Milton Hershey School Students Place at the Pennsylvania Farm Show
Last week, several Milton Hershey School students took a break from their classroom-style learning and immersed themselves in hands-on learning at the 107th Pennsylvania Farm Show.
These agriculture students worked for several weeks to prepare their animals for the big show by practicing their showmanship, ensuring each animal was properly groomed, and other tasks.
“For students it is more than just washing a cow or walking a goat around the ring. The PA Farm show and other events like it show students the real-world opportunities that exist in the agricultural field. It allows them to be exposed to more than just becoming a dairy or beef farmer. It incorporates other fields of the industry such as agriculture business, marketing, nutrition, production, and the list goes on to include many career opportunities they would never consider,” shared Peter Tantillo, MHS Animal Center Instructional Advisor.
The PA Farm Show builds on the MHS Agricultural and Environmental Education (AEE) program, exposing students to new curriculum and career opportunities. From clubs and agriculture-focused programming in classrooms to the school’s student-run Project Market, MHS offers many opportunities for students to develop an understanding of the importance of agriculture. This exposure was important to MHS founder, Milton S. Hershey.
Tantillo added, “Being involved in the PA Farm Show allows students to grow transferable skills like time management, effective communication, and overcoming adversity. These skills can be taken anywhere in the agriculture field and being exposed to them early on in their lives will allow these students to be able to grow and develop to be ready for their futures.”
Learn More about AEE at MHS Read More about MHS on abc27
2023 Pennsylvania Farm Show Award Highlights
Congratulations to all of our MHS students who participated in the 2023 PA Farm Show. See the award recipients from this year’s farm show below.
Cows
- Timothy Geynovich, MHS Sophomore: 4th in Late Spring Heifer Calves Class
- Melanie Bartholomew, MHS Junior: 10th in Late Spring Heifer Calves Class
- Jenna Allencastre-Doersom, MHS Senior: 4th in Junior Heifer Calves Class
- Charlene Pierce, MHS Senior: 1st in Early Junior Yearling Heifers and Senior Champion Heifer
Dairy Goats
- Jenna Allencastre-Doersom, MHS Senior: 1st in Class, Reserve Senior Champion Lamancha, and Reserve Champion Lamancha in the Open Show
- Nikkilee Hockenberry, MHS Senior: 5th in Class Nubian in the Open Show and 7th in Class for Recorded Grades
- Charlene Pierce, MHS Senior: 3rd in Class Saanen in the Open Show
- Melanie Bartholomew, MHS Junior: 10th in Class for Recorded Grades in the Open Show