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