Tyrone Junior Karly Diebold spent many months doing research and compiling her results for her 2019 FFA Agriscience Fair project.  After all of her hard work, Diebold competed and won in the local and state competitions, which led her to the National FFA Convention, where she won 5th place in the nation. 

Diebold presented her research in the Environmental Services/Natural Resource Systems category at the Pennsylvania Farm Show and earned first in the state. She then submitted for Nationals along with 30 other state winners. 

Among the 30 state winners, only 12 finalists were chosen, including Diebolds, to compete at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. 

“I was really surprised and honored to have been selected out of all of the great competition in my division,” said Diebold. 

In the end, Diebold’s project placed fifth in the nation in her category and earned a gold medal ranking. 

Diebold’s project focused on the methods of limiting soil erosion caused by water, and which method was the most effective. 

Her project consisted of two trials that each lasted 15 days. The first trial was in November 2018 and the second trial was in March 2019. She started to complete her report between November 2018 and April 2019. 

At nationals, Diebold had to present her project in front of three judges and answer questions during a 15-minute interview. The next day she had to stand with her project for an hour and a half and talk to visitors, which included FFA members from across the country, judges, ag advisers, and convention visitors.

Tyrone FFA Adviser Tiffany Hoy was very proud of Diebold’s accomplishment.

“I was so excited for her and the Tyrone Area FFA chapter. I was also in shock. We have had the honor of having several students make the interview level for AgriScience at the National FFA Convention, but have never broken into the top 10 in the nation. Karly knew her project inside and out and was well prepared. She had to win the state competition, which is not an easy task, and then go through a national blind screening process before even getting the invitation to interview at the National FFA Convention,” said Hoy. 

This is Diebold’s third year in FFA. She decided to join FFA due to her dad being a member when he was in high school. 

“I’ve always wanted to be a member. I also plan to go into agriculture in the future,” said Diebold. 

Diebold is a leader in FFA. Serving as the chapter’s reporter this year, she has posted many stories in the Eagle Eye about the chapter.

“Karly is an individual who is kind and focused. She works at 110%. She is a go-getter who wants to challenge herself,” said Hoy. “I’m honored to have been part of this journey with Karly.”

Diebold was not the only Tyrone student to place at the national convention.

Junior Garin Hoy placed as 19th in the nation for his project and 2019 grad Guy Williams received a bronze rankings for his Agriscience projects.

Hoy’s project was on the study to determine the impact of hydrogen peroxide and oregano soaks on microgreens contaminated with E.coli.

“I was very surprised on how high I placed in the nation but also disappointed that I was not placed in the top 12 to qualify in national competition,” said Garin Hoy.

The Tyrone Chapter also received a national two-star ranking, which is a great honor.