Tyrone Area FFA members Carly Crofcheck and Katrina Hagenbuch both recently received statewide  Agriscience Proficiency awards from the Pennsylvania FFA.

The Agricultural Proficiency Awards honor FFA members who, through their Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAEs), develop specialized skills that they can apply toward their future careers.  Students compete for awards in 47 areas covering everything from Agricultural Communications to Wildlife Management.  Placement proficiency awards are given to those whose SAEs are related to employment, apprenticeships, or internships at an agribusiness or agriculture-related organization.

Senior Carly Crofcheck was chosen as Pennsylvania’s State Proficiency winner in the area of AgriScience Research – Integrated Systems – Environmental Service Systems/Natural Resource Systems. Hagenbuch was chosen as Pennsylvania’s State Proficiency winner in the area of Diversified Livestock Production.

Agricultural Proficiency awards honor FFA members who, through their Supervised Agriculture Experience (SAE’s), have developed specialized skills that they can apply toward their future careers.

Crofcheck’s project required her to complete a detailed application that described the skills she has learned from her AgriScience enterprises, as well as document her scientific processes throughout the duration of the SAE’s. She included pictures of her working using proper science lab techniques, analyzing data, and communicating her findings with the community.  She also documented the efficiencies and learning outcomes learned through her SAE’s.

“Over my years of participating in the Agriscience fair, my greatest challenge has always been completing a literature review,” said Crofcheck, “When I reached high school, it became a requirement in order to proceed with my SAE project. Researching everything needed for each year took a lot of time to organize and complete.”

Crofcheck completed three years of AgriScience, focusing on lactose tolerance for two years and then spices’ impacts on E. coli growth.

“I was really surprised when I found out I had won in my category,” said Crofcheck, “I heard about some really good projects, but that was one of the reasons I was motivated to do my best.”

Senior Katrina Hagenbuch’s project also required a detailed application that described the skills she learned from her market goats and dairy beef enterprises, as well as document her income and expenses throughout the terms of the SAE’s. She included pictures of her working with her animals, record keeping, and nutritional program.  Hagenbuch also documented the efficiencies and learning outcomes learned in the SAE.

In 2014, Hagenbuch raised two Boer-Toggenburg cross wethers and in 2015 she raised two 100% Holstein Steers as dairy beef for the Huntington County Fair.

“The greatest challenge I had with raising my animals was the property and facilities. I live in the borough and I cannot have market animals of any kind,” said Hagenbuch.

She was fortunate enough to work with several local farmers for property and facilities to raise the market animals.  Former FFA members also helped her to become proficient in preparing her animals for show by using correct clipping techniques.

“I’m shocked that I was selected to be the state winner,” said Hagenbuch, “since I’m not a traditional student in regards to raising livestock.  My hard work proved that even though I don’t live or were not raised on a ‘traditional’ farm, I can still experience production agriculture by raising diverse animals.”

Crofcheck and Hagenbuch, along with the twenty-nine other State Proficiency winners will be recognized at the 87^th State FFA Convention in June, where they will be presented with $250 and plaque.

Both applications will be forwarded to the National FFA in the hopes of receiving recognition at the National FFA Convention in October.