Meeting Ms.Mahler

Hi there! Welcome to my Teach Ag Journey!

My name is Mckenzie Mahler and I am currently a junior at Penn State, studying Agricultural and Extension Education. This blog was created as a platform for me to share all that I get to learn and experience throughout my time here at Penn State. I am so thankful to be attending a university that has brought me so many amazing mentors, friends, and opportunities, and I cannot wait to share this experience with you all! 

Who am I?

My sweet great grandmother and I
before my high school graduation.

I grew up in Somerset, Pennsylvania and graduated from Somerset Area High School in 2020. Growing up, I raised 4-H animals and participated in youth square dancing at the PA Farm Show. Throughout high school, I was involved in cross country, track and field, National Honor Society, Interact Club, and FFA. These experiences have shaped me into the hardworking, passionate person I am today that loves the agriculture industry and helping others through volunteer work. 

In the summer of 2021, I started a job as a Direct Support Professional (DSP) at Ganister Station, a day center for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. My friends at Ganister Station have blessed me with an entire new outlook on life. They have taught me that, with the right mindset, anything is possible and that there is so much you can do to make sure that everyone feels included. I am so grateful for my time at Ganister Station and all that it has taught me about myself and the world around me. 

 Why Teach Ag?

My best friend, Kaylee, and I at
an FFA Demonstration contest. 

Growing up, I was very unsure of what I wanted to do until I enrolled in my first agricultural sciences course and immediately fell in love with every aspect - both inside and outside of the classroom. My time in an agriculture classroom taught me so many skills that I never thought I would be able to accomplish, like woodworking, electrical, and welding. I learned the importance of stepping outside of my comfort zone to try new things.

The Somerset Area FFA Chapter played a huge role in my life throughout high school. I competed in many Career Development Events (CDEs) throughout high school including market planning, demonstration, and public speaking. These CDEs helped me become a more confident public speaker and made me realize how much I enjoy teaching others about agriculture. 

My time through FFA is also exactly what brought me to Penn State. I first came to University Park the summer prior to my sophomore year of high school for the Pennsylvania State FFA Convention. Immediately, I fell in love with the Penn State campus and the atmosphere that surrounded agricultural education here. I knew right away that this is where I wanted to be after high school. 

My family and I after I competed in my local county 
fair queen contest. 

My mom and I when I received my American
FFA Degree in October of 2021. 

Life at Penn State

As I'm sure you can imagine, starting college in the middle of a global pandemic is very far from a "typical" college experience. I decided to take virtual classes my freshman year and was so excited to make it to campus for the Fall of 2021. So far, my time here at Penn State has been absolutely amazing. 

In the fall of 2021, I had the opportunity to enroll in a course title "AEE 216: Practical Parliamentary Procedure". Through this course, I was able to receive a certificate of accreditation through the Society for Agricultural Education Parliamentarians, a goal that I had set for myself for a very long time. I am so excited to use the knowledge I have gained through this course to teach my future students about parliamentary procedure. 

My time at Penn State has also allowed me to become a member of cohort 1 of the World Food Prize Foundations Global Orientation to Agricultural Learning (GOALs) program. The GOALs program has given me the opportunity to expand my knowledge on global agriculture, network with others who share a passion for global agriculture and develop and expand on the tools and skills needed to teach others about global agriculture. Through this program, I also had the opportunity to travel to Montana during the spring of 2022, where I was fortunate enough to teach a class of students about global agriculture for a week. 

Krista and I planning our trip to Kalispell, Montana.

The class that I was fortunate enough to teach while in Kalispell. 

Throughout this journey, I have also been fortunate enough to gain some beneficial internship experiences that will benefit me throughout my future career. I am an intern for the Global Teach Ag! Network, where I am able to share my passion for global agriculture with others. I am also a Teach Ag! Avenger, where I have the opportunity to advocate for the Agricultural and Extension Education major and share with others why I love TeachAg!. 

Where do I Want to Go Next?

Throughout the rest of my time at Penn State, I will be working to become a successful agricultural educator. This journey is going to be filled with successes, failures, and a lot of growth. I hope to spend each day throughout my time here preparing myself to teach in my own agricultural sciences classroom. A classroom that I hope is welcoming and accessible to all of my future students. I am so excited to start my journey as an agricultural educator and I hope that you all we follow along and grow with me! 💙