Three teams of Manor FFA members earned gold or silver medals at the FFA National Convention and Expo, held October 30 to November 4 in Indianapolis.
The Poultry Evaluation team of Rachel Sensenich, Emily Railing, Jenna Railing, and Ava Crill earned a gold medal. Abby Harnish and Sara Gehr also were part of the team but were not competing.
Team members had to choose live meat-type poultry for broiler breeding, assess and place live egg-type hens, and rate the final result by classifying and grading portions of chickens and turkeys, as well as ready-to-cook carcasses.
Their gold-medal performance qualified team members to participate in the International Production and Processing Expo, sponsored by the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association, in Atlanta in the winter.
The Ag Mechanics team of Layne Perry, Keith French, Chase Vinson, and Collin Harnish earned a silver medal at Nationals.
During the competition, they had to resolve a hypothetical multi-system agricultural problem and compile a report on their recommendations. Team members also had to take a written test on five agricultural technology and mechanical areas, including equipment, electricity, natural resources and structures.
The Forestry Team of Derek Thomas, Kenzi Nafziger, Weston Shertzer, and Brady Breneman earned a silver medal. Delvin Kneisley also was on the team but did not compete.
During the competition, team members had to use their forestry knowledge and equipment to solve a case and give a presentation about a local or national forestry issue. Members also had to complete individual practicums, identify and measure trees and complete a general forestry knowledge exam.
Also at the convention, Manor FFA members and Penn Manor graduates Madeleine Denlinger and Micah Frey received their American Degrees, the highest honor awarded by the National FFA Organization. Less than one percent of FFA members earn the American Degree each year.
Learn more about how they earned the award here.
Congratulations to all of these Penn Manor students, past and present, on their accomplishments.
The Forestry team, from left: Derek Thomas, Makenzi Nafzinger, Weston Shertzer, Brady Brenaman, and Delvin Kneisley.
