December 2021 Agricultural and Extension Education Student of the Month: Taylor Halbleib

Each month, the Center for Professional Personnel Development recognizes a student within the Agricultural and Extension Education major for their hard work and dedication. The Student of the Month for December 2021 has been named Ms. Taylor Halbleib! Taylor is majoring in Agricultural and Extension Education with a minor in Equine Science. Taylor is from Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, where she attended Elizabethtown Area High School. 

While in high school Taylor's Ag Ed journey was sparked. She shares, "My passion for agriculture was sparked during my sophomore year in high school when I took my first agriculture education class with Mr. Mark Anderson. Having not grown up with an agricultural background, these courses opened my eyes to the vast, innovative, ever-changing industry of agriculture. Additionally, I was challenged to step out of my comfort zone and given a place to belong in the Elizabethtown FFA Chapter. These experiences had me falling in love with the agriculture industry and the National FFA Organization and helped me to realize that I wanted to positively impact students the way that the industry had impacted me." After starting her agricultural journey, Taylor did not miss a beat! She was not only an active member of her FFA chapter but she served as chapter president and participated in many Leadership and Career Development Events. Taylor was so inspired during her high school FFA experiences that she went on to serve the Pennsylvania State Association as the 2017-2018 FFA State Secretary. 

Taylor started her Penn State journey at the Harrisburg commonwealth campus for one year. She was a part of the PaSSS program which allowed her to take courses in the summer before and after starting her first year which allowed her to transfer to the University Park campus as a second-year student. While at Penn State Harrisburg, Taylor had the opportunity to be a part of the English Equestrian Team and rode horses competitively in the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association. 

After arriving at the University Park campus, Taylor quickly became involved in a variety of clubs and took on many different leadership positions at Penn State and beyond. She has served as the National President for Alpha Tau Alpha (ATA), President of Ag Student Council, Vice-President of LEAD Society at Penn State, a member of the Coaly Honors Society, and a member of Gamma Sigma Delta Honors Society. Her favorite class at Penn State is the Horse Handling and Training class (AEE 317) taught by Mr. Brain Egan. Taylor said "This class allowed us to study horse behavior and put that knowledge into practice as we worked to train the two-year-old horses that were sold in the 2021 Penn State Quarter Horse Sale. We were hands-on in every class session and watching the horses learn as well as learning from the horses was such a rewarding experience." While on campus, Taylor also works two jobs including working at the Penn State horse barns and as a student worker and Teach Ag Avenger for the Center for Professional Personnel Development. Additionally, Taylor has held two summer internships, one with the Lancaster County 4-H Extension services, and the second with the Southeast Agricultural Research and Extension Center. 

In her free time, Taylor enjoys riding horses, playing games with her friends, reading books, including her favorite series- Harry Potter, and watching movies. You can always find Taylor in her favorite place on campus to hang out in the Ferguson building or at the Berkey Creamery. One interesting thing about Taylor is that she is a Farm Credit Foundation Scholarship. Taylor is preparing for her student teaching experience at Cumberland Valley High School with Ms. Darla Romberger and Ms. Jeanne Case. She is excited to embark on this experience as she stated "As a Student Teacher I hope to not only develop my content knowledge and learn how to create a rigorous classroom environment, but I also hope to learn how to serve every student I encounter with unique relationships, variable instruction, and a diverse array of opportunities inside and outside of the classroom. Furthermore, I am excited to explore who I am as an educator. Ms. Darla Romberger has an incredibly intelligent and confident presence in the classroom, and I hope to bring those characteristics into my teaching style as I learn from her."

Taylor's token of advice for underclassmen is to "take advantage of opportunities that fuel your passions. This major is challenging and living in those opportunities that remind you why you fell in love with agriculture, FFA, and education fills your cup and motivates you to maintain a growth mindset as you work to become an outstanding educator."  WE ARE so excited to see what lies ahead in Taylor's Ag Ed journey, and we know she will continue to accomplish great things! Keep up with Taylor's experiences by following her Twitter @TaylorHalbleib and on Instagram @halbleib01

Morgan Bear

CPPD Student Worker

Agricultural and Extension Education

Class of 2023

Student Spotlight: Killiann George receives PA Landscape and Nursery Association Foundation Scholarship

Killiann George of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, was named a Pennsylvania Landscape and Nursery Association Foundation Scholarship recipient. The PLNA Foundation Scholarship Program was established to assist students pursuing degrees in horticulture-oriented fields. To enhance the relationship between students and the landscape and nursery industry, the PLNA Foundation recognizes the effort of outstanding students in each of Pennsylvania's colleges and universities, including the Pennsylvania State University, offering horticulture nursery production, landscape contracting, or a strongly related field. Each recipient receives a certificate and cash award to be applied to tuition, books, or educational supplies. 

Killiann is majoring in Agricultural and Extension Education at Penn State, University Park, and pursuing two minors in International Agriculture and Political Science. Her future career plans include becoming a formal Agricultural Educator or starting a career in writing and advocating for agricultural legislative policy. One day she hopes to write an agricultural-related curriculum impacting future generations of agricultural leaders. While in college, Killiann has also been involved in LEAD Society, and Collegiate Farm Bureau.

One day Killiann was scrolling through social media when she found this scholarship opportunity which sparked her interest in applying for the scholarship. She shared"This scholarship aligned with my educational and professional goals so it felt like a perfect opportunity to pursue." She spent time filling out an application, writing an essay about her future goals and her current classes, in addition to creating a resume, and a Faculty Advisor Form. She expressed her gratitude for receiving this scholarship by saying "Horticulture is a HUGE section of the agricultural industry and having folks who support the next generation is super important. I am super grateful to the association for their support and hope to be able to encourage future students to take part in this thriving sector of agriculture."

WE ARE so proud of you, Killiann! If you or someone you know is interested in more scholarship opportunities, be sure to stay tuned in to the Weekly TeachAg! Email Blasts with news and updates, as well as the College of Agricultural Sciences website, and Office of Student Aid.

Morgan Bear

CPPD Student Worker

Agricultural and Extension Education

Class of 2023

November 2021 AEE Student of the Month: Gabrielle Kriley

The Center for Professional Personnel Development is proud to name Gabrielle Kriley as the November 2021 Agricultural and Extension Education Student of the Month. Gabby is a senior studying Agricultural and Extension Education with a minor in International Agriculture. She is from Rural Valley, Pennsylvania where she graduated from Lenape Technical School. 

Gabby's passion for agriculture was sparked at a young age from growing up on her family's fruit farm and continued as she began her journey as a member of the Armstrong County 4-H. She was apart of the Young Ruff Riders, Square Dancing Team, and Teen Leadership Council. She shares "Once I became actively engaged in 4-H, I began to learn the way plants grow, the importance of agriculture literacy, and became more familiar with the importance of agriculture on society. I grew such a love for agriculture as I realized that without it, the human race would no longer exist. As I continued my education through high school and college, my passion for agriculture has only grown."

Before starting her journey at Penn State, University Park, Gabby attended the Penn State New Kensington commonwealth campus where she was involved in THON and served as a biology lab assistant as well as the president of the Student Government Association. Once arriving at University Park campus Gabby has not skipped a beat. She is involved in LEAD Society, serves as a Teach Ag! Avenger, and Student Worker for the Professional Personnel Development. 

Some of Gabby's favorite things on campus include hiding on the third floor of the library to study, exploring new places, and eating at URBN Flavourhous in Bellefonte. Her favorite course that she has taken so far has been AEE 350: Teaching Methods for Agricultural and Environmental Laboratories because of the hands-on opportunities that she can take into the classroom. In her spare time she also enjoys horseback riding and listening to new music. 

Gabby is currently gearing up for her student teaching experience at Bermudian Springs High School in York Springs, Pennsylvania where she will be teaching Agriculture Environmental Awareness and Plant Science. She has shared some goals she has set for herself going into student teaching "My goal is to experience classroom teaching while also pushing myself to learn new content knowledge that I am unfamiliar with. Having the hands-on opportunity of teaching can change my whole perspective of teaching and ultimately, I know it is for the better because my Cooperating Teacher is incredibly helpful and has allowed me to run with the ideas that I have experienced so far."

One piece of advice she is offering underclassmen is "Do not allow your grades to define who you are as a person. College is challenging and you have various resources that can help you advance in your education." The Center is excited to see what else Gabby accomplishes in her Teach Ag journey. To keep up with Gabby be sure to follow her on Twitter @KrileyGabrielle and on Instagram @Gabrielle_mae128.

Morgan Bear

CPPD Student Worker

Agricultural & Extension Education

Class of 2023

October 2021 Agricultural and Extension Education Student of the Month: Dylan Clark

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, the Center for Professional Personnel Development would like to recognize senior, Dylan Clark, as the Agricultural and Extension Education Student of the Month. 

Dylan comes to us from Enon Valley, Pennsylvania where he graduated from Mohawk Junior Senior High School in Lawrence County. Dylan is no stranger to agriculture, he grew up on his family's beef farm and was an active member of the Lawrence County 4-H Animal House Club for 11 years, and Teen Council for 3 years. In high school, Dylan was a member the Mohawk FFA Chapter for 4 years where he participated in many events and was even a part of the square dancing team!

Before arriving at University Park campus, Dylan spent 3 semesters at the Penn State Beaver commonwealth campus. Dylan chose Penn State because he wanted to attend a college deeply rooted in agriculture. While attending Penn State he has been involved in a variety of student organizations and experiences. He currently serves as the Public Relations Director for LEAD Society at Penn State, is a member of Delta Theta Sigma, and lives and works at the Meats Laboratory. Dylan's favorite hang-out place on campus is in the Ferguson Building. Some of Dylan's other favorite things include Wings Over and the Pittsburgh Steelers team.

Dylan is excited to share his passion for agriculture with others. He states "I want to be able to share my knowledge of agriculture with the next generation of agriculture leaders as well as continue to learn more about the agricultural industry myself. Being a part of 4-H and FFA was an amazing experience for me and made me who I am today, and I want to be able to continue to excite students about agriculture for years to come." This coming spring semester, Dylan will be starting his student teaching journey at Wilmington Area High School with Ms. Joanna McKelvey. 

One of Dylan's favorite quotes is by Mac Miller, "No matter where life takes me, find me with a smile." We are incredibly proud of Dylan and his accomplishments here at Penn State! To keep up with Dylan on social media be sure to follow him on Instagram @mr_showcow63 and on Twitter @clarkncompany.

Morgan Bear

CPPD Student Worker

Agricultural & Extension Education

Class of 2023

September 2021 Agricultural & Extension Education Student of the Month- Jenna Kibbe!

The Center for Professional Personnel Development is excited to recognize Jenna Kibbe, a senior studying Agricultural and Extension Education as the 2021 September Student of the Month! Jenna is from Findley Lake, New York and a graduate of Clymer Central School. During her senior year of high school, she was elected to serve as the New York FFA State Treasurer in 2017-2018. She attended Penn State Behrend for her first year of undergraduate studies. Jenna is a senior preparing to embark on her student teaching experience this spring where she will be teaching at Gettysburg Area High School under Ms. Jenna Timmons and Mrs. Laura Kennedy. Additionally, Jenna is pursuing two minors along with her degree in both Spanish and International Agriculture. 

While attending Penn State, Jenna has been involved in a variety of student organizations including LEAD Society, Spanish Immersion Club, and SALT. She has taken advantage of student employment opportunities including supervising concessions at Beaver Stadium, welcoming the newest Penn State students as a New Student Orientation Leader in 2020, and serving as an Agriculture Education Avenger over the past few years.

Jenna's passion for agriculture was sparked from her family, where agriculture is a deep tradition. She shares that "My grandfather and dad were both active members of FFA and were involved in showing livestock and competing at all levels in the state. Although I have never shown an animal a day in my life, I grew up with the love of gardening and wildlife management. From helping my dad with his food plots to selling my vegetables at the end of my driveway in the summer, I always enjoyed being outside and enjoying God’s beauty through my involvement in the agriculture industry. My passion only grew as I got older, so I challenged myself by working on a horse farm starting at the bottom by cleaning stalls to eventually being a trail guide."

In her free time, Jenna enjoys playing basketball, hiking, reading books and watching movies! You can find Jenna on campus at her favorite spots which are the Creamery and Arboretum. Her favorite places to eat in State College are Plaza and Rey Azteca, which she said are some of the best comfort foods! 

As Jenna spends the fall semester preparing for her student teaching experience, she is hoping to make a lasting impact on students and the program at Gettysburg Area High School. She states "I am looking forward to teaching classes in Animal Science, Horticulture, Landscape Design and Introduction to Agriculture. One of my main goals for student teaching is to make impactful connections with my students. I hope inspire my students to become lifelong learners and advocates for the agriculture industry. I also hope to help guide them out of their comfort zone to develop leadership skills to become better leaders in the future. Another one of my goals is to be a positive and active member of the community by making a meaningful difference. Whether it’s through service learning, donations or community service projects, I hope to strengthen the relations between community members and my students to make a positive impact. My final goal is to better my skills as a teacher and leader. I want to be proactive in learning from my cooperating teachers, administration and students." Jenna has been a great example of a what being a good leader is like to her colleagues and friends. We know she will accomplish great things throughout her student teaching experience. 

Jenna wanted to share a piece of advice for underclassmen. "For any underclassmen reading this, I would recommend that you spend your time in college exploring different passions and take advantage of every opportunity that you can! It is great to find passions that bring you joy and comfort you when you are stressed in college. It is easy to be overwhelmed and overwork yourself like I did. However, when I felt like my stress levels were getting high, I always had my few passions/hobbies that helped me refresh and enjoy my time here at Penn State!" We are proud to see how Jenna has grown over the past few years at Penn State and excited to see where her Ag Ed journey continues to take her. Keep up with Jenna by following her on Instagram or Twitter @JennaKibbe. 

Morgan Bear

CPPD Student Worker

Agricultural & Extension Education

Class of 2023

2021 LEAD Society Teach Ag! Essay Contest - Finalist Annoucement

The time has come to announce the four finalists for the 2021 LEAD Society Teach Ag! Essay Contest! These "final four" participants will be recognized during the in-person session at the annual Pennsylvania FFA State Convention. This year, we had twelve participants, representing five schools from across the state of Pennsylvania.

Participants were able to step into the role of an agriculture teacher for a day and instruct a class on a topic of their choosing. Following the 2021 contest theme, "INSPIRE", students were asked to include in their lessons a connection to how agricultural education can be used to create passion and interest in the agriculture industry. After their teaching experience, participants were then asked to write a 400-600 word essay on the prompt "How can agricultural education be used to inspire students about the future of agriculture?" as well as a 300-word reflection of their teaching experience. Students also submitted their lesson plans and a video from their teaching experience that were included as part of the competition evaluation process. 


We are proud of this contest and its ability to allow students to experience what it is like to be an agricultural educator. Each participant (and their designated advisor for this contest!) will receive a LEAD Society Teach Ag! Essay Contest T-shirt.

Our four finalists will be receiving gift cards for the National FFA Shop and the first place winner will receive free registration to a 2021 FFA event of their choosing!

And now, in no particular order, we are proud to announce the four finalists of the 2021 LEAD Society Teach Ag! Essay Contest:

Madison Copenhaver

Cedar Crest High School 

Cedar Crest FFA

Agriscience Teacher: Mr. Phil Haussener

Michael Lewis

Bald Eagle High School 

Bald Eagle FFA

Agriscience Teacher: Mr. Todd Biddle

Tre Rosa

Pequea Valley High School

Pequea Valley FFA

Agriscience Teacher: Mr. Doug Masser 

Mackenzie Thomas

Cedar Crest High School

Cedar Crest FFA

Agriscience Teacher: Ms. Claudia Brady

Congratulations to these finalists and all participants! The final results will be announced at the in-person session of the Pennsylvania FFA State Convention on Friday, June 11th. Congratulations all!

Dylan Clark

Public Relations Director

LEAD Society

March 2021 AEE Student of the Month: Lacey Walker

 

For the month of March, the Center for Professional Personnel Development would like to recognize Lacey Walker of Glen Rock, Pennsylvania as the Student of the Month. Growing up on her family's farm and being involved in 4-H sparked her interest in agriculture, and as she continued to grow up and find her role in helping around the farm she realized that she wanted to work in the agricultural industry. She had many inspirations for Teaching Ag, she expressed "Many people inspired my to Teach Ag, especially seeing younger kids discover their love for agriculture in 4-H. One of the most influential people was Linda Spahr, who was my 4-H county extension agent. It was amazing to watch her work with us 4-H kids and help get kids excited about agriculture. "

Lacey is a rising senior, and attended Susquehannock High School and decided to come to Penn State to pursue her major in Agricultural and Extension Education with a minor in International Agriculture. She chose Penn State because the College of Agricultural Sciences is well-known and a big university while also providing many opportunities to succeed with a small college feel in the major. Throughout Lacey's three years at University Park, her favorite class was Animal Science 201 with Dale Olver. The clubs she is involved in are Penn State Block and Bridle and Lead Society. In addition, she devotes time to working as an undergraduate intern for the Global Teach Ag Network while also serving as a Teach Ag Avenger. Before coming to Penn State, Lacey was involved in 4-H a great deal as she was a part of three clubs where she exhibited market goats and dairy beef. 4-H also gave her an opportunity to travel to Wisconsin and Idaho through the 4-H exchange program. 

Aside from doing school work, Lacey enjoys doing anything outdoors, especially going on hikes or runs with her dog, and hanging out with her family and friends. You may find Lacey in her favorite place to hang out on campus, on the second floor of Agriculture and Science Industries building (ASI). This summer she plans to continue working as a Global Teach Ag Network intern and help out around her family's farm. Lacey is also gearing up to begin her student teaching experience next Spring and is preparing for that. If you are interested in keeping up to date with her student teaching experiences, be sure to follow her blog at Ms. Walker's "Wise" Tales (walkerteachag.blogspot.com). Upon graduation she plans to work with youth likely in a high school agriculture classroom, but she has also been exploring international opportunities as well. 

A piece of advice she wanted to leave underclassmen is "Get involved and get to know your advisors, professors, and classmates. It will pay off in the long run when you have questions or are looking for opportunities you will have connections!" Over the past few years we have enjoyed getting to watch Lacey develop into a great leader and role model to her peers. We can't wait to see where the future leads you, Lacey! Congratulation's again on being the March 2021 Student of the Month. To find more about Lacey, follow her social media page on Twitter @lacey_walker13.

Morgan Bear

CPPD Student Worker

Agricultural and Extension Education

Class of 2023

Penn State Ag Alumni Society Internship Award's Benefit Penn State Agricultural Education Students

The Center for Professional Personnel Development would like to recognize students in the Agricultural and Extension Education major that were awarded Penn State Agricultural Alumni Society Internship Awards. These students have all completed internships related to agriculture which helped them to gain different experiences across the field. The students who received this award were Mary Wurzbach of the 2020 cohort, Justin Kurtz, Nathan Moyer, and Jenna Kibbe of the 2022 cohort.

The Ag Alumni Society at Penn State has many benefits for undergraduate students. "The Internship award, established in 1986, is a competitive awards program designed to encourage undergraduate students to participate in internships. The Society recognizes the importance of planned on-the-job learning experience to adequately prepare students for today's competitive job market. The Ag Alumni Society has distributed over $201,000 in internship awards benefiting 300 students." This past fall, we were grateful to have had four Agricultural and Extension Education students receive these awards to help pay off their college tuition costs and more.

Mary Wurzbach completed her internship at Oley Valley High School in Oley, Pennsylvania where she student taught under Mr. Jeremy Deysher and Mrs. Kacey Rice at their formal agricultural education program. Mary shared "The internship award seemed like the perfect way to share my experiences from student teaching to Penn State College of Agriculture alumni." While at Oley Valley Mary taught students in grades 8-12 in a variety of agricultural related topics while interacting with over 150 students over 15 weeks. While student teaching during a global pandemic, the philosophy Mary created kept her motivated during a difficult time. "After my student teaching experience, my philosophy of teaching has expanded to include a work-life balance and being sure to use different resources." After wrapping up her student teaching experience, Mary decided to work at Kreider Farms as an Assistant Processing Manager at their Middletown egg facility. 

Justin Kurtz was another recipient of the Ag Alumni Award as he completed his internship with Shaver's Creek Environmental Center. During his internship he worked with the guidance from Mr. Brian Sedgewick and Mr. Chris Diehl on the grounds and facilities team. Justin shared a few details about his experience. "My duties included tasks such as cleaning restrooms, landscaping, and trail maintenance. There was never a day where I went home regretting my decision to partake in the experience." Learning is a common part of any internship, and Justin highlighted that his internship taught him that professional relationships matter in making connections for future endeavors. Being a well-rounded educator is something Justin is working on building throughout his time at Penn State and Shaver's Creek has taught him this through what he highlighted as "our best learning happens in our natural environment which I strive to create for students, the same way the Environmental Center has done for me."

Nathan Moyer our third recipient, spent time interning at Ashburn's Animals, a non-profit animal rescue located in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania.  Ashburn's is home to more than 100 animals, including horses, sheep, snakes, birds, and much more. Due to Covid-19 Nathan's experiences looked different at his internship as he shares, "Normally, I would have been lesson-planning and facilitating a week-long farm camp experience opened for youth aged 6-12. Instead, most of my summer was spent re-designing the website, managing the website, engaging online audiences through social media, creating digital and graphic content to highlight the animals at the rescue, and promoting the rescue through guided tours of the facilities." Nathan made the most of his time spent at Ashburn's Animals and learned a few things along the way including developing his skills in graphic design and photography including programs like Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, Spark, and Illustrator, as well as the Facebook, Instagram, and Wix website builder. Nathan stated "With technology continuing to change, it's important that educators adapt to those changes to engage with their students (no matter how old they may be) on a relatable level."

Although the Covid-19 pandemic interrupted many plans, one thing still remained; nearly 15,000 new Penn State students from across the globe still had to be welcomed into the family. Jenna Kibbe, who received the award completed an internship this summer which allowed her to serve as a New Student Orientation Leader for Penn State’s Student Orientation and Transition Programs. Over the course of the spring and summer, she transformed the orientation program to be completely virtual while still allowing new Penn State students to build connections and prepare for their journey ahead. Jenna shares, "I was able to fine tune many of my communication and leadership skills by facilitating workshops about academics, Penn State resources, and ways to make the most out of their college careers. From learning about how to be more inclusive to everyone, to effectively communicating a message and being able to be flexible in any situation, it is safe to say that many of these skills will be very beneficial in my future."  As Jenna pursues a career as an Agriculture Educator, she will surely take all of the lessons learned from this summer experience and apply them in her future classroom.

 

These students have went above and beyond in not only completing an internship experience, but maximizing the potential learning opportunities from them. We are proud to have them earn these awards sponsored by the Penn State Agricultural Alumni Society. Many Agricultural and Extension Education students have gained valuable skills from taking on an internship experience and we encourage other students to apply in the future! To apply for the Ag Alumni Society Internship Award in the future, check out the following link. https://agsci.psu.edu/alumni/awards/student/internship-award for more information.

Morgan Bear

CPPD Student Worker

Agricultural and Extension Education

Class of 2023

Emily Schulz Dances from Florida to Pennsylvania for Agricultural Education

Originally from Florida, Ms. Emily Schulz is no stranger to weathering a storm. So when life handed this senior in Agricultural and Extension Education at Penn State challenges, she danced around them to pursue her passion for the industry. 

Emily was raised in the Indian Rocks Beach Area of Pinellas County, Florida. Growing up, the Schulz family had limited knowledge about the agricultural industry. "The area I am from is what I like to call agriculturally deprived... very few people are involved in production agriculture or have knowledge of agricultural practices". So when Emily attended the Career Academies of Seminole Veterinary Assisting program and was opened up to the beautiful world of agricultural education, it is no surprise that she wanted to tell everyone she knew about what she was learning. Emily says, "Throughout high school, I was constantly sharing the information I learned in ag class with my friends and teachers. It really became my mission to educate the people in my community about agriculture and where their food comes from". While at the Career Academies of Seminole, Emily became a Certified Veterinary Assistant and became involved in their FFA chapter. In this program Emily earned her Greenhand, Chapter, and State Degrees, served as the Reporter for her chapter, and showed pigs. Her agricultural educator, Mr. Shrum, inspired Emily and helped her to eventually decide that she wanted to pursue a career as an ag teacher in the future. 

When Emily was unable to attend the University of Florida, the school of her dreams, to pursue her degree, she was understandably discouraged. She knew that community college was not for her, so she decided to pursue a better fit for her future and was recruited by The Pennsylvania State University, Cornell University, and Purdue University. "As soon as I told my ag teacher about being recruited by Penn State he told me I needed to seriously consider attending the school because they have one of the best agricultural education programs. I eventually decided to take the leap of faith and sign with Penn State because I could earn a Dance degree and Agricultural and Extension Education degree all at one time, something that I could not have done at the University of Florida". 

Pursuing a double major in Dance and Agricultural and Extension Education is a challenge in and of itself, but Emily has made the most of her time in college by pursing opportunities that have greatly benefitted her. "I could probably write multiple paragraphs about my experiences at Penn State because I had so many great ones. One of my favorite experiences was attending the National FFA Convention. Some highlights include helping Dr. Foster with the Parliamentary Procedure LDE, exploring the expo hall, attending a general session, and my all time favorite experience was competing in the Alpha Tau Alpha conclave Parliamentary Procedure competition. The whole experience of attending National FFA Convention is definitely one of my favorites".

Emily is currently completing her Student Teaching Internship at Durant High School in Plant City, Florida with Mr. Thomas Sturgis. While she picked this Cooperating Center for many reasons, the main reason was how different this program is from the program she attended in high school. "I came from a small chapter mainly focused on Veterinary Science and only involved in one CDE. Durant has a large FFA chapter, is very involved in the community, competes in at least 10 CDEs, and has been extremely successful at the state and national level for CDEs. I have always been very curious in what drives this success". Looking to the future, Emily is hoping to learn as much as possible from her Student Teaching Internship. After graduation however, her plans are up in the air because of the pandemic. Emily explains, "My original plans after graduation were to dance professionally for a few years and then #TeachAg!. Obviously the entertainment industry is still shut down because of COVID, so I hope to one day dance professionally but my immediate plans after graduation is to just get a job".

The pandemic has not only presented Emily with challenges for her time after college, but has presented her with many obstacles to navigate during her senior year. With severe asthma and a parent who is immunocompromised, Emily has to be extremely vigilant about following COVID-19 protocols. "This has been very hard as Florida classrooms don’t allow for proper social distancing. Due to this, I get tested for COVID every week and I am extremely diligent about disinfecting. Overall, COVID has just caused more stress and anxiety in my life". On the other hand, Emily finds that the pandemic has better prepared her to be flexible and adapt to sudden changes quickly as well as increased her love of snacking on celery and carrots with peanut butter. She states that being more relaxed in uncertain situations has greatly improved her ability "to just roll with the punches". 

A performer at heart, Emily is most looking forward to being able to dance without a mask on and in front of a live audience once we are able to "return to normal". Excited to see her grow and succeed, her peers and educators at Penn State are excited to see her shine in the classroom. Emily, your family in Agricultural and Extension Education at Penn State is proud of the hard work and perseverance you have shown in the midst of the challenges COVID-19 has presented you with. WE ARE some of your biggest fans! To watch Emily take the stage of agricultural education, be sure to stay up to date with her blog "Dancing Ag Teacher" at dancingagteacher.blogspot.com.

Taylor Halbleib

CPPD Student Worker

Agricultural and Extension Education

Class of 2022

Megan Royer Hits a Home Run with Agricultural and Extension Education

Growing up in a house that frequently hosted professional baseball players, it is no surprise that Ms. Megan Royer is a HUGE baseball fan. So, after her experience with agricultural education in high school, FFA, and 4-H, Megan knew that in pursuing a degree in Agricultural and Extension Education at Penn State she would be hitting a home run for her career.

As a student at State College Area High School, Mr. Paul Heasley introduced Megan to a multitude of topics in agriculture. Alongside her academic interests in the industry, Megan also took advantage of developing as a leader through the State College Little Lions FFA Chapter. She served as her chapter's Parliamentarian and Vice President, participated in various local, state, and national events, and was awarded her American degree. Megan participated in the Capstone Program and completed two Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAE) as well. Her first SAE involved working at her local USDA-ARS station on Fescue and Kentucky Bluegrass research. Alongside this project, she also completed an entrepreneurship SAE by raising pigs to be sold at the Center County Grange Fair. Megan also brought her community into her high school Agricultural Education experience by putting on an Ag Science Fair. In the end, it was the collective work of Mr. Paul Heasley, Mrs. Myken Poorman, and her great grandparents Randall and Charlotte Albright who inspired her to pursue a career in teaching. "They all taught me what agriculture and education meant to them as well as the impact you can leave on the world through agriculture". 

When it came time for Megan to apply to colleges, she had been sold on the idea of pursuing her degree anywhere but at Penn State. "I have lived in State College my entire life so... I wanted to explore, get out of my home town and see what else the world had to offer". After some persuasion from her family however, Megan realized that while she had not chosen Penn State, Penn State chose her. Though she was hesitant to dive into the program at first, she was welcomed with open arms by her peers and the faculty of the Agricultural and Extension Education major. The atmosphere at Penn State made her feel like she was a part of something so much bigger than her home town and she delighted at the opportunity to travel and meet people from all over the world as a Teach Ag Avenger and member of L.E.A.D. Society. "I also had the opportunity to participate in some pretty amazing internships some involving research, others focusing on extension and educator development. I learned so much from these experiences from content knowledge, organizational skills, technology skills, as well as building relationships I plan to carry with me throughout my Ag Ed Journey." 

When the COVID-19 pandemic came along and disrupted her junior and senior year, Megan found that she was challenged in some interesting, but not necessarily negative ways. While she was no longer able to participate in in-person classes and events, her cohort tried to make the best of their situation by   channeling their inner Shania Twain when one of them needed to be reminded of how great they are. "Most importantly, we became creative in our thinking, lesson planning, and unit planning. Finding ways to engage with our cohort member during lab both in person and online as well as getting the most out of our activities and interest approaches. From creating an online game of Guess Who, participating in online observations of pets, or simply navigating what working in partners looks like over the computer. It forced us to find new ways to reach our students but it also created a spring board of ideas that we constantly were bouncing off of each other." 

In addition to challenging Megan to grow through the situation she found herself in during the pandemic, COVID- 19 also allowed her to become more familiar with Zoom. She was able to facilitate 4-H camp virtually this past summer and says, "This challenged me to think about what I could do with the resources typically found at home that members ages 8-18 would also have access to. There were lots of days of trial and error, many giggles, and a whole lot of fun. This experience I would say has had a huge part in my preparation for student teaching and I am grateful that Christine and Huntingdon County 4-H were willing to give me the opportunity." Getting familiar with different ways to reach students has allowed her to become confident in using technology in the classroom, which is one less task she needs to be anxious about when Student Teaching. 

Despite COVID-19's best efforts to bench Megan and the rest of the #psuaged21 cohort, she is Student Teaching at Athens Area High School with Mrs. Sarabeth Alderfer and Mr. David Steinfelt. "I picked this cooperating center for many reasons, but what I believed to me the most important was their focus on their students. In the crazy world we live in both Mr. Steinfelt and Mrs. Alderfer are incredibly focused on meeting the students’ needs, making sure they are properly prepared for life after high school whether that looks like a 2-year program, 4 year program, or entering directly into the workforce". In addition to being excited about the dedication they give to their students, Megan is looking forward to helping her cooperating center participate in different events through FFA, teaching her Shark Tank Unit in Ag Mechanics 2, and her veterinary science course. All of these things will push Megan out of her comfort zone, but she is up for the challenge and ready to learn. Looking forward to her internship, Megan admitted that she was most nervous for her first day as a Student Teacher because she wants to be respected by her students, but understands it takes time to earn the kind of respect that Mr. Steinfelt and Mrs. Alderfer receive. Overall, Megan hopes, "to learn classroom management and engagement skills with my students. Each student is different and navigating their needs is important to me so I hope, through this experience, I can better gain an understanding of what to do when various situations arise".

Going into her Student Teaching Experience, Megan recognizes that online teaching is difficult, because it’s hard to know where your students are at. However, she knows that online teaching will not be forever and her virtual experiences have only made her desire to be in the classroom stronger.  About her experiences with online teaching Megan states, "Ultimately, it reminded me of the big picture which is showing my students how much they can do with a little bit of knowledge".

When asked what her plans are after graduation, Megan jokes, "Hopefully a job". Though she is unsure of whether she would like to pursue a formal or non-formal position, since she has experience with both, she knows that she wants to look out of state for a job and take advantage of an opportunity to travel. Megan, your Ag Ed family is cheering you on as you run around the bases of your agricultural education experience. We know that your drive and dedication to your students will have you hitting home runs no matter where your takes you! Remember to take time to breath and enjoy your favorite quarantine snack, Middleswarth Barbeque Potato Chips. Be sure to stay up to date with Megan's Student Teaching Experience at Athens Area High School through her blog Megan's Crowning Moments https://meganforaday.blogspot.com/.

Taylor Halbleib

CPPD Student Worker

Agricultural and Extension Education

Class of 2022

February 2021 AEE Student of the Month: Morgan Bear

The Center for Professional Personnel Development would like to recognize a rock star student as the February Student of the Month for the Agricultural and Extension Education, Morgan Bear. Morgan is a sophomore here at Penn State and a graduate of the Big Spring High School in Newville, Pennsylvania.  She plans to major in Agricultural and Extension Education.

Morgan is no stranger to the agricultural industry.  She is a former 4-H member and FFA Alumni.  She was very active as a high school student in the Big Spring FFA chapter later serving as the 2018-2019 Pennsylvania FFA State Secretary.  After exploring her passion through several 4-H and FFA projects her passion led her to choosing to purse Agricultural and Extension Education.

When asked why she chose to attend Penn State Morgan stated, she is a first generation college student and was unsure of where she wanted to attend. After visiting a few schools, Morgan knew there was just something special about Penn State, BUT never visited the campus until she had served as a state officer! Through the connections made as a state officer with the Agricultural and Extension Education staff she made the decision to trade in the blue and gold for the blue and white! Morgan states: “Now, I could not imagine myself anywhere else!” We are surely glad she decided to join the #TeachAgPSU family!

One of the greatest qualities Morgan possesses is she is extremely active. While studying at Penn State she is active in the LEAD Society and Penn State Block and Brindle clubs, serves as a Teach Ag Avenger and works in the Center for Professional Personnel Development as a student worker. Morgan continues to be active outside of Penn State as she has accepted an internship with the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau this summer!

Some fun facts about Morgan is she loves to eat at Little Szechuan downtown and The Waffle Shop! She was a competitive gymnast for 15 years and her favorite class at Penn State is AEE 204N, Agricultural Science Literacy and Policy. Upon graduation Morgan plans to pursue a career as a high school agricultural teacher! Morgan’s favorite quote is: “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” Theodore Roosevelt.

Morgan we know no matter where you go, you will always do the best you can with what you have! We cannot wait to see you to continue to grow and impact future agriculturalist in your classroom! To keep up with Morgan on her Ag Ed Journey follow her on Twitter and Instagram @morganbear_.

Killiann George
CPPD Student Worker

Agricultural and Extension Education

Class of 2023

Madelyn Bentz Climbs Mountains for Agricultural Education

When the pandemic gave her a mountain to climb, this "little adventure every day" senior in Agricultural and Extension Education was glad she was no stranger to hiking. Where others may have stumbled on the uncertain path that COVID-19 carved out of her senior year, Madelyn (Maddie) Bentz made herself a cup of whipped coffee, laced up her hiking shoes, and started toward the top, preparing herself for her Student Teaching Experience and career after graduation. 

Maddie's journey in Agricultural Education began with her enrollment in Seacoast School of Technology in Exeter, New Hampshire. In this two-year program, Maddie learned everything plant and animal science from her Agricultural Educator Ms. Anne Demarco. She explains, "I came into Ag Ed and FFA not knowing much about agriculture, but through her, I was exposed to a whole new world that I fell in love with instantly". Alongside her classroom instruction, Maddie was an active member of her FFA chapter and competed in twelve different Career Development Events and Leadership Development Events. She also held five state titles in Agriculture Sales, Agriculture Communications, Horse Evaluation, Agriculture Issues, and Employment Skills. In addition to competing in events, Maddie was on the leadership team for her chapter, then served as Chapter President, was recognized as the Outstanding Chapter Officer her senior year, and was in the top four for Supervised Agriculture Experience placement for Equine Science. 

After a strong recommendation from Ms. Anne Demarco, Maddie decided to pursue an undergraduate degree at Penn State to become an Agricultural Educator. While at Penn State, she took part in three specific experiences that she feels greatly benefitted her as a future teacher. First, Maddie's role as a Shaver's Creek Outdoors School Counselor helped to revitalize her passion for experiential learning. Along with fifteen other counselors, she helped to educate fifth graders about the natural world. The second experience that helped to prepare her for her career was working as an Orientation Leader and Student Staff Coordinator for Penn State. Maddie says, "These two jobs have changed me for the absolute best and have reinforced my passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion, honed in my group facilitation skills, and refined my soft skills with communication and working with people in general". Lastly, Maddie was able to spend a week in Belize as an Agricultural and Extension Education student. This gave her the opportunity to understand indigenous, small holder farmer, large scale production, and global agriculture, equipping her with a unique perspective on the scale of the industry. With these three experiences to guide her, Maddie is ready to scale the next part of her journey in Agricultural Education; her Student Teaching Experience.

This spring alongside Ms. SaraBeth Fulton and Ms. Sherisa Nailor, Maddie will be Student Teaching at Big Spring High School. "I chose Big Spring because I was looking for a program that is strong in PA FFA so that I could understand FFA at the state and chapter levels, seeing as I am someone from out of state". While completing this experience, Maddie is looking forward to expressing her love of nature and natural systems by teaching a Fish and Wildlife class as well as getting hands on experience working with the Big Spring FFA chapter. After completing her Student Teaching Experience, Maddie hopes to get a teaching job somewhere in Pennsylvania. 

While COVID-19 has proved a challenge for Maddie by adding to her stress as a student and cancelling the trips seniors in the AEE major usually take, this social landslide has not kept her from taking advantage of extra time to create lesson plans. Additionally, she has been collecting virtual resources to use in the classroom. If anything, the pandemic has allowed Maddie to prepare for sudden changes to her Student Teaching Experience as she explains, "While I work on lessons I also find myself thinking about how I could adapt and change lessons to fit an online format and I jot down those thoughts on a separate document". Of course, despite being ready to adjust her trek up the mountain COVID-19 has put in her path, Maddie is looking forward to getting back to normal so she can hug her friends and family again. 

Above all, Maddie's Penn State Teach Ag! Family believes that her energy and heart will help her to conquer any mountains that she has to climb in her Agricultural Education journey. "The disparities that COVID-19 has brought to certain groups of people and communities has amplified my commitment to create inclusive space in the classroom for my students". Maddie, WE ARE proud of your commitment to inclusion, a trait that will help you to connect with students and make an impact in your school community. To follow the rest of Maddie's journey in Agricultural and Extension Education, tune into her blog "Bentz-er Days, Through Bentz-er Ways" at https://maddiebentz.blogspot.com/.

Taylor Halbleib

CPPD Student Worker

Agricultural and Extension Education

Class of 2022