4-H AWARDS

Morgan Bankert of East Berlin in York County is the daughter of Greg and Karena Bankert.  She is currently a senior at Spring Grove Area Senior High and is planning to attend a four-year college next fall to earn a degree in the sports field, with a possible minor in German.  Morgan is currently enrolled in college through high school courses with Harrisburg Area Community College.

Morgan has raised and shown market lambs for eight years as a member of the York County 4-H Lamb Club and says it has taught her the important life-lesson of getting back what you put into things. 

From learning how to select, feed and raise champion lambs to understanding the importance of good records and how to solicit buyers for her lambs, Morgan has had the opportunity to learn many aspects of the industry.

Morgan’s involvement in 4-H goes beyond livestock.  While a member of the Thomasville Community Club, she carried numerous other projects including cooking, sewing, woodworking and other various crafts.  She also participates in the Sr. Exchange Club and has had the opportunity to both travel to other states and host 4-Hers from those states back home.  Like many of our scholarship winners, Morgan has taken the opportunity to hone her leadership skills through her involvement in 4-H, holding the offices of president, secretary, newsreporter and historian in the clubs she belongs to.

Sports are a very important part of Morgan’s life.  She has played softball and basketball for many years and added cross country this year.  In softball she enjoyed the reward of being part of four division championship teams and four trips to district playoffs.  In addition to sports, she is involved with the school newspaper and this year was chosen to be the sports editor.  Outside of school, Morgan is involved in her church youth group at Paradise Lutheran Church, has attended various youth gatherings and had the honor of being invited back for a second year of Leadership Training Camp. This year she is one of the leaders of the Young Adult Sunday School Class.  During the summer she works at Buttercup Farm Market.

Responsibility, creativity and helping her to become more outgoing are some of the things Morgan credits 4-H with helping her develop.  These attributes, along with the profits from her lamb projects, will certainly aid her in her college career and future plans.

Andrea Foore is the daughter of Mark and Christine Foore of Seven Valleys, PA in York County.  A nine year member of York County 4-H Clubs, she has been active in the Beef Club and County Council.    She has held many offices in each of her clubs and projects include leadership, livestock judging, market steer, and beef breeding.  Andrea’s leadership role in 4-H is evident in the many hours she volunteers at 4-H camps including overnight camp, Day Camp, Pre-Teen Counselor Retreat, and other activities.    Each year the York Fair awards outstanding youth awards, and Andrea was a recipient of the Outstanding 4-H Member Award in 2011.   She also earned the honor to serve as the York County delegate at the National 4-H Congress in Atlanta, GA this year.  

A senior at Susquehannock High School in Glen Rock, Andrea has participated in the Field Hockey and Girls Lacrosse program throughout all 4 years of high school and serves as the Junior High Field Hockey Team Manager and Assistant Coach this year.  She also served as a LINK Crew Leader, a mentor program for incoming freshman.  This year, Andrea attends Penn State York as a dual enrollment student while completing her senior year in high school. 

As a fourth generation Angus breeder, Andrea is also an active member of the PA Junior Association, and has shown her Angus cattle locally and nationally including KILE.  Andrea has held many offices in the Association and currently serves as the Vice President.  She was the Junior Chair of the Decorating Committee for the 2011 National Junior Angus Show, hosted by Pennsylvania, and served on the show Executive Committee.  With the National Junior Angus Association, Andrea has attended Leadership Conferences in Philadelphia and St. Louis.  For several years, Andrea has been a recipient of the American Angus Auxiliary Certificate of Achievement.  She is also a member of Paradise Lutheran Church, and was selected to represent the youth in her congregation at the Lower Susquehanna Lutheran Synod Leadership Training for two consecutive years.  She also joined the youth in her congregation to attend the ELCA National Youth Gathering in New Orleans, which included post-Katrina community service projects.

Andrea’s future plans are to attend Penn State to earn a degree in Public Relations and Advertising with a minor in Ag Communication. 

FFA AWARDS

Kaleb Long is the son of Gordon and Tracy Long of Millersville, PA in Lancaster County.  A honors  graduate of Penn Manor High School, he was a member of Manor FFA.  He was chosen to receive the award based on his Swine Production Proficiency area.  Kaleb is currently a freshman at Delaware Valley College enrolled in the Secondary Ag Education Major. After showing market hogs for five years, Kaleb started his own swine herd with purebred Hampshires, Yorkshires, Chester whites, Spots and Durocs which is his main breed. 

He has achieved a goal of showing his bred and own animals locally and at the PA Farm Show.  Although he raises show hogs, breeding swine and butcher hogs, his focus is on show hogs and breeding stock.  During his tenure at Manor FFA, Kaleb received the Star, Dekalb and Keystone FFA Awards.  He attended FFA Week at Penn State and was an FFA Summer Convention Delegate.  Kaleb’s goals include becoming a State FFA Office and maybe a National FFA Officer.

Following graduation from Delaware Valley, Kaleb plans to become an agriculture education teacher in Lancaster County.  He will also be continuing his swine production enterprise working alongside his brother who is taking care of the business while Kaleb attends college.

Daniele Riley is the daughter of Donald and Denise Riley of James Creek, PA in Huntingdon County.  She is a 2010 honors graduate of Huntingdon Area High School where she was a member of the Standing Stone FFA.  She was chosen to receive the award based on her Sheep Production Proficiency Area.  Daniele is currently a sophomore at Wilson College in Chambersburg studying for a bachelors degree in Veterinary Medical Technology.

While a member of the Standing Stone FFA, Daniele received Star Greenhand and State Chapter Degrees as well as the Keystone FFA Degree awarded at the PA Farm Show.    She will receive the American Degree at National FFA Convention this year.  While in FFA, she competed in various competitions including livestock judging and stockmans contests.  Her record books in FFA have received gold and silver medals at state and national competitions.   An active member of the Marklesburg 4-H Club, Daniele held various offices in both 4-H and FFA.  Her projects included beef, sheep, goats and dairy beef which she showed at fairs and jackpot shows locally as well as at KILE and the PA Farm Show. 

While in high school, Daniele played softball and field hockey.  She volunteers at the Chambersburg Food Pantry and Homeless shelter and the Shook Homes.  At Wilson she is part of the VMT Club and a Curran Scholar.  Daniele’s long term goals are to own a farm and pursue her interest in large animals as a veterinary technician.

COLLEGIATE SCHOLARSHIPS

Katie Harvison is the daughter of Lloyd and Brenda Harvison of Titusville, PA.  An honors graduate of Maplewood High School, Katie is a sophomore at Penn State with a dual major in Animal Sciences and Agriculture Education. 

4-H has played a major role in Katie’s life since she joined at the age of eight.  She has carried projects in swine, sheep and goats showing locally, regionally and at the PA Farm Show.  In 2008, Katie used her organizational and public speaking skills to lobby the Crawford County Fair to add the Market goat and Boer goat production department to the fair.  She was successful in this endeavor and has seen a more than doubling of market goat entries and a fivefold increase in production does in just three years.

 Topping off her 4-H career this past summer, she showed the grand champion market goat, best Boer and was champion goat showman and fitter at the Crawford County Fair.  Katie has held positions of leadership including President of her local 4-H Club, has been both a camper and counselor at 4-H camps and was a representative to the National 4-H Congress in Atlanta in 2010.  At this year’s 4-H State Days, she placed third overall in the Livestock Judging Contest.

For her senior project at school, Katie organized a Livestock Showmanship and Fitting Clinic for all 4-H and FFA members who exhibit at Crawford County Fair.  This included recruiting presenters who taught attendees how to properly show and fit market steers, lambs, pigs and goats.  Katie says this clinic helped her fulfill her “responsibility to give back to an organization that has shaped me into the individual I am today”.

At Penn State, she exercises her love of livestock with involvement in Block and Bridle, Collegiate FFA, and Dairy Science Club.  Following college, she plans on being certified to teach general science, agricultural sciences and biology at the high school level.  More ambitious is the possibility of vet school to become a large animal vet.

Kate is also an active member of the Dover FFA Chapter where she has received many Chapter Degrees as well as the Keystone Farmer Degree. She hopes to be recognized with the American Farmer Degree in the fall of 2012. Kate has developed her own herd of Angus and Shorthorn cattle. She shows mostly bred and owned cattle from her herd. She has also shown market swine and market lambs and is currently starting a flock of crossbred lambs.  Kate has shown beef cattle at KILE since 2004. Future plans are to continue her fourth generation family farm with crops and livestock saying, “I intend to always keep our farm open to others as a place to learn and experience day to day operations”.

 Kate participated in Meats and Livestock Judging throughout her 4-H and FFA careers and was a member of the 2009 State 4-H Livestock Judging Team. Kate is a member of the National Junior Angus Association and the Pennsylvania Junior Angus Association where she has held the office of president and secretary. She has shown cattle locally and at the national level. She has participated in many contests sponsored by the National Junior Angus Shows such as public speaking, CAB Cook off contests, quiz bowl, and photography.    In 2007 Pennsylvania hosted the Eastern Regional Junior Angus Show where Kate served as Show Secretary and more recently she served as Co-Chairmen of the 2011 National Junior Angus Show in Harrisburg, PA. Kate has been recognized by the National Junior Angus Association for her achievements with Bronze and Silver Awards as well as Certificates of Achievement from the American Angus Auxiliary.  In 2008, 2009 and 2011 she and other members of the PJAA have attended the Leader’s Engaged in Angus Development Conferences held in Billings, Montana; San Francisco, California; and Saint Louis, Missouri. Kate has always had a passion for agriculture and enjoys sharing her knowledge with others.

At age 8 Morgan exhibited her first Angus show heifer at KILE. She also has competed in both KILE Stockman’s contest and 4-H livestock judging as a member of the 2009 Pennsylvania Livestock Judging team. Morgan is a member of the York County 4-H Beef & Swine Clubs and well as the Loganville 4-H Club serving as President. In 2010 she represented York County at National 4-H Congress. She placed 2nd in Public Speaking at 4-H State Achievement Days in 2011. She is a member of the Pennsylvania Junior Angus Association and served as Youth Chair of the Education Committee for the National Junior Angus Show in 2011. Morgan represented Pennsylvania in the National Junior Angus Showmanship contest in 2011 as well. In 2007 Morgan chaired the Education events for the Eastern Regional Junior Angus show.

Morgan has maintained a small registered Angus herd through out her life. She is proud of her accomplishments in the show ring with her bred and owned cattle including: 3rd place Carcass Steer at the National Junior Angus Show 2011, Champion Junior Angus Market Steer Pennsylvania Farm Show 2010, and Junior Show Reserve Champion Senior Heifer Calf Pennsylvania Farm Show 2010, Junior Show Senior Bred and Owned Champion Pennsylvania Breeder’s Show 2005.

The income from Morgan’s livestock projects finance her college education. 
Morgan is a freshman enrolled in the honors program at Shippensburg University majoring in Social Work with plans to become a counselor. Morgan says, “my main aspiration is to be a positive influence on the people around me”.  She is active in the HOPE SU, Social Work Organization, Campus Ministry, Circle K Volunteer Club, and volunteers at the local pregnancy center in Shippensburg. She attends Shippensburg First Church of God and works part time at Hoss’s Steak and Sea Restaurant. 
Morgan is the daughter of Bob and Darlene Livingston of Spring Grove, Pennsylvania.

Troy Longenecker is the son of Paul and Joy Longenecker of Annville, PA in Lebanon County.  An honors graduate of Annville-Cleona High School, Troy is a sophomore at Penn State majoring in Animal Science.  At Penn State Troy is active in Block and Bridle, Dairy Science Club, Ag Student Council and Collegiate Farm Bureau.  He is a member of the North Annville Bible Church.

Troy’s livestock career began at a young age in 4-H as a member of the Lebanon County 4-H Livestock Club where he held offices including President and other leadership positions.  He was a member of the State Champion 4-H Livestock Judging Team in 2008.  Troy has shown his Polled Dorset and Southdown sheep and Hereford cattle at local, regional and national shows, including KILE. 

He holds membership in the national junior Dorset, Southdown and Hereford Associations.  As a member of the Little Dutchmen FFA, he also exhibited his leadership skills earning Greenhand, Chapter and Keystone Degrees.

Troy’s musical talents have led him to singing the Naitonal Anthem numerous times at kile, KILE, Farm Show, Naile and other livestock exhibitions.   Following graduation from Penn State, Troy plans to go to vet school with the long term goal of becoming a large animal vet specializing in large animals with an emphasis on embryo transfer. He hopes to combine this career as well as maintaining his own livestock.  

Ryan grew up in the 4-H program and has shown both his market steers and breeding animals at local, state, regional and national shows including KILE.  He is especially proud of the champions he has had with his bred and owned cattle.  As a member of the Lancaster County Red Rose 4-H Beef Club, Ryan has served in many leadership roles as an officer and committee member.

Ryan also credits FFA with helping him develop into the person he is today.  As a member of the Garden Spot FFA Chapter, he achieved the Red Rose and Keystone Degrees.  He also participated in both Livestock and Poultry Judging through FFA.

This past summer, Ryan worked in the internship program at Boehringer Ingelheim.  His future goal is to work in the livestock industry and he has not limited his career options in the industry. He says, “My goals and aspirations in life are to become an influential and helpful part of the agriculture industry.”  He also feels its important to give back to 4-H and FFA for all the opportunities which those groups afforded to him.

Lindsay Upperman is the daughter of Steve and Jane Upperman of Chambersburg in Franklin County.  She graduated first in her class at James Buchanan High School this past spring and is a freshman at Butler County Community College in El Dorado, Kansas where she if pursuing a degree in Animal Science.   While in high school, Lindsay was active in sports including volleyball, basketball and track. She was also a member of the National Honor Society.

An active member of Franklin County 4-H, Lindsay has held many offices, been a camp counselor, and participated in exchanges.  She has been most proud of her achievements with her bred and owned Angus cattle. She had the Grand Champion Bred and Owned Heifer at the 2010 KILE Show. 

Lindsay was one of the PA delegates to the National 4-H Congress in Atlanta, GA in 2009.  She has been very active as a junior member of the PA and American Angus Association from holding offices to being PA Angus Queen.  In 2009, she attended the Leader’s Engaged in Angus Development Conference held in San Francisco and most recently was the Jr. Chair Fund Raising for the National Jr Angus Show held in Harrisburg.  A future goal is to run for American Angus Queen.

Lindsay has a very ambitious career path laid out beginning with her studies at Butler Community College.  Upon her completion of two years at Butler, she plans to obtain a BS at Kansas State while participating in Livestock Judging at both schools.  Finally, she plans to head to Iowa State for a doctorate in animal genetics.  Lindsay’s ultimate career goal is to be a research geneticist.  She says, “I hope to always represent agriculture in my daily life, but promoting those who work every day to feed our nation”.