Two teams of Penn Manor agricultural education students received high honors at the end of October at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis. Each team completed different exercises and competed against teams of students from across the country. At the state competition in June, each team took first place and multiple individual team members placed in the top three.

The FFA floriculture team at Penn Manor, comprising students Vita Failla, Leah Hess, Jeanette Kneisley and Carly Railing, earned a gold ranking and placed fifth out of 45 teams. Members of the floriculture team were tasked with identifying 50 flower specimens and types of equipment, completing a general knowledge test, arranging and pricing floral arrangements and corsages and develop advertising for a floral business. The Penn Manor team earned 795 out of 800 points, and Kneisley, Hess and Railing each earned an individual gold medal. Failla earned an individual silver medal.

The floriculture team prepared for the convention with after-school practices with FFA teacher Neil Fellenbaum and his wife, Marcy. The students completed the competition's virtual component consisting of general knowledge quizzes, word problems and flower and plant identification. "At the convention, we had to work together as a team to complete different events," said Kneisley. "It was a lot of fun to work together as the four of us." Kneisley works on a local dairy farm and has shown livestock for the last six years, and plans to attend college as an agriculture business major. "Participating in FFA has served me well; it prepares you for everything from communication and leadership to record keeping and finances," Kneisley said.

The FFA livestock evaluation team, comprising students Logan Broderick, Chloe Perry, Ezekiel Smith and Jenna Smith, earned a silver ranking and placed 30th among 45 teams. The livestock evaluation team assessed nine animal classes, took individual general knowledge tests, completed an activity on animal genetics and gave oral presentations to explain its placement of each class of animals. Broderick and Perry earned silver medals individually, and Jenna and Ezekiel each earned a bronze medal.

"Agriculture has always had a special place in my heart; I work on a farm and grew up in the country," said Jenna. She plans to attend nursing school after high school, but still hopes to have a small livestock operation of cattle and to breed animals someday. "I've always wanted to be a nurse, but I want to have agriculture in my life. I've been showing animals for 10 years and have a feel for it, and it's something I've always enjoyed." Jenna and Kneisley both plan to participate in FFA next year as seniors at Penn Manor High School.