Growing for the Future

For our second SAE visit we headed to see Alyssa Hargraves. Alyssa is a senior at Central Columbia and an active FFA member. Alyssa is an avid hunter and fisherman. She truly loves all things outdoors. Alyssa received her Keystone degree this years through keeping SAE records on her work with developing food plots and running a deer management program. Alyssa hopes to continue her love for the outdoors as a Wildlife Biologist, she was also recent accepted into Penn State!

Due to the "off season" for Alyssa's SAE we chose to meet at Keller's Taxidermy. We discussed her SAE and future goals as we scored her buck from last fall for the Buck Pool put in by the agriculture program at Central Columbia. I was impressed by Alyssa's buck harvest this year and it was evident that she has put much time into her deer management program. It was fitting for us to meet at Keller's as she gets her deer mounted there each year. Alyssa shared that she puts in a lot of work over the summer months in preparation for the upcoming hunting season. She shared with me pictures from the work she had done this past summer. Her goals are to continue to grow her food plots as well as the deer population around her home.

Prior to the visit Mr. Brown and I reviewed Alyssa's AET record books and scored it using the AET approved score card that Carol Fay provided. All SAE programs are scored on completion and utilizing the score card. In addition, we want to see that students are striving towards the future of their SAE program. Specifically for Alyssa we agreed with her goal to continue to expand the size of her food plots where possible. We also suggested to her to start thinking about diversifying her crops to ensure proper nutrient management for the soil being used. We hope that Alyssa will continue to keep records on her work and strive towards obtaining her American FFA Degree.

Thank you for sharing your unique SAE with me Alyssa and Good Luck as you pursue a career as a Wildlife Biologist. Also congratulations on your acceptance to Penn State! We Are!

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