PA Simmental Association Contact Us

3/25/2011 Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture, George Greig congratulates PJSA member and Simmental breeder Emily Benner. Emily’s Simmental bull, Benner’s Mr. Warehouse, sired by R & R Warehouse, was the top indexing Simmental bull in the 2011 Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Bull test. Benner’s Mr. Warehouse was purchased by James M. McCoy of Montoursville, PA	September 30, 2010 L-R , PA Livestock Assoc. member, Mike Firestine, Emily Benner, PA Secretary of Agriculture, Russell C. Redding and Emily’s parents, Kim & Fred Benner Youth Awards were presented at the Opening Ceremony of the 54th Keystone International Livestock Exposition on September 30, 2010 at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg. Selected from a field of candidates submitted by county extension personnel and vocational agriculture teachers throughout the Commonwealth, awards were presented to outstanding 4-H and FFA youth. Among the 2010 FFA winners was PJSA member and current PJSA Treasurer, Emily Benner. Emily is a graduate of Juniata High School, where she was a member of the Juniata FFA. A daughter of Fred and Kim Benner of Mifflintown in Juniata County, Emily is currently a student at Penn State University, Mont Alto campus. Following graduating with a degree in Animal Science, Emily plans to attend vet school. Her career goal is to work at a veterinarian office close to her home and own a farm raising Simmental and Shorthorn cattle. Emily’s FFA focus is on Beef production. Along with her parents, Emily has helped to increase their beef herd from one Simmental heifer to over seventy cattle. Starting out showing locally, Emily soon branched out to state and national shows including KILE and the PA Farm Show. Emily’s leadership skills are evident in the offices she has held in 4-H, PJSA and her many other activities including the Dale Carnegie Class for Effective Speakers, and participation for many years in the local Farm City event. She has done spots on the local radio station promoting the youth fair, attended National 4-H Days in Washington DC for two years and attended 4-H camp as both a camper and as a counselor. In addition to FFA, Emily was very active in her school, playing field hockey, marching and concert bands, Yearbook staff, National Honor Society, and class plays to name a few. She is a member of the PA and American Junior Simmental Association. She has sold her heifers throughout the state including the PA Beef Expo and KILE and has had bulls on the PA Bull Test.

PA Junior Simmental Association Scholarship winner, Emily Benner, also 2011 PSA Princess Katie McLaughlin and 2011 PSA Queen Bridget Fox. Missing from photo: 2011 PA Junior Simmental Association Scholarship winner Sarah Zimmerman.	2011 PA Junior Simmental Association Scholarship winners Sarah Zimmerman & Emily Benner

PSA Annual meeting held on January 9, 2011 2010 PA Simmental Association Junior Member of the Year Bradley Feight PSA President Greg Stewart and award winner Bradley Feight	2010 PA Simmental Association Breeder of the Year Powell's Valley Simmentals PSA President Greg Stewart and Laurie & Danny Fantom

2010 PA Simmental Association Family of the Year - Down's Family PSA President Greg Stewart, Annette, Cody, Sara and David Downs	2010 PA Simmental Association Senior Member of the Year - Les Whitmoyer PSA President Greg Stewart and Les Whitmoyer

From left -- Lloyd Smucker; George and Patricia Kuharic; Caitlin Wolfgang; Secretary Russell C. Redding.

Harrisburg – Pennsylvania Junior Simmental Association president Caitlin Wolfgang was one of twenty-five students who each received a $3,500 scholarship on Tuesday, Jan. 11, by the Pennsylvania Farm Show Scholarship Foundation.

Caitlin Wolfgang, 21, is a junior at Stevenson University in Maryland.
She is majoring in psychology with a human services minor with hopes of becoming an adoption agent. As a member of Dauphin County 4-H, Caitlin served as president and secretary of her livestock club. Also active in the PJSA she exhibits her cattle at the KILE and NAILE as well as at the PA Farm Show. Caitlin’s volunteer work at the Farm show includes poinsettia wrapping and watering, Souvenir Books sales, working in the information booths, assisting with Simmental shows and helping with beef check-in. At college she is a member of the Psychology Club, works at the Link Tutoring Center and is a 3-year recipient of the Dean’s Scholarship.

Agriculture Secretary Russell C. Redding presented the scholarship awards, recognizing the integral contributions youth make in keeping Pennsylvania growing.

“The future of Pennsylvania agriculture looks bright thanks to the hard work and dedication of these young leaders,” said Redding. “We also thank their parents and families who have molded them into these outstanding individuals, and to the foundation for providing this investment in the state’s number one industry.”

The foundation has awarded $886,250 to 344 junior Farm Show exhibitors since the program began in 1993. In addition, Delaware Valley College provides matching grants to its recipients, and in 2011, Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences offers $2,000 to its full-time students.

The Pennsylvania Farm Show is the largest indoor agricultural event in the nation, featuring nearly 6,000 animals, 10,000 competitive exhibits and 290 commercial exhibitors. The show runs Jan. 8-15, 2011, at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg.

For more information, visit www.farmshow.state.pa.us.

Natushka Shoemaker Award

2011 Grand Champion Female: Feights Suzi Q – exhibited by Michelle Browell, Hopewell, Pa.
Pictured are (left to right): Bill Shoemaker, Sherry Feight, Brad Skaar (judge), and Michelle Browell.

The Natushka Shoemaker Memorial Award was presented to Michelle Browell, of Hopewell, Pa., on January 9, 2011, for exhibiting the Grand Champion Simmental heifer, Feights Suzi Q, at the 2011 Pennsylvania Farm Show Junior Breeding Cattle Show. Browell received a director’s chair and two hundred dollars cash.

The Natushka Shoemaker Memorial Award is presented to the junior member who exhibits the grand champion Simmental heifer at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Junior Breeding Cattle Show. Nat was the longtime secretary of the Pennsylvania Simmental Association and strong advocate of youth Simmental programs, who lost her fight with cancer in July 2007. Nat made significant contributions to the Pennsylvania Simmental Association over the twelve years she served as the Association’s Secretary. She also was instrumental in collecting and tabulating PTP data, which was used by judges for the Simmental breed shows at the Keystone International Livestock Exposition and the Pennsylvania Farm Show. The Pennsylvania Simmental Association hopes to perpetuate the recognition of Nat’s willing, caring spirit and her unselfish devotion of time to Simmental breeders and juniors by the creation of this award.

If you would like to support this award, please send contributions to:

Pennsylvania Simmental Association
c/o Ginger Woolcock, Treasurer
38 Reese Road
Orangeville, Pa. 17859

	Bradley Feight Among PA Farm Show Scholarship Winners From left to right: contributor to PA Farm Show Scholarship Fund, Bill Campbell of Hoss's Steak & Sea House; scholarship recipient Brad Feight; Justin Feight; Sherry and Jeffery Feight; and PA Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding.

	2010 Caitlin Wolfgang wins Natushka Shoemaker Memorial Award and PA Farm Show Junior Simmental Heifer Championship From left to right: PSA President Greg Stewart, Bill Shoemaker, Joe Messick, Mylin Messick, Sally Runkle, Judge Dr. Dan Eversole, Caitlin Wolfgang, Bradley Feight and Matt Blauch.

	2010 PA Farm Show Junior Reserve Champion Simmental From left to right: George Kuharic, Sally Runkle, Mylin Messick, Patty Kuharic, Caitlin Wolfgang, Matt Blauch and Joe Messick

	2010 PA Farm Show Reserve Champion Simmental Bull shown by Campbell Show Calves From left to right: Judge Dr. Tom Turner and Sara Campbell

	2010 PA Farm Show Reserve Champion Simmental Heifer shown by Messick Farms From left to right: Mylin Messick, Patty Kuharic, Judge Dr. Tom Turner, Joe Messick, Dotty Messick, Sally Runkle and George Kuharic

	2010 PA Farm Show Reserve Champion Simmental Steer shown by Bridget Fox From left to right: PSA President Greg Stewart, Laurie Fantom and Bridget Fox

	2010 PA Farm Show Champion Simmental Steer shown by Blake Herman From left to right: Blake Herman, Jeff Feight, PSA President Greg Stewart and Bradley Feight

	2010 PA Farm Show Champion Simmental Bull shown by Messick Farms From left to right: Bradley Feight, Mylin Messick, Sally Runkle, unknown, Kevin Bishop, Caitlin Wolfgang, Judge Dr. Tom Turner, Matt Blauch, Dotty Messick & Joe Messick

	2010 PA Farm Show Champion Simmental Heifer shown by Messick Farms From left to right: Mylin Messick, Patty Kuharic, Judge Dr. Tom Turner, Joe Messick, George Kuharic and Caitlin Wolfgang

	2011 PA Farm Show Champion Simmental Steer, exhibited by Blake Herman, who received a $200 cash award from the PSA, and a banner (sponsored by Jeff and Sherry Feight).

	2011 PA Farm Show Reserve Champion Simmental Steer, exhibited by PJSA Secretary Bridget Fox, who received a $100 cash award from the PSA.