Manheim is a community that's known for its agricultural impact, and students from Manheim Central High School underscored that reputation when they competed in the PA FFA State Convention held at Penn State University's main campus in June. Five teams competed, as well as seven individual students, for a total of 27 Manheim FFA members attending the convention. Three teams - Agricultural Mechanics and Technology, Marketing Plan and Milk Quality and Products - were named state champions and will advance to the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis this fall. The Agricultural Sales team was named state runner-up, and the Environment and Natural Resources team placed fifth in the state out of 28 teams. Students also competed in Livestock Evaluation, Veterinary Science, Horse Evaluation and Poultry Evaluation.

The Agricultural Mechanics team consisted of Avery Kirchner, Chase Kirchner, Cole Niebel and Andrew Waddington. Avery took first place overall, and Chase earned second place.

The Milk Quality and Products team members were Laney Hollinger, Alexa Burke, Karley Pickel, Caitlynn Leister and Alyssa Siegrist. Laney placed second overall.

Members of the Marketing Plan team were Aubrey Myers, Reece Weaver and Garrett Barnett. The Agricultural Sales team was composed of Nate Huber, Bailey Hockenberry, Abbey Ill and Adam Winkler. Nate placed third overall. Members of the Environment and Natural Resources team were Joel Hershey, Brandon Wenger, Sydney Moyer and Lauren Smith.  

"The teams that competed primarily were in competition over two days of the convention," shared Allyson Heckman, Agricultural Mechanics educator and FFA adviser for Manheim Central High School. "They complete individual tests and hands-on skills practicums, which are judged and assessed by industry professionals. Additionally, each team completed a team activity where they must work together to solve a problem and present their findings or solution."

All competitions are aligned to real-world industry standards to ensure that students are experiencing what a career in that area might look like, she said, adding, "Many Pennsylvania industry professionals sponsor the competitions in which their work is related to encourage students to consider that career field."

Team members showcased their skills in everything from making sales pitches and creating marketing materials to identifying milk fat content and water quality.

As Heckman explained, all students compete individually, but if they are on a team, they have additional activities they must complete. Their individual scores are then combined with the team scores for overall scores and placement.

She said it's not unusual for Manheim Central FFA teams to perform well at the competition.

"We have some amazing self-motivated members who have an intense desire to make it to the National FFA Convention, which is our version of a national championship," she said. "Due to the drive and determination of our students, it is common for us to have one or two winning teams a year. To have three winning teams and one runner-up is a testament to the students, their love for learning, their desire to showcase excellence and to represent Manheim with pride."

Winning teams are months in the making, she emphasized, noting that students practice before and after school with their designated coaches.

"Our Manheim FFA members are very competitive and want to continue our chapter's legacy of excellence each year at the state convention," she said.

Once the students have formed teams, they use resource materials provided by the PA FFA and National FFA associations to prepare for competition.

The national convention will be held from Wednesday, Oct. 29, through Saturday, Nov. 1.

"We will leave Oct. 28 and drive two vans to the convention where 70,000 FFA members will be in attendance from Maine to Hawaii and from Alaska to the Virgin Islands," Heckman said.

She noted that traveling to the national event is expensive, and the team has a fundraising goal of $10,000 to get all three teams to the event.

"If anyone in the community is interested in sponsoring the team, they can reach out to me," she said.

She added that participating in agricultural classes and FFA has universal benefits, whether or not students have a background in the industry or live on a farm.

"It is for everyone and anyone with a passion for plants, animals, the environment, knowing where your food comes from, growing as a leader and so much more," she said. "The knowledge, skills and opportunities our Manheim FFA members receive are life-changing, resume building and provide incredible personal growth for every student to flourish wherever their passions take them."

To support the FFA teams traveling to the national competition, contact Heckman at HeckmanAl@manheimcentral.org.