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