Emmett Youngberg of Youngsville at the Penn State University 4-H Animal Science Day.

On Nov. 15, I had the opportunity to travel to Penn State University for 4-H Animal Science Day. An experience that opened my eyes to the depth of agricultural education, the energy of campus life, and the many careers that support our food systems.

What stood out most throughout the day was how hands-on the learning is at Penn State, from research conducted in the barns to the passion of the students and staff who shared their work with us.

We started our day in the main arena, where staff, and current students welcomed us. They introduced us to all kinds of agriculture-related clubs on campus. Livestock and dairy clubs, equine groups, vet and animal science organizations, and even special-interest teams that compete or do outreach projects.

There really seemed to be something for everyone. To get things rolling, we played some animal science trivia, which helped break the ice and got everyone excited for the rest of the day.

After that, we headed out to tour the university’s impressive animal facilities. Penn State’s farm has beef cattle, dairy cows, sheep, and horses, and each barn gives students a chance to work with the animals daily.

The workers and students explained how each barn operates, the research happening there, and how students get hands-on experience with everything from feeding and care to data collection.

Out of all the stops, the dairy barns were easily my favorite and the place where I spent the most time. We learned how their milking procedures work, how technology helps keep cows healthy, and what their daily routines look like.

Some of the students explained their research projects. They’re studying everything from nutrition to environmental impacts.

One of the most fascinating projects involved monitoring “cow burps” yep you read that right, cow burps. This research is used to measure methane production and better understand how livestock impacts the environment. We also found out where the milk from Penn State’s herd ends up. Part of it goes straight to the famous Penn State Creamery right on campus (which explains why their ice cream tastes so good). The rest goes to Land O’Lakes, connecting the university directly with the dairy industry.

As we kept touring, we learned about all the different agriculture-related classes students can take at Penn State. There are programs in Dairy and Animal Science, Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Equine Science, Agricultural Business, Environmental Science, and even Agricultural Engineering–which is the major I’m most interested in. In the equine barn, we even learned a fun fact that surprised all of us: a horse’s digestive tract can stretch nearly 100 feet long! Hearing from students and staff really helped me see how the programs mix classroom learning with real hands-on work in the barns and labs.

By the end of the day, I left feeling inspired. Not just because of the animals and the barns, but because of the people who work so hard to teach, research, and improve agriculture in ways that help communities like ours in Warren County.

Getting to see Penn State’s farms up close helped me picture what my own future might look like, whether that’s in agricultural engineering, dairy science, or another direction in the ag world.

4-H Animal Science Day was filled with new knowledge, exciting discoveries, and encouragement for anyone with a passion for agriculture. I’m grateful for the chance to attend, and I know what I learned will stay with me for a long time.

A huge thank-you to Penn State and the Pennsylvania 4-H program for organizing such an incredible experience. And an extra special thank you to my mom for taking me and supporting my love for agriculture.

Emmett Youngberg is a Youngsville resident.