2016 PA Farm Show Update

Cumberland Valley FFA Members Shine at 2016 Pennsylvania Farm Show

Agriculture takes center stage each year at the Pennsylvania Farm Show, held in early January of each year. This year the PA Farm Show celebrated its 100th edition and Cumberland Valley FFA’s involvement was evident in many departments within the exhibition.
Cumberland Valley FFA has consistently participated in the Landscape Design contest, where chapters are asked to create a design that is 10’ x 15’ in size. CV’s Plant Science & Landscape Design class met the challenge and created an engaging landscape design. Students enrolled in Plant Science also created several Horticulture Exhibits that were showcased the entire week.
Additionally, FFA members experienced widespread success in the show ring with their market and breeding livestock projects. With entries coming from across the Commonwealth, exhibitors bring the ‘best of the best’ to compete for top honors. 
Finally, FFA members are able to compete in contests just for FFA chapters within the state of Pennsylvania. CV FFA qualified for the Ag Safety Quizbowl Competition (by placing 4th at Ag Progress Days in August) and had an excellent showing in a competitive field. Members also created a Career Connections Video with the help of CV Alumni about the requirements needed to gain a job within the Agricultural Power, Structural, and Technical Systems pathway.

Career Connections Video Contest
Sponsored by the popular agricultural newspaper, Lancaster Farming, the annual video contests features the work of 12 FFA chapters from across the state. CV FFA successfully applied to be a part of this contest back in September and quickly began working on the project. The contest included creating a 3-5 minute video showcasing a segment of the agricultural industry and what knowledge, skills, and education is needed to gain employment in the respective industry. CV FFA showcased the Agricultural Power, Structural, and Technical Systems industry and even interviewed current employees from the Messick’s Equipment in Carlisle.

The following students were involved in creating the video and presenting it to a crowd at the PA Farm Show on Thursday, January 14th (L to R): Bree Bender, Meade Montgomery, Anne Puchalsky, Courtney Walter, Macey Shawver, Kassidy Staller, and Courtney Davis.

Success in the Show Ring
Each year at the Farm Show, hundreds of 4-H and FFA members from across the state bring their best livestock to compete for top honors in the youth division of the show. A common goal for all youth exhibitors is to qualify for the Youth Livestock Sale of Champions. Unlike local county fairs, only a small percentage of livestock (approximately 5 animals per class) “make sale.” This year, CV FFA was very fortunate to have 2 members qualify for the sale (Megan Myers and Killiann George).



Brothers Wyatt Dale and Calvin Dale also exhibited Market Lambs in the Youth Show. Wyatt (left) and Calvin (right) each placed in the middle of their classes with their home-bred lambs, but did not qualify for the Youth sale. 

All FFA members that exhibited at Farm Show now become eligible to receive the prestigious Farm Show Scholarship by exhibiting a youth market or breeding animal at the Farm Show. Exhibitors must be enrolled in post-secondary education before applying for the scholarship, valued at $3,500.00.

More CV FFA Show Ring Action

Freshman Ben Miskin had a busy week at Farm Show between driving draft horses in the cart classes (left) and exhibiting beef cattle in the Junior and Open Shows. Competitors are judged on their ability to control the horse’s gait and presence while maneuvering a designated course in the ring.

Megan Myers (at right) also participated in the Junior and Open Breeding Sheep Show. These animals are the foundation of her breeding herd and return to her farm at the conclusion of the show.

Sabrina McClintock was part of the inaugural Alpaca Show at the 100th PA Farm Show. She competed in the Alpaca Showmanship and Obstacle competitions and won 1st Place in both contests for her Intermediate Division!

Cumberland Valley FFA was also home to several members that played important roles during the Farm Show. 

Sophomore Sabrina McClintock (left) is also serving as the Pennsylvania Alpaca Princess while Junior Courtney Walter (right) is the 2015-16 Pennsylvania 4-H Council President. Both of these young ladies attended various banquets, assisted at shows by handing out ribbons, and representing their respective organizations throughout the week, especially Farm Show Opening Ceremonies.

Earning the Coveted “Keystone” Degree
In FFA, as members spend time and productively invest in their Supervised Agriculture Experience (SAE) projects, acquire more community service hours, give speeches and demonstrations, and demonstrate knowledge of FFA history, they qualify for awards called “degrees.” After earning the Greenhand and Chapter degrees during their 1st and 2nd year of membership, respectively, members strive to earn the coveted “Keystone” Degree, which is the highest degree the Pennsylvania State FFA Association can bestow on it’s members. 

To qualify for this degree, students must have invested 300 hours (outside of class) and/or earned $1,000.00 through their SAE projects. In 2016, only 387 members earned the Keystone Degree (out of 12,000 members in the Pennsylvania FFA).  Cumberland Valley FFA was fortunate to have 11 Keystone Degree Recipients this year.

Keystone Degree Recipients pose with Secretary of Agriculture, Russell Redding (left) and Secretary of Education (Pedro Rivera). From left Cheyenne Murlatt, Nate Short, Megan Myers, Carley Shuckhart, Emiliann Goodhart, Wyatt Williams, Alicia Gates, Mackenzie Yorlets, Marlin Hoover, Ethan Cohn, and Megan McGee were awarded their Keystone Degrees on January 11th.

Yorlets Earns FFA State Star in Agriculture Production

In addition to earning the Keystone Degree, Senior Mackenzie Yorlets also competed in the Pennsylvania FFA State Star Interviews. In November, Yorlets was selected as the South-Central Regional Star in Agriculture Production for her Supervised Agriculture Experience projects where she raises beef cattle, goats, swine, and poultry. 

After a grueling morning of interviews with industry experts, Yorlets emerged victorious as the 2016 Pennsylvania FFA State Star in Agriculture Production. She is the first FFA member from Cumberland Valley to earn this honor. She will compete against State Stars from 10 other states in the Northeast at the Eastern States Exposition this September. 

FFA Jacket Recipients
Each year, the Pennsylvania FFA Alumni organizes a unique program to provide new and beginning FFA members with their very own blue corduroy jacket. Through the generous donations of individuals, agricultural companies, and supporters, the FFA Alumni garner sponsorship for approximately 350 jackets per year.  However, this year was a record year with sponsorship being obtained for 550 FFA jackets.



Cumberland Valley FFA was fortunate to have 16 first-year FFA members receive their very own FFA jacket. Seeing this group of individuals beginning their journey in FFA is a sign that the future of agriculture is bright with this many individuals taking an interest in this vibrant industry. Pictured at right are: (front) Dan DeRosa, Taylor Hanson, Meade Montgomery, Terrin Brammer, Caleb Kissinger, Dakota Lauckner, Calvin Dale, Nick Wagner, Ben Miskin, Gabriel Hartman and Tyler Heckert. 

Cumberland Valley FFA would like to thank the following local businesses/individuals for supporting the Jacket Campaign: 
Kara Boehne-Miele, Sunday’s Mill Company, Mike & Penny Brammer, and Cumberland County Farm Bureau.

Agriscience in Action
 A new niche within the CV Agricultural Science program is participating in the various science fairs available to high school students.  Pennsylvania FFA also sponsors a state-level Agriscience Fair that is held at Farm Show each year. To participate, students choose a topic within one of the following categories: (1) Animal Systems, (2) Plant Systems, (3) Food Products & Processing Systems, (4) Power, Structure, and Technical Systems, (5) Environmental Systems, or (6) Social Systems.  Students develop a research question, design a method to test their hypothesis, then create a project report and trifold to be presented before a panel of judges.  CV FFA was well-represented by 13 students who conducted AgriScience Research.

Students that participated and their placings include:
• Killiann George (1st Place Animal Systems)
• Cheyenne Murlatt
• Mikenna Hale
• Mackenzie Yorlets (3rd Place Social Systems)
• Anna Pauletta (4th Place Social Systems)
• Megan McGee (1st Place Food Science)
• Gabriel Hartman (2nd Place Food Science)
• Paige Smith
• Monet Jones
• Maddy Todaro
• Katerina Oechler (2nd Place Environmental Systems)
• Mallory Taramelli-Dickinson (3rd Place Environmental Systems)
• Emiliann Goodhart (2nd Place Power, Structural, and Technical Systems)

By placing 1st in their category, Killiann George and Megan McGee will earn the right to represent Pennsylvania at the 2016 National FFA AgriScience Fair in Indianapolis, Indiana this October. 

Landscape Exhibit Celebrates “100 Years of Horticulture”
Each year, 8 chapters from across the state are selected to participate in the competitive Landscape Exhibit design contest at the Farm Show. Chapters are given a theme and provided with a 10’x15’ space to execute the landscape design. The winning chapter is then awarded the opportunity to set-up their display and complete at the Eastern States Exposition in Massachusetts in September. CV FFA last won the Landscape Design competition in 2012.

This year’s theme was “100 Years of Horticulture,” which proves to be a difficult task when constructing a landscape in early January (imagine trying to create an ice sculpture in the middle of July…it’s possible, but not convenient). Nonetheless, students in Plant Science were up to the challenge to design the landscape, acquire plants beginning in September, and set-up the landscape for the 100th PA Farm Show.

This year’s Landscape Exhibit is pictured at right and features several Pennsylvania native plants. The landscape received 6th place in this year’s competition. Students that were directly involved in the planning and set-up of the display were Nate Short, Courtney Walter, Morgan Lettich, Xavier Mack, Jill Distler, Dylan Short, Brandon Brown, Abby Klinger, Mackenzie Yorlets, Wyatt Williams, and Alexandra Scott. Great job on planning, constructing, and developing this landscape exhibit!


New Window Display Features White Nose Syndrome

Students enrolled in the FFA Leadership courses accepted a new challenge this year by creating an Agriculture Education Window Display. This contest requires students to develop a display around a current issue or topic in agriculture. This year, the chapter chose to make a display about White Nose Syndrome in bats.

To qualify for competition at the Farm Show, the Window Display needed to be exhibited at another local fair. Our Window Display was exhibited at the 2015 Gratz Fair and received 1st Place! 

At Farm Show, our display did not make the top 10, but visitors to the display were intrigued by the bat sounds and facts found on bat cut-outs displayed around a paper-mache bat cave. Students from the Leadership Classes pose next to the finished display. From Left Katerina Oechsler, Monet Jones, Mackenzie Yorlets, Anna Pauletta, Emiliann Goodhart, and Maddy Todaro.

Pennsylvania FFA Foundation Honors 2015 National Contestants
Each year, the Pennsylvania FFA Foundation, the fundraising arm of the Pennsylvania FFA, organizes an awards luncheon to recognize participants that competed or won awards at the 2014 National FFA Convention in Louisville, Kentucky. 

The following teams were recognized for their participation in Louisville, Kentucky this past October:

Agricultural Issues Team (Bronze Emblem Team)
• Mackenzie Yorlets
• Emiliann Goodhart
• Alicia Gates
• Anna Pauletta
• Paige Smith

Marketing Plan Team (Bronze Emblem Team)
• Abby Klinger
• Megan Myers
• Taylor Quigley


National FFA Agriscience Fair
• Emiliann Goodhart (10th Place Food Science Systems, Silver Medal Individual)

Cumberland Valley FFA
• Recognized as 3-Star Chapter (highest rating available)
o 3rd consecutive year
o Only 2 chapters in Pennsylvania received this rating

Farm Safety Quiz Bowl 
The Pennsylvania Farm Show is the site for the ultimate showdown in Farm Safety Knowledge. Teams representing 4-H and FFA groups compete in a quiz show format to demonstrate their knowledge about farm safety, health hazards and recommended practices.

Participants not only learn about farm safety and health, but they also increase their leadership and public speaking skills and learn how to promote agricultural safety and health through their organizations.

After qualifying for the Farm Show by placing in the top four at Ag Progress Days in August, the team earned the right to compete for top honors in January. 

After several rounds of competition against Mifflinburg FFA “A”, Mifflinburg FFA “B:, and Big Spring FFA, the team placed fourth in the state winning a cash prize and a framed certificate. The team from left to right consisted of Abby Klinger, , Anna Pauletta, and Mackenzie Yorlets. Congratulations to the team as they hope to qualify for the state competition again next year and take down defending champion Mifflinburg FFA.