Kansas Department of Agriculture
MANHATTAN, Kansas — Thirty-four students from eight schools in Kansas have been awarded the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s Kansas Agriculture Skills and Competencies Certificate. Of these, 32 were awarded the general certificate, nine were awarded the animal science certificate and one was awarded the plant systems certificate. High schools with students earning certificates include Andale, Buhler, Centre, Ellsworth, Holton, Marion, Prairie View, Republic County and Wellington.
Students have completed requirements in the areas of classroom instruction, supervised agricultural experience (SAE) and FFA. They have demonstrated excellence in agricultural knowledge, career readiness and leadership development. Students must also maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher in all school courses to earn the certification.
“The criteria used to recognize these students represents more than just one specific exam, event, or activity on a single day but a culmination of successful involvement and achievement in multiple activities over four years of high school,” said John Clark, the agriculture education teacher at Buhler High School. “Students must be very well-rounded in a variety of requirements to achieve such a high honor and these students should be proud of their accomplishment of earning these certificates.”
KDA is committed to establishing a dynamic and well-equipped workforce that meets the diverse needs of the agriculture industry today. “We need skilled young people to operate high-tech machinery on our dairies, ranches and farms, and technical specialists to provide research in agronomy, technology and animal science fields,” said Kerry Wefald, KDA marketing director. “Kansas agriculture is growing, and the industry requires a well-equipped workforce to help support that growth in our great state. We are proud of these young adults.”
These certificates have been endorsed by several industry organizations and employers:
- Kansas Animal Science Skills & Competencies Certificate: Kansas Farm Bureau, Frontier Farm Credit and Triangle H.
- Kansas Agriculture Skills & Competencies Certificate: FFA Foundation, Kansas Farm Bureau, Kansas Grain & Feed Association and Kansas Livestock Association.
- Kansas Plant Systems Skills & Competencies Certificate: Kansas Farm Bureau, Kansas Wheat, Frontier Farm Credit, Harris Crop Insurance, Hummert International, Scott Cooperative Association, Milliken Ag Concepts, and Middle Creek Seed.
Applications for the Kansas Agriculture Skills & Competencies Certificates are accepted each spring. To find more information, visit agriculture.ks.gov/ageducation.
Complete list of students:
Kansas Agriculture Skills and Competencies Certificates:
Andale High School
Laura Doll
Buhler High School
Trenton Arheart
Kaden Armbruster
Samantha Baldwin
Jackson Berning
Kody Carlton
Jordan Childs
Connor Compton
Colt Hahn
Grace Hickert
Trenton Matney
Morgan Anne Miller
Haley Miller
Alex Papenfuss
Piper Schlatter
Sierra Sherry
Cade Taylor
Emma Wilson
Centre High School
Jensen Riffel
Holton High School
Danni Klahr
Bridget Kucan
Cailin Parks
Christopher Roush
Marion High School
Peyton Ensey
Cassandra Meyer
Prairie View High School
Brock Heide
Josephine Teagarden
Republic County High School
Alexis Hansen
Hunter Hartner
Jena Kunc
Emma Morris
Wellington High School
Luke McComb
Kansas Plant Systems Skills and Competencies Certificates:
Buhler High School
Jordan Childs
Kansas Animal Science Skills and Competencies Certificates:
Andale High School:
Abbie Schwab
Buhler High School:
Colt Hahn
Grace Hickert
Trenton Matney
Morgan Anne Miller
Piper Schlatter
Sierra Sherry
Cade Taylor
Wellington High School
Taima Graves
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For more information:
Heather Lansdowne
785-564-6706
[email protected]
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