Milton Hershey School Students Shine at PA Farm Show

Once again in 2020, several Milton Hershey School students participated in the annual Pennsylvania Farm Show held in Harrisburg. Over 10 days, 15 MHS students prepared and showed cows, dairy goats, and sheep in live competitions at the Farm Show Complex. In total, MHS students won 24 first or second place ribbons and the school had six of the top 10 placings in a youth Dairy Goat Showmanship category.

“Agriculture is a really important tool that teaches our students career and life-long skills,” said Rachel Teller, associate director of Agricultural and Environmental Education (AEE) at MHS. “Our students are learning to take responsibility and initiative. They’re also becoming leaders who are passionate about what they’re doing. We’re really proud of their hard work.”

MHS students were judged on their ability to present, lead, and control the animals in the judging ring. Additionally, they completed all the grooming, bathing, feeding, and care for each animal in advance of competitions which showcased the animals to the thousands of Farm Show visitors. MHS students were also interviewed by local television reporters from abc27, WGAL News 8, and CBS21, as well as by PA State Rep. Tom Mehaffie. Click here to watch the reports.

MHS senior Amelia Usner has competed in the Farm Show since she was a freshman. She’s enjoyed her involvement in agriculture so much that her goal is to become a dairy farmer.

“Agriculture has made a huge difference in my life,” Usner said. “It’s made me more confident because in order to show animals you have to know what you’re doing, and let people know you know what you’re doing. I wasn’t at all interested in agriculture before MHS. I was asked my freshman year if I wanted to sign up for Beginner’s Animal Club and I thought it would be fun. Now I’m planning my entire life around Animal Science and going for my degree.”

All of the MHS students who attended the Farm Show are involved in at least one AEE afterschool club. Seven of them are enrolled in the Agriculture and Natural Resources (AgNR) Career and Technical Education (CTE) Pathway; 10 live or have lived in the AgNR student homes. This was the first PA Farm Show for eight students. As part of the experience, MHS students also volunteered over 10 hours to benefit Dauphin County 4-H.

“It’s important for the general public to see how food goes from the farm to the table and the Farm Show is a good liaison. It shows people what’s actually going on with agriculture in the state,” said MHS junior Kenny Casey.

Click here to see placings and results for each of the students who represented MHS at the Farm Show.