 |
High
School Scholars Meet Ag Secretary At Penn State
 UNIVERSITY
PARK, Pa. -- For the 21st year, 64 of the state’s gifted high school
juniors and seniors participated in the Pennsylvania Governor’s
School for the Agricultural Sciences at Penn State’s University
Park campus.
This year’s scholars received a
surprise vote of confidence for the future from Pennsylvania Secretary
of Agriculture Dennis Wolff.
"Having Secretary Wolff visit was
a great opportunity and honor for all the scholars and staff," says
Marianne Fivek, director of the Governor's School and assistant to the
dean in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences. "Learning
about the scope of the commonwealth's agricultural economy -- and its
impact locally, nationally and internationally -- was enlightening for
all in attendance. Secretary Wolff shed new light on the many and varied
career opportunities that lie ahead for Pennsylvania's best and brightest
students."
Wolff covered his life experiences as
a farmer, the scope of Pennsylvania agriculture and its role in the state,
nation and world, and the exciting opportunities for future agriculture
professionals.
Wolff told the students how he decided
to “hang up my coveralls and dust off my two or three suits in the
closet” to help with Pennsylvania agriculture by entering public
service.
 “Pennsylvania
agriculture is the largest industry in the state and it has a rippling
effect in the economy,” Wolff said.
He said Pennsylvania has a large diversity
of farming interests, from grapes in the northwest region to mushrooms
in the Chester County area and dairy operations throughout the state.
He said that many large companies are located within the state because
of good agricultural supplies and many farms send their production to
major companies, distributing Pennsylvania products throughout the country.
“We are a rural state bumping up
against more urban states and large population corridors, which helps
with our production,” Wolff said.
Wolff also discussed the importance of
agricultural education, explaining that some residents might not know
the importance of farms.
“Farms are a good thing,”
he said. “That is why every time you go to the grocery store, there
is food there.”
Wolff informed the students that even though people might think a housing
development brings more tax money to the local economy, farms contribute
much more. He said farm neighbors may have negative attitudes because
they might not understand that harvesting at 1 a.m. before the frost settles
is important.
“It’s not small farms with white fences anymore. Farms are
now operating as businesses and are larger than they used to be,”
he added
Wolff said to help farms remain profitable,
the state has such programs as the Center for Dairy Excellence, farmland
preservation, crop insurance and the “Pennsylvania Preferred”
campaign, which encourages consumption of Pennsylvania products through
distinct labels.
Wolff stressed the many unique opportunities
available to students interested in agriculture.
He cited a state program that offers up to $10,000 in loan forgiveness
for students who pursue higher education in agricultural education, large
animal veterinary medicine and agricultural production. Wolff also mentioned
groups such as FFA and 4-H, and county fairs and farm shows that can get
students engaged and interested in agriculture.
 “You
are the future of Pennsylvania and agriculture,” Wolff told the
students.
Sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Pennsylvania
Governor’s School for Agricultural Sciences provides 64 of the state’s
top high school juniors and seniors with educational and research opportunities
in areas such as animal and plant science, natural resources and the environment,
food science and agricultural engineering.
The five-week program is held at Penn
State’s University Park campus, where the students take core and
elective courses, take field trips to agricultural businesses and federal
and state agencies, get hands-on experience working in laboratories, greenhouses
and on farms, and conduct research projects with access to college professors
and facilities, including specialized libraries and laboratories.
###
The 2006 The Pennsylvania Governor’s
School for Agricultural Sciences participants were:
- Adams County: Melanie Kammerer, Gettysburg.
- Allegheny County: Katherine Brown, Clinton; Gregory
Challener, Sewickley; Grace Concelman, Wexford; Anna Kasicky, Pittsburgh;
and Alea Kuczynski, Cheswick.
- Armstrong County: Alexander Hileman, Apollo.
- Berks County: Samuel Bond, Kempton, and Kacey Garland,
Lenhartsville.
- Blair County: Wade Pearson, Willamsburg.
- Bradford County: Josef Becker, Towanda.
- Bucks County: Kristen Beebe and Katherine Corogenes,
Newton, and Matthew Ware, Doylestown.
- Butler County: Cory Chelko and Jessica Klabnik,
Sarver.
- Cambria County: Sondra Christ, Sidman.
- Centre County: Ethan Cleaver and Colleen Rogers,
Howard, and Elizabeth Cloninger, Centre Hall.
- Chester County: Braden Case, Marielle Gibbons, Kayleigh
McCormick and Eric Rutenbar, West Chester.
- Crawford County: Steven Bozinovich, Meadville.
- Cumberland County: Kelly MacDonald and Britney Marsh,
Carlisle.
- Dauphin County: Anna Craig, Halifax.
- Delaware County: Jennifer Dailey, Brommall.
- Franklin County: Benjamin Cashell, Chambersburg,
and R. Garrett Rice, Mercersburg.
- Huntington County: David Ritchey, Huntingdon.
- Lackawanna County: David Peslak, Peckville.
- Lancaster County: John Casale, Lancaster; Jennifer
Esbenshade, Peach Bottom; and Ethan Etter and Brian Link, Lititz.
- Lehigh County: David Urffer, Coopersburg.
- Lenanon County: Kelly Heagy, Lebanon.
- Luzerne County: Adam Pesta, Lehman.
- Lycoming County: Rachel Albert, Trout Run.
- Mckean County: Leslie Shallop, Bradford.
- Mercer County: Renee Lilly, Hermitage.
- Monroe County: Michael Garvey, Stroudsburg.
- Montgomery County: Jaleesa Gibson, Pottstown; Tim
Luo, Wynnewood; and Victoria Piccone and Andrew Pullen, Harleysville.
- Northhampton County: Austin Snyder, Bethlehem.
- Perry County: Shana Patterson, Shermans Dale.
- Philadelphia County: David Griffith, Kayci Moodie,
Krista Moser and JoLynda Rolli.
- Schuylkill County: Sierra Gladfelter, New Ringgold,
and Diedre Hepler, Pitmas.
- Snyder County: Philip Adam, Jr., Mt. Pleasant Mills.
- Union County: Sheryl Hosler, Lewisburg.
- Venango County: Chase Mitchell, Venus, and Sara
Weimer, Elenton.
- Washington County: Kaiting Chen, McDonald, and Christopher
Falso, Washington.
- Westmoreland County: Sara Blankenship, New Florence,
and Michelle Crise, Bolivar.
Spotlight Archive:
|
|
You
Are Here