Every year Pennsylvania holds the PA State Convention at Penn State University. This convention allows FFA members from all over the state to compete and get to know each other. During the 94th PA state convention 22 members from Oley Valley competed in several different areas of competition. This year the Convention took place from June 13-15.
The Environmental and Natural Resources team consisted of Hannah Houp (grade 9), Charlotte Prout (grade 9), Morgan Melcher (grade 9), and Kylee Xander (grade 9). Jacob Mowry (grade 11), Emily Seidel (grade 11), Kendra Barlet (grade 11), and Elita Bogdanova (grade 9) competed in the Milk Quality and Products CDE. Leah Walters (grade 10), and Eleana Arrowsmith (grade 10) participated in the Employment Skills CDE. The Floriculture team was Paige Beaston (grade 11), Rebecca Berger (grade 11), Michael Rohrbach (grade 10) and Colten Miller (grade 12). In the Veterinary Science CDE Bailey Hornig (grade 10) and Megan Schaeffer (grade 9) competed individually. Allison Riley competed in Prepared Public speaking after placing second at the Regional Public Speaking LDE on April 13. Six members competed in the Wildlife CDE; Wesley Hoffman (grade 10), Cole Peifer (grade 10), Nigel Patches (grade 10), James Guntz (grade 9), and Max Gumeniski (grade 9). Bobby Kowalski (grade 11) competed against a hard section of Aquatics teams and individual competitors. We could also not be any happier that Lillian Hetrick (grade 12) was a State Officer Candidate! Before and also at states she participated in many interviews and other challenging tasks.
These challenging competitions consist of written exams, judging depending on the CDE, oral reasons for some judging classes, team activities, team tests, and identification tests. Our members work tirelessly during and after the school year to prepare for their competitions. Their practices to prepare occur during school, after school, and during the summer.
Results:
Milk Quality and Products team - 1st place overall
Individual:
Emily Seidel - 2nd place
Jacob Mowry - 4th place
Floriculture team - 6th place overall
Individual:
Paige Beaston - 5th place overall
Aquatics:
Bobby Kowalski - 5th place
Employment Skills:
Leah Walters - 2nd place
Eleana Arrowsmith - 4th place
Prepared Public Speaking:
Allison Riley - 8th place
During states, members not only have the chance to compete but they also have time to go line dancing, and other fun activities while on the beautiful Penn State campus! Members or teams that place first in the state qualify to compete at the National Convention in Indianapolis, and second place members or teams qualify to compete at the Big E in Massachusetts. We cannot wait to watch our Milk Quality and Products team compete at Nationals and Leah Walters at Big E! Oley Valley FFA is lucky to have such a talented and hard working chapter, we look forward to another wonderful year.
