my experience though, I've realized that's not the story that I want to be known, that's not where my deepest learning lies.

I will still start with a little bit of background on what the World Food Prize is, so that there is some understanding about the event I am referencing.

What is the World Food Prize?

The World Food Prize (WFP) is the result of the vision of Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970. The prize is an international honor that recognizing those who have made contribution to advancing human development through improving the world’s food supply.

The Global Youth Institute (GYI) was created in 1994 to give students a voice in creating change. 200 high school students meet and discuss issues related to food security and agriculture internationally.

You can research more about the WFP and GYI on their website: https://www.worldfoodprize.org/en/about_the_prize/

My story

I was beyond excited to be able to attend the World Food Prize in general and was even more excited to be there as part of the Global Teach Ag! Team - to learn more about Global Guides, work with the professors, etc. I honestly had not put a lot of thought into what I expected to get out of the experience beyond some networking opportunities, I just knew that I would get to be surrounded by people that I aspired to be like. People that were working towards creating global food security and loved working with youth.

The #WFPGlobalGuides Team

We talked about ‘Our Why’ a lot during the global guides program, especially in relation to digital storytelling, but also overarching as to why we were even at the WFP. I specifically remember the night we had our GlobalGuides Session in the mural room at the Hall of Laurates. I was sitting with a group of teachers and we were supposed to be telling each other about our whys. One of the teachers honed right in on me and wanted to know what my why was and honestly, I didn’t have a meaningful answer. After some prodding I came up with some words, but even as they left my mouth, they felt scripted and clique.

The beginning of the #WFPGlobalGuides session in the mural room. 

Throughout the week I slowly realized that as I’ve been wrapped up in all the busyness of my own life, trying to get to the next phase, I had somehow forgot about the part of me that has a passion for being a part of international work related to food security and safe drinking water. I have always had a desire and felt called to work to alleviate hunger, specifically in Africa. Those feelings have changed slightly throughout my life for particular reasons, but that is always where I have re-landed. That night in the mural room particularly left me in a lot of deep thought remembering these things and thinking about life reevaluation.

A different night we had a VIP guest from Corteva, who started out in Agricultural Education come talk at a GlobalGuides session. As I was in this spot of contemplating what my ‘Why’ is and since I graduate in May with not really a clue of where I want to end up, some things that she said really resonated with me. She talked about how we don’t have career paths, but instead we have career adventures.

The speaker from Corteva. 

My education path has already really been an adventure, and attending WFP was a piece in that story. I think that throughout the next few years as I start my post-graduation career adventure, I will really get to look back at my week spent learning from everyone around me at the WPF and see that it played a pivotal role in where I end up. Not necessarily because of all the information that I took in, but because of the people I met and the fact that in its own way, it made me slow down. It’s crazy to think that through the whirlwind of chaos that taking another week away from classes caused in my life, that I could have slowed down, but during that bubble of time WFP, actually forced me to slow down and ask myself what I am truly passionate about and how I can make those passions and my career collide. Looking past what everyone around me is doing and where they expect me to end up.

I left the World Food Prize even more confused as to what my own future holds, but I also left encouraged and filled with hope for our future because of the amazing, motivated, and caring people that I was blessed to spend my week surrounded by, and with the reignited belief in the power of education. Most importantly though, I left that week with a deeper understanding of my own ‘Why’.

Kaitlin Liszka

#PSUAgEd20

@KaitlinLiszka

andsomecombatboots.wordpress.com

Connection to Industry: Bob Clements International (BCI)

Over the course of this fall semester, The Center for Professional Personnel Development is connecting Agricultural Education to the industry through webinars. Each webinar will feature a different presentation and presenter. Our goal is to provide educators with resources and knowledge to better serve their students.

Industry
Our featured industry for October is Bob Clements International (BCI). You are probably wondering; what is Bob Clements International? BCI is a training company the works with about 4,500 OPE, Ag, Trailer, Powersport, and Marine dealerships across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Their goal is to implement and improve parts and services processes and profitability. "We often joke that we are the Gordon Ramsey of kitchen nightmares in the dealership. We often go into a dealership and turn a struggling dealership around with a little tough love and some proven processes," - Sara Hey.

Presenter
Our presenter, Sara Hey, wears many hats within the company since they are a small team. Her two main roles in the company are traveling around the world speaking to manufacturers and dealers, and to make sure the programs partnered with BCI are successful. It is worthwhile mentioning that Sara had attended North Park University in Chicago and received a degree in psychology. Her degree has helped her work with their dealers and inside the family business. 

What Sparked Her Interest?
Her parents had started BCI over 30 years ago, so it is safe to say she was born into it. When she began working for BCI, she recently had twins and was passionate about making a paycheck. Her dad gave her the opportunity to work in an inside sales role. Throughout the past eight years, Sara has had the opportunity to explore other areas in the dealership realm. Her daily excitement to work for the company comes from giving hope to dealers that are at the end of their rope. She states, "When we get to come alongside them and help them realize that the way things are, isn’t the way they have to continue to be. This is the reason I do what I do."

Webinar Highlights

• How they decide it’s time to add an additional person in the service department
• How they determine what they can pay their technicians and what their expectations are of their technicians.
• What the products mix in each of the dealerships look like and what that mix means for training.
• What each one of the dealerships wants you to know about what they look for in new employees and the knowledge they have as they come out of school.
• The webinar will be held on Wednesday, October 23rd at 3:30 pm follow the link to participate https://tinyurl.com/AgEquipmentWebinar

Luke Kerstetter

2020 Agriculture Teacher Candidate

Twitter Handle: @Luke_Kerstetter

October 2019 Student of the Month: Justin Kurtz (@justin_kurtz_)

Each month a student is recognized within the Agricultural and Extension Education program as Student of the Month for their hard work and dedication to their education, major, and passions. This October, sophomore Mr. Justin Kurtz has been selected as Student of the Month for his outstanding accomplishments inside and outside of the classroom.

 Justin grew up in Spring Mills, Pennsylvania where his experience working on farms with his stepfather in the area gave him a background in agriculture and encouraged him to pursue a degree in the Agricultural Sciences. While he was at first interested in Plant Science, his experience in agricultural education at State College Area High School led him to become a part of the Agricultural and Extension Education program at The Pennsylvania State University. On campus, Justin is an active member of LEAD Society and serves on the executive board for Ag Student Council. Off campus, he continues to grow and supplement his faith at Cedar Heights church. When asked about what he likes most about the University Park campus he responded, "all my friends are here and we have PHENOMENAL faculty and staff in the Agricultural and Extension Education department".

In the future, Justin's career goal is to teach agriculture. While he believes that most people feel motivated by their own agricultural educators to pursue a career in Agricultural and Extension Education, and agrees this is part of his motivation to teach agriculture, he is mostly motivated to "facilitate the development of youth through agricultural education, just as it has done for me".


Some more about Justin includes:

Birthday: April 3rd, 1999
Favorite food: "Mashed taters for the win".
Favorite PSU Class: HORT 150N (Plants in Society) with Dr. Decoteau and Dr. Hoover
Favorite Hangout on Campus: Ferguson 115
Favorite Place to Eat in State College: The Waffle Shop
Favorite Quote: "It is well with my soul".
4H/FFA Background: Justin was active in the State College Little Lions FFA chapter, served as a State Officer from 2017-2018, and has been chosen to represent the state of Pennsylvania at the 92nd National FFA Convention and Expo as the National Officer Candidate.

Congratulations again to Justin for being selected as the 2019 October Student of Month. His humor, compassion, and genuine personality will continue to serve him as he finishes his degree and runs to be a National Officer for the National FFA Organization.

Taylor Halbleib

Agricultural and Extension Education

Class of 2022

2019 Student Leader Scholarship Recipients

From the 1620 teachings of Squanto to the English settlers to the establishment of the Smith-Hughes Act in 1917, agricultural education revolved primarily around teaching students how to grow and harvest food. Today however, agricultural education's focus has shifted from cultivating knowledgeable farmers and ranchers to developing strong leaders in all fields of agriculture including mechanics, science, medicine, and marketing capable of overcoming the impending challenges of the industry. In recognition of this shift, the Center for Dairy Excellence Foundation of Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania Dairymen's Association come together to award the Student Leader Scholarship.

Every year, ten undergraduate students who have plans to pursue a career related to the dairy industry in the future are selected to receive the Student Leadership Scholarship for their outstanding accomplishments in their respective academic programs. This $3,000 scholarship provides recognition, encouragement, and financial support for these future leaders of the industry. This year two outstanding students enrolled in the Agricultural and Extension Education program at The Pennsylvania State University were awarded this scholarship.

Nicole Guise is a junior majoring in Agricultural and Extension Education at The Pennsylvania State University. She grew up in Spring Grove and got her start in the dairy industry on Buttonwood Farms and Bentz Hollow Farms which her family owns and operates. Nicole served as both the York Dairy Princess and State Dairy Princess which she believes allowed her to "give consumers a more personal relationship with the dairy industry". She is passionate about advocating for agriculture, interned with the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, and hopes to become an agricultural educator in the future to combine her two passions of dairy farming and teaching others. While Nicole may not be working full-time on her family's dairy farm in the future, she hopes to use her career as an agricultural educator to spotlight the dairy industry through student competitions, curriculum, and opportunities and develop students into informed consumers. One of Nicole's favorite aspects of the Agricultural and Extension Education program at Penn State is the travel opportunities that the program offers. In reference to these opportunities, Nicole explained, "I think the program does a good job of showing students just how diverse agriculture is". Nicole plans to use the Student Leader Scholarship towards her tuition costs.

Thomas Gabel of Newport, Pennsylvania is a sophomore studying Agricultural and Extension Education at The Pennsylvania State University. Growing up on his parents dairy farm, Thomas helped to milk, feed, and manage the cows.  He hopes to continue to advocate for the dairy industry in the classroom as an agricultural educator in the future and develop an innovative agricultural education program that will allow his students to make connections to the dairy industry. Thomas wishes to teach agriculture "to have an exponential impact on students, communities, and the world". He believes that by investing in students, we are able to make a positive impact on them which they will in turn pass on to others. "I want to empower students and help them to develop their passions and find a future career path for them". Thomas's favorite aspect of the Agricultural and Extension Education program at Penn State is that it feels like family. He believes that this atmosphere has allowed him to forge lasting relationships with his peers and the faculty in the program. "No matter who you are interacting with in the program, they are there to support you". Thomas is grateful for the Student Leadership Scholarship and plans to use it to continue to pursue his degree and advocate for the dairy industry.

Congratulations again to Nicole and Thomas and the rest of the scholarship winners for being strong leaders in the Agricultural and Extension Education program and for being awarded the Student Leader Scholarship.  Click here to learn more about the 2020 Student Leader Scholarship. 

Taylor Halbleib

Student Blogger

Agricultural and Extension Education

Class of 2022

September 2019 Student of the Month: Jessica Barnhart (@jessiebarny7)

It is a custom every month to recognize one of our outstanding students within the Agricultural and Extension Education program, who has made a positive impact on their mentors, peers, and program as Student of the Month. This September, Ms. Jessica Barnhart's passion and drive has played a role in her selection as September Student of the Month.

Jess resides in Blairsville, Pennsylvania and began her journey in Agricultural Education at Derry Area High School where her Ag Teachers "planted the seed" for her to pursue Agricultural Education as a career. She spent the first two years of her college career at Penn State Altoona studying Plant Science before a position as an Education Intern at the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources spurred her excitement for educating youth, leading her to find a home in the AEE program. At Penn State Altoona, Jess was involved in CFFA and was President of Ag Club. Currently at the University Park campus, she is involved in LEAD Society is a TeachAg! Avenger.

As a senior in the program, Jess will graduate with a Bachelors Degree in May of 2020 after completing her student teaching semester at Brockway Area. Her motivation to become an Agricultural Educator is student excitement. Jess says, "I feed off of their energy". When working with students, she helps them to express energy by sparking an interest and excitement for learning inside of them. In the future, Jess plans to put this motivation to use by becoming either an Agricultural Educator or an Environmental Education Specialist. She reasons, "I would be happy in each of these career fields as long as I get to teach about my passions".

Some more about Jess includes:

Birthday: August 31st
Favorite PSU Class: Biology 220W where she particularly enjoyed a stream study on macroinvertebrates.
Favorite Insect: The dobsonfly. 
Favorite Hangout on Campus: The Entomology (5th) Floor of the ASI Building.
Favorite Place to Eat in State College: McDonalds. "McNuggets are always my #1!"
Favorite Quote: "What's meant to be will always find a way".
4H/FFA Background: Jess was actively involved in the Derry FFA Chapter, serving as President and Reporter, and received her American Degree last October.

Congratulations to Jessica Barnhart for being selected as September Student of the Month! Her joyful and passionate personality are an incredible addition to the Agricultural and Extension Education program at Penn State University.

Taylor Halbleib

Student Blogger

Agricultural and Extension Education

Class of 2022