About my Labyrinth

What is my Labyrinth?  Well I will tell you.  My labyrinth are all of the interests, activities, and experiences that I have easily lost myself in over the years.  I hope that through this blog, I can bring other people into my maze and teach them about what I have learned and learn from them as well.  

Some of the interests in this maze include all things horses, dairy science, flower production, landscaping, sustainable agriculture, and enjoying and studying nature.  Some of my hobbies include reading, writing, playing tennis, and running.

But how did I get interested or even involved in all of these things?  My mother's side of the family has a long history of farming.  Her father grew up on a dairy farm where we frequently held family get-togethers.  My family also went to the farm show every year and made it a point to make sure my siblings and I got to experience nature.  We went on hikes, visited parks, and went to zoos as much as we could.  I also begged my parents to pay for some horse riding lessons, and I took lessons on and off for a few years.  Needless to say, I was fascinated with everything I was seeing, so it was no surprise that I joined FFA as soon as I could.  My freshman year of high school, I was actively enrolled in the Cloister FFA chapter and received my FFA jacket at the PA farm show.  In the next three years, I would learn most of my foundation of agriculture through FFA.  I was able to raise my own lambs and show them at the local fair, volunteer at the local fair, help grow and sell plants in the school's greenhouse, and help take care of rabbits, chickens, and goats through our animal crew committee.  An external job milking cows on a local dairy farm grew my interest even more.  By senior year, I was convinced that I wanted a career in agriculture.

 Originally, I was thinking of being a large animal veterinarian, but after seeing the joy and even surprise on student’s faces when learning about agriculture and realizing how little the general public and my peers knew about the subject, I chose to pursue Agriculture Education.

Currently, I am studying Agricultural and Extension Education at Penn State. Some of my main study areas have been animal science, environmental management, and plant science.  I am a member of the LEAD society, the tennis club, the Block and Bridle club, the Penn State chapter of the Wildlife Society, and two Christian organizations.  My involvement with FFA was encapsulated when I received my American degree at the end of 2020.  In the future, I hope to get a job as a high school agriculture educator or as an extension agent.  I believe that I could make an impact in either area.  Thank you for letting me introduce myself to you and please stay tuned for some interesting blogs in the future!

Sincerely, 

Lauren Kachel