KILE Announces Youth Award, Scholarship Winners

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Youth awards were presented at the Opening Ceremony of the 53rd Keystone International Livestock Exposition (KILE) on Thursday at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg.

Selected from a field of candidates submitted by county extension personnel and vocational agriculture teachers throughout the state, awards are presented to outstanding 4-H and FFA youth. This year’s 4-H winners are Kate Livingston and Luke Graver. FFA winners are Kayla Romberger and Caleb Wright. They received a plaque and a monetary award.

Caleb Wright is the son of James and Rebecca Wright of Alexandria, Pa. A member of the Blue Juniata FFA, he is a 2009 graduate of Juniata Valley High School and is enrolled in the animal science program at Penn State. He received the Silver medal for his Sheep Production- Entrepreneurship application this year and received the Gold Meal in 2008. His livestock project focuses on Dorset sheep. In addition to showing market lambs and breeding sheep locally, Caleb has shown at state and national shows including KILE. He also raises and shows Guernsey dairy cows.

Kayla Romberger is the daughter of William and Kathleen Romberger of Hegins, Pa. She is a junior at Tri-Valley High School where she is a member of Tri-Valley FFA. This year she received the National Gold Medal for her Diversified Livestock Production-Entrepreneurship application.

In her junior year in school, Kayla is a member of the Tri-Valley FFA. Her livestock projects include market steers, dairy beef and beef breeding which includes both Hereford and Angus breeds. As a result of showing a market goat last year, she decided that she would like to breed her own goats and that spawned a Boer goat breeding project. Dairy breeding rounds out her livestock projects. After graduation she plans to attend Delaware Valley College to pursue a degree in dairy science and agriculture education with the career goal of either a secondary agriculture teacher or a job as a nutritionist.

Kate Livingston is the daughter of Tim and Nancy Livingston of Dover, Pa. An eight-year member of York County 4-H Clubs, she has been active in the Beef Club, Davidsburg Community Club, County Council, and Senior Exchange. She has held many offices in each of these clubs and projects include leadership, public speaking, market steer, and beef breeding.

Kate’s leadership role in 4-H is evident in the many hours she volunteers at 4-H camps including overnight camp and Survivor Camp. In addition to club involvement, Kate is on this year’s 4-H Livestock Judging Team which is representing Pennsylvania at the national contest in Louisville in November.

She placed fifth overall at Pennsylvania 4-H State Days this past summer. She will also represent York County at the National 4-H Congress in Atlanta, GA this year. A senior at Dover Area High School, Kate is an active member of the Dover FFA Chapter where she is currently the President. Kate’s future plans are to attend Penn State to earn a degree in animal science.

Luke Graver is the son of Paul and Diane Miller-Graver of Lehighton, Pa. A nine-year member of the Carbon County 4-H Livestock club, he has raised and shown market hogs, market lambs, steers and breeding beef. This year, all his projects were bred a.800nd owned. He is a member of the 4-H Development Committee Board of Carbon County. A senior at Lehighton Area High School, Luke is a member of the Project Humanity Club where he helps with soup kitchens. He is a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran church and Big Creek Grange. Luke’s future plans are to attend Penn State to major in agribusiness management and education.

Scholarship Winners
In addition to the youth awards, six college scholarships will be awarded. Receiving scholarships will be Sarah Doyle, Caitlin Fairbairn, Ryan Fairbairn, Cody Gerlach, Johanna Rohrer and Darla Romberger.

Sarah Doyle of Red Lion, Pa. is the daughter of Richard and Karen Doyle. She is attending Penn State with an animal science major with a business option. Her future plans are to attend Penn State Dickinson Law School with an emphasis in agricultural law.

Among the list of Sarah’s high school activities are Student Council, National Honors Society, Art Club, Senior Class Play and AP Scholar. At Penn State she is active in the block and Bridle Club, National Agri Marketing Association and College of Ag Scholarship. Sarah has shown her sheep including many bred and owned animals at local, state and national shows including KILE. She has earned the distinction of Master Showman at KILE and the Pennsylvania Farm Show as well as Premier Exhibitor and Premier Breeder at the Farm Show.

Caitlin Fairbairn is the daughter of Bill and Cheryl Fairbairn of Coatesville, Pa. Caitlin is a senior at Penn State University majoring in animal science. Caitlin has a keen interest in the meats industry and hopes to obtain a position with a meat company working in food safety or with the customer relations. Caitlin is a member of the Penn State University Track Team as a pole vaulter. She placed sixth at the Big Ten Championships in 2009.

Caitlin still finds time to belong to the Block and Bridle Club and participates in a few committees as time allows her. Caitlin was very involved with the Pennsylvania and National Junior Angus Associations participating on the board and serving as chair of the Welcoming Committee for the 2007 Eastern Regional Junior Angus Show in Harrisburg. She has shown cattle both locally and nationally.

Ryan Fairbairn is the son of Bill and Cheryl Fairbairn of Coatesville, Pa. Ryan is a junior at Penn State University majoring in animal science. His future plans include being accepted into the integrated masters program in animal biotechnology where he will finish a five year program and receive his masters degree. Ryan then plans on working in the field of animal biotechnology.

His college activities include the Block and Bridle Club where he has served as a member of many committees and is co-chairing the Club Calf Sale this fall.

He was also a member of the Penn State Meats Quiz Bowl Team. Ryan has been very active in the Pennsylvania Junior Angus Association and the National Junior Angus Association serving as a state delegate, board of director and vice president of the Pennsylvania association for many years. He was chairman of the social committee for the Eastern Regional Junior Angus Show in Harrisburg in 2007 and is helping with the planning of the National Junior Angus Show to be held in Harrisburg in 2011. He has shown Angus cattle both locally and nationally.

Cody Gerlach is the son of Nelson and Kim Gerlach of Far Hills, N.J. Cody is attending Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas in the marketing curriculum with a minor in ag science. His college activities include Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Alpha Beta Gamma Honor Society, and Conservation and Business Clubs as well as inclusion on the dean’s and president’s lists.

Cody is a member of several livestock associations including the New Jersey (serves as president), Pennsylvania and National Junior Hereford Associations, and New York and National Junior Angus Associations. He was a member of the Branchburg Beef and Dairy Club and the 4-H Cattleman’s Club where he held several leadership positions. Following his graduation from college, Cody plans to earn a master’s degree with a career path to working in agriculture with a possible political career as an advocate for the rights of farmers.

Johanna Rohrer is the daughter of Dudley and Beth Rohrer of Manheim, Pa. A student at Penn State, Johanna is pursuing a degree in agricultural sciences with a dual minor in leadership development as well as family and youth education. Her career goal is to obtain a position as a program coordinator within the agricultural sector in the area of youth development.

At Penn State she is a member of the Collegiate Horsemen’s Association, Collegiate FFA and a member of the 2008 Livestock Judging Team. She plans to continue breeding her flock of purebred polled Dorset ewes with the goal of selling breeding stock and returning to the show ring herself once she completes her education.

Darla Romberger is the daughter of William and Kathleen Romberger of Hegins, Pa. Darla was the recipient of the FFA Youth Award at last year’s KILE. She is a student at Delaware Valley College with a dual major in large animal science and agriculture education with a minor in chemistry. Her career goal is to become an agriculture education teacher.

At Delaware Valley, she is involved in the Collegiate FFA, Block and Bridle, Dairy Society, and Educator’s Club. Darla has exhibited Polled Hereford cattle and Boer Goats at local, regional, state and national shows including KILE.

Other community involvement includes the Tri-Valley Leo Club, Relay for Life team member and the 2008 Schuylkill County Fair Queen.