from ffa to ag education

Hear from Emily Kerstetter, a current college student!

​I always knew that I wanted a career in the agricultural industry whether it was dreams of being a vet or an animal nutritionist. I finally landed on agricultural education just when it came time for me to start applying to college. Luck brought me to Penn State main campus where I rapidly gained knowledge and had the opportunity to gain one-of-a-kind experiences within a single year. I had the ability to explore my intended career, and I was also able to perform educational workshops for high school students. Seeing the impact that I can have on younger individuals is what gets me out of bed every morning. I gained other career readiness skills this year through the clubs I was involved in. I had the opportunity to host agriculture-based activities with young children, serve in volunteer opportunities, and shadow teachers in agriculture based and non-agriculture-based classrooms. All the connections that I have made in just one short year has vastly built my network. This year of growth and connections has prepared me to serve as the current Pennsylvania FFA State Treasurer. Another one of those connections being my current internship as the education intern at the Pennsylvania Friends of Agriculture Foundation.
Through this internship I have learned about how to incorporate agricultural education into the minds of elementary students. Although I would like to base my career in secondary level agricultural education, I greatly appreciated getting a new perspective. I will carry the experiences and knowledge that I have gained in this position with me to incorporate in my future classroom. ​​