Tuesday TEACH AG TOPICS
On time, Every time!
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Vacant PA Teaching Positions
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- Forbes Road High School
- West Greene - Ag Mechanics
- Kennard-Dale - Long Term Sub
- United - Long Term Sub
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Agricultural Resource Specialist Position Available
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The Perry county Conservation District is seeking an Agricultural Resource specialist. This position is responsible for administering the state delegated Nutrient Management Program, The District's No Till drill rental Program, and natural resource technical assistance to Perry County residents.
Please click here for additional information.
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DIY Funding for Professional Development is Available
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This is just a reminder that The Center still has DIY funding available for teachers to take charge of their own Professional Development. Please contact
Jon Seaman,
jts250@psu.edu, for additional information and to apply!

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National FFA Week is February 16-23, 2019
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Once again we will be hosting “Meet Your State Officer Night” at HOSS’s Steak & Sea Houses across the state. This will happen on Tuesday, February 19 at 6pm. Invite all!
Please rsvp to Mike Brammer with the location and number attending by Feb 15.
Locations are listed below.
HOSS’s Locations – STARTS AT 6pm – FEBRUARY 19
Enola
DuBois
Elizabethtown
Huntingdon
Lititz
Meadville
Williamsport
In addition, if you have an event at your chapter where you would like to have a State Officer attend – hang out with members – be a speaker – Please let Mr. Brammer know as soon as possible. He would love to have them busy all week assisting you and promoting your program! It could be for a couple of hours OR the entire day – First come first serve!
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SLLC Registration is Here!
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The State Legislative Leadership Conference will be held on
Sunday March 17 - Tuesday March 19, 2019
at the Sheraton Harrisburg/Hershey Hotel located on Lindle Road in Harrisburg.
The deadline to register is Sunday February 24, 2019.
Chapters with:
Up to 99 members - may bring 5 students.
100-149 members - may bring 6 students.
150-199 members - may bring 7 students.
200-250 members - may bring 8 students.
251-299 members - may bring 9 students.
300-349 members - may bring 10 students.
350 plus members - may bring 11 students.

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FFA National Scholarship Information
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FFA Scholarship applications are due Feb. 6 and all supplement forms are due Feb. 13. Apply today at
www.FFA.org/Scholarships
FFA is aware that during the government shutdown, students completing FAFSA may experience some hiccups for tasks that require information from another agency impacted by the shutdown, such as the Internal Revenue Service. For students who had not started their FAFSA prior to the shutdown and don’t have access to copies of their parents’ or their own tax returns from last year may not be able to complete FAFSA prior to the close of the FFA Scholarship application.
To ensure that all students have the opportunity to complete the FFA Scholarship application, they have removed the “form forced requirement” to input data into the FAFSA application fields. However, applicants selected to receive a needs-based award will be required to provide this documentation during the award acceptance process. If you have questions about this process, email
FFA@applyists.com
.
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2019 PAAE Award Recipients Announced!
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PAAE Members,
The results are in and the award winners have been selected.
Congratulations to the following on being chosen as the 2019 PAAE Award recipients. These individuals and groups will be recognized at the 2019 Summer Conference, to be held at Blackhawk HS. They will now submit applications to NAAE to be considered for national recognition. Best of luck to each you and CONGRATULATIONS again from your PAAE family!
EARLY CAREER – Carly Rippole – Derry HS
OUTSTANDING TEACHER – Neil Fellenbaum – Penn Manor HS
OUTSTANDING PROGRAM – Central Columbia HS (Brown & Turner)
MENTOR – Marty Heyler – Cowanesque Valley HS
TEACHER TURN THE KEY – Katherine Ranck – Garden Spot HS
OUTSTANDING SERVICE – Doug Brown – Central Columbia HS
OUTSTANDING LIFETIME – Deb Seibert
OUTSTANDING COOPERATION – Pennsylvania FFA Alumni
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This week I processed all checks for those who received a Learning By Doing Grant. I also processed all checks for those who brought members to work in the concessions booth or help at the Rodeo; Scholar Dollars. Checks should arrive next week.
Please be sure to return the “Donation Claim” form once you receive your check. It is required for the accountant.
If you received a grant, you will also need to complete the “Reporting” form and return it when you have completed your project.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Thank you so much for participating in the Foundation’s program!
Sarah
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AET Score-sheets available
If you and your students are involved in any type of recordbook scoring activity, there are sample score-sheets available on paffa.org/association in the Supervised Agriculture Experience section; File name: 2019 AET SAE Score-sheet Examples pdf. These score-sheets were developed by Neil Fellenbaum and are used at the Lancaster County recordbook evaluation event. If you would like to have the file in an editable format, email to Carole Fay and she can send the file to you. Remember: better/more complete SAE records lead to award winning FFA Applications!!!
Proficiency Review Reminder!!!
As your FFA members are reviewing their SAE program/projects from last year, encourage them to apply for proficiency awards.
The application is located in AET: Reports Tab: Degree/Application Manager/Pull down menu to Proficiency application/Add New.
Read the instructions and they are on their way! The application pulls in information from the AET recordbook and there are questions to answer throughout the application. The questions include explanations of the involvement/responsibilities/growth that is shown by the FFA member. It is NOT about who owns the most……. Or who has earned the most….. it is about who has LEARNED the most in knowledge/skills from the project area that they can use toward a future career. There are helpful hints and tips all through the application. Applications and recordbooks will be reviewed at SLLC at the State Proficiency Review. Winners will be sent home for editing and then will be submitted to National FFA for review. The top four candidates in that review process will be invited to the National FFA Convention for an interview. The interviews are low-key.. NOT a public speaking contest.. just a time to explain to a panel of judges what they have learned through their SAE project. There are lots of tips/examples/old applications on the paffa website the ffa.org. Your SAE Specialist and the PA FFA Board SAE committee are available for help/reviewing applications.
SAE/AET recordkeeping guides/links
Here is a link to some helpful, how-to recordkeeping guides from AET.
LET’S ZOOM!!!!
If you/your students need help with anything SAE related, let’s set up a Zoom call!
What is Zoom? It is a web-based audio/visual plateform (webinar) where I can come into your classroom via the internet. I will send you a link, you access the link with your computer and away we go! My computer screen can be projected in your classroom. It’s almost as good as being there! Some topics can be: Starting SAE projects, End of the Year Financial Records, Preparing for Next Year’s Keystone Degree.
Carole Fay
If you would have ANY questions or would like to host a workshop at your school, please send an email to Carole Fay, SAE Specialist,
cfay1212@gmail.com.
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Student Contests, Scholarships, and Other Opportunities
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Leaders - in - Training Registration is Open!
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Our Leaders-in-Training (LIT) program is now open for registration until March 1, 2019. The Shaver’s Creek Summer Camp
Leaders-In-Training (LIT) program
provides high school students (ages 14-17 at the time of camp) with an opportunity to develop and exercise their leadership skills while providing young campers with positive outdoor experiences.
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Future Leaders of Agriculture & Veterinary Sciences
2019 Scholarship Program
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The Vetericyn® team is excited to announce the Future Leaders of Agriculture & Veterinary Sciences 2019 Scholarship Program! Two scholarships of $1,500 will be awarded to two graduating high school seniors to help in their pursuit of higher education in the field of agriculture, including animal health and food science.
Conditions of Eligibility
- Applicants must be graduating high school seniors with plans to enroll in a 2 or 4 year university, vocational, trade or technical school in an agricultural discipline
- Proof of enrollment as a full-time student will be required.
- Students must have an overall GPA of at least 3.0.
- Applicants must be US citizens.
- Applicants must have demonstrated a commitment to agriculture through classes, internships and/or life experiences.
- Submissions will open November 1st, 2018 and close on March 31st, 2019.

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2nd Annual Ag Safety Expo
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Penn State University College of Agricultural Sciences and Penn State Extension Farm Safety are excited to unveil our 2nd Annual Agricultural Safety Expo to be held at the Ag Arena at Penn State on
Monday February 22, 2019
. The event will feature agricultural safety demonstrations and other displays with opportunity for hands-on participation.
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Mentors in Agriculture Conservation (MAC)
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Mentors in Agricultural Conservation (MAC) is a CBF job-shadowing program for student leaders in Pennsylvania that pairs FFA/4H students with CBF’s restoration specialists. The restoration specialists partner with farmers, helping them implement soil- and water-conservation strategies that ensure a healthy, profitable farm for generations to come. MAC students work alongside the specialist and the farmer while gaining real-life experience for a career in agricultural conservation.
After their field experience, students meet with college career advisors to learn more about the academic path to becoming an agricultural conservation specialist. The program culminates with a 5-day trip to the Chesapeake Bay, where students study how farmland is part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed and the Bay.
Visit
here
for additional information

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Program Grant , Contest, & Other Opportunities
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2019 FFA Alumni and Supporter Grants
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March 1 is the first deadline for FFA Alumni and Supporter Grants. Tractor Supply Company sponsors $500 Legacy Grants to help create and improve alumni and supporters chapters and $1,000 Legacy Grants for alumni and student members to partner together on projects. NutrienAg Solutions sponsors $5,000 Give Back to Your Roots Grants to help pay for student FFA affiliation fees, plant science-based projects and other classroom materials. Previous grant recipients must complete their grant report form by Feb. 1 to be eligible for funding in 2019. Visit
FFA.org/alumnigrants
for the application and report form, and check out the great materials featuring FFA members and advisors on
https://radiateroots.ag
.

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Chesapeake Bay Foundation's
PA Student Action & Restoration Program
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Are you ready to take your outdoor field experience to the next level? The Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s one-day Pennsylvania Student Action and Restoration Program provides students and teachers with the next level of environmental education. Participants will move from building awareness to taking action that improves water quality in Pennsylvania’s rivers and streams. Our programs align with Pennsylvania Environment & Ecology, Science & Technology and Engineering Education standards and are fully customizable. Groups will focus on concepts, investigations, and actions that are relevant to their local curriculum and community. For more information on each of our field sites,
click here
or visit
cbf.org/pastar
.

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AgriAbility PA Contest for PA FFA Chapters
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Serve your community.
Practice leadership skills. Earn cash!
The AgrAbility PA Contest for Pennsylvania FFA Chapters is open now through May 31, 2019! Chapters or participating students that complete a project during the 2018-19 school year that fits into one of these categories can be submitted for entry.
To enter, a FFA Chapter or participating student must choose one of the following three categories:
- Design an assistive technology table top demo or model
- Develop an AgrAbility PA video or multimedia presentation
- Complete a community service project
Each category is worth $400.
Prize money will be awarded to the submitting FFA Chapter, at which point the chapter can decide how to use the funds.
Deadline for submission is May 31, 2019.
All winners and participants will be recognized at the Pennsylvania FFA State Activities Week & Convention taking place at Penn State University in June 2019. Representatives from AgrAbility PA will be on hand to present the awards.

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Want to engage your students in project-based learning to meet a community need? The
2018 Spring Semester-Long Living 2 Serve grant application is now open
. Apply for up to
$1,200 to support a semester-long service-learning project
that addresses a community need in one of four focus areas: Community Safety; Hunger, Health and Nutrition; Environmental Responsibility and Community Engagement.
Is your chapter hosting a service event during National FFA Week in February? Now is the time to apply for a
$400 Day of Service Mini-Grant
! Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis on the first of each month. To learn more about the Living 2 Serve Grants visit the Living 2 Serve Grants website at
www.ffa.org/livingtoserve/grants
. Want to see what other chapters have done? Check out the interactive map at
www.ffa.org/livingtoserve
to review funded projects.
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3-Day Intensive Briggs and Stratton Workshop at Clemson
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Briggs and Stratton will be holding a 3-day intensive small engines workshop at Clemson University on July 23-25, 2019. This is essentially the same workshop at the week long educators' workshop held at their headquarters. The workshop is $500 and will include all teaching materials. Space is limited to the first 20 individuals to pay the workshop fee.

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Sheep Boot Camp for Ag Teachers
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This 3-day course held on on Friday June 7 - Sunday June 9, 2019 at Owen's Farm, a working sheep farm in Sunbury, PA. The camp will prepare you to competently supervise SAE projects based on sheep, and conduct yourself with the confidence and authority consistent with your role as Animal Science instructor. You will learn the fundamental principles and challenges of raising sheep, while gaining hands-on experience. To register or for more information click
here
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Pennsylvania Association of Environmental Educators (PAEE) Annual Conference
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Opportunities are available to present workshops and scholarships are available to attend. For more information or to register, please visit
www.PAEE.net

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PA State Parks Educator Workshops
January and February 2019
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Here's to a year full of fantastic opportunities for professional growth! If you haven’t attended a professional development workshop offered by PA State Parks, consider attending one this year. You’ll be glad you did! Please see the
attached document
that is filled with our upcoming workshops, webinars, and a free distance learning opportunity in January & February.

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Learn how to safeguard the next generation of farmers and ranchers by attending the Child Agricultural Injury Prevention Workshop, March 28-29, in Hershey, Pa. The workshop will be limited to the first 60 registrants. Early bird deadline is March 1 ($199 registration fee). To register, go to
http://www.marshfieldresearch.org/CAIP-Workshop
.

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Thank You Teachers for ALL you do!
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The Penn State Center for Professional Personnel Development wishes you a safe, productive, and inspiring school year! Check out our website to explore more professional development opportunities and funding options!
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Have news to share?
Email Beth Mathie,
blm157@psu.edu
, and it will appear in the next week's email blast!
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