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
