Pa. FFA Members Bring Home National Convention Honors

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania acting Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding recently congratulated Pennsylvania FFA members on their recent achievements at the organization’s nation convention, held Oct. 21-24 in Indianapolis.

“The dedication of our FFA members to their personal growth, premier leadership and career success is impressive and appreciated because they are the future of the state’s agriculture industry,” said Redding. “I commend their efforts and congratulate the individual and team competitors who worked tirelessly to represent not only their chapters, but also their home state.”

Nearly 850 Pennsylvania FFA members attended the 82nd National FFA Convention, with many participating in Career Development Events, or CDEs, which are competitions designed to enhance members’ leadership, critical thinking and career skills. To qualify for the national competition, students competed first in county, area, regional and state competitions.

Matthew Stanton of the Northern Bedford FFA chapter received first place in the Dairy Cattle Handlers Activity, part of the Dairy Cattle Evaluation CDE. Stanton was judged on his showmanship skills as he presented a dairy cow for evaluation.

The Oley Valley FFA team, comprised of Taylor Helbig, Amelia Howe, Damian Oswald and Kellsey Turner, bested 36 other teams to earn first place in the Environmental and Natural Resources CDE. Competitors tested their problem solving and decision making skills in topics including soils, water and air quality, waste management, environmental analysis and use of global positioning units.

Other top individual and team finishers from Pennsylvania were:

Individual
Agricultural Mechanics
• Josiah Rohrer, Lancaster Mennonite, Hans Herr FFA, 6th place
• Bryan Miller, Lancaster Mennonite Hans Herr FFA, 8th place

Agricultural Sales
• Casi Foster, Chambersburg FFA, gold recognition
• Joshua Funk, Chambersburg FFA, gold recognition
• Braton Moore, Chambersburg FFA, gold recognition

Dairy Cattle Evaluation
• Jennifer Aument, Solanco FFA, 6th place
• Matthew Aument, Solanco FFA, gold recognition
• Carolyn Lawrence, Solanco FFA, gold recognition

Environmental and Natural Resources
• Taylor Helbig, Oley Valley FFA, 2nd place
• Amelia Howe, Oley Valley FFA, 3rd place
• Damian Oswald, Oley Valley FFA, gold recognition
• Kellsey Turner, Oley Valley FFA, gold recognition

Farm Business Management
• Eric Kreiser, Manheim FFA, gold recognition
Floriculture
• Adrianne Huber, Garden Spot Grassland FFA, gold recognition

Food Science and Technology
• Megan Eshbach, Conrad Weiser FFA, gold recognition
• Erin Gramling, Conrad Weiser FFA, gold recognition
Forestry
• Cody Owlett, Wellsboro Grand Canyon FFA, gold recognition
• Taylor Sticklin, Wellsboro Grand Canyon FFA, gold recognition

Poultry Evaluation
• Charlie Himes, Garden Spot, Grassland FFA, gold recognition
Team
• Agricultural Sales – Chambersburg FFA, 9th place
• Agricultural Mechanics – Lancaster Mennonite, Hans Herr FFA, 10th place
• Dairy Cattle Evaluation – Solanco FFA, 4th place
• Food Science and Technology – Conrad Weiser FFA, gold recognition
• Forestry – Wellsboro Grand Canyon FFA, gold recognition