Young Ag Professionals State Committee

Please note: home county is italicized.

District 1

Vacant

Susquehanna, Wayne/Pike, Wyoming/Lackawanna

District 2

Calvin Raub

Bucks, Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton

District 3

Paul and Melissa Harrop
610-656-7867 | Email
Berks, Chester/Delaware, Montgomery

Paul and Melissa Harrop are the District 3 co-chairs. They live in Chester County on their farm with their kids, animals, and dog. Paul’s family has dairy farmed the majority of his life. He currently crop farms, as well as services diesel equipment and hauls steel as a truck driver. Paul grew up in 4-H and showing dairy cows, and went to UNOH for diesel and diesel ag mechanics. He joined Farm Bureau in 2010 and has always been involved with the YAP on the county level.

Melissa joined the YAP in 2013. She operates Meadow Creek Livestock on the farm, where she does the direct sales of dairy beef. Melissa also works “off the farm” as an editor at Lancaster Farming.

District 4

Ben Barcovtch
724-420-6525 | Email
Columbia, Luzerne, Schuylkill/Carbon

Ben Barcovtch grew up in Southwestern Pennsylvania on his family’s dairy, hog, beef and row crop farm. He was active in 4-H throughout his youth, showing hogs which inevitably led him down the career path he is currently on today. He now resides in Luzerne County where he manages a 4,800 head hog contract finishing site. He also raises 50 beef cattle annually. They are marketed directly to consumers as grain fed dry-aged freezer beef.

Barcovtch currently serves as President of the PA Pork Producers Council, the YAP Chair for District 4, and member of the National Pork Producers Council Investors & Relations committee. When Ben isn’t farming or serving in a leadership capacity, he enjoys advocating for agriculture and telling his story about what he does to help feed, fuel and clothe Americans and consumers abroad.

District 5

Vacant

Bradford-Sullivan,McKean/Potter, Tioga

District 6

Blaine Walizer

Centre, Clinton, Lycoming

District 7

Vacant

Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, Union

District 8

Kaleb and Olivia Long, Committee Chairs
717-629-0078 | Email
Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, York

Kaleb and Olivia were both born and raised in Lancaster County where Kaleb was active in FFA, and 4-H, growing up. Both Kaleb and Olivia attended Penn Manor School District where they first met and graduated in 2011. Kaleb then attended Delaware Valley University and received a B.S. in Ag Business. Olivia attended Millersville University and earned a degree in social work. Growing up Kaleb worked for many farmers in Manor township mainly helping with baling hay and straw, and in the tobacco fields. He is currently employed full time as a Crop Consultant for Nutrien Ag Solutions. Olivia did not grow up around production agriculture but has had a love and passion for horses and animals her entire life, riding and working on horse farms many years growing up. She is currently employed by Wellspan health as the coordinator of their Lancaster County after school program. Together they run Conestoga Oneega Farms which is a swine breeding operation with Kaleb’s parents, raising show pigs and feeder pigs for custom butchering. Kaleb has been serving on the Lancaster County Farm Bureau Board since 2017 and has been the District 8 YAP committee member since November 2020, Olivia joined him and has been helping as a committee member since they got married in March of 2023.

District 9

Andrea and Ryan Brown
717-991-3203 | Email
Adams, Cumberland, Franklin, Fulton

Andrea and Ryan Brown have been active in the agriculture community since their FFA careers in high school. Together they own a crop farm, a cow-calf operation specializing in club calves and direct market beef in Cumberland County. Both are active leaders in their communities where Ryan serves on the local township and school district agricultural advisory committees, as well as the current county Farm Bureau President. Andrea also serves her county Farm Bureau as Secretary, a member of the Ag Promotion Committee for PA and has recently been elected to the American Farm Bureau Promotion and Education committee. In addition to the farm, Ryan spends his time as an agronomist specializing in digital agriculture, Andrea currently works off farm full time for a local school district. Andrea and Ryan married in 2013 and are blessed with a son and daughter.

District 10

Megan Keller
717-372-7713
Huntingdon, Juniata, Mifflin, Perry

Growing up in Fulton County, I was active in the local 4-H and FFA chapter where I showed multiple livestock species. I am the co-owner and operator of T & H Boer goats alongside my parents. I graduated from Penn State with a degree in Agricultural Extension and Education and earned my masters from the University of San Diego in Education with an emphasis on special education. I served as the 2018 National Miss United States Agriculture. I am actively involved in the hog  industry helping on a few finishing farms. In my spare time you will find me mostly outdoors hunting, fishing, camping, kayaking, or most importantly spending time with my 6 year old black lab, Harlee. I am Megan Keller, your District 10 representative for Pennsylvania Young Ag Professionals.

District 11

Kaytee Tew
Bedford, Blair, Somerset

Kaytee Tew is honored to be serving as your District 11 YAP Chair, representing Bedford, Blair and Somerset Counties and is excited to educate and share her passion of agriculture with others.   Born and raised on her family’s farm in Bedford County, she has been involved within the agriculture community from a very young age.  Agriculture has always been her passion and has heavy influenced her life.  Growing up in 4H and FFA, Kaytee has shown pigs, goat, lambs, and market steers at the county, state, and national levels.

In 2014, Kaytee graduated from Penn State with a Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Science, and a minor in Agribusiness Management.  At Penn State, Kaytee was employed at the PSU Swine Research Center, and participated in Block and Bridle and Collegiate FFA.  She is currently employed full time at Horizon Farm Credit as an Inside Sales Specialist in the Martinsburg, PA branch.  Kaytee is also a 4H Leader for the Kountry Kids 4H Club and serves as the Bedford County Fair Supreme Showmanship Superintendent.  She also had the opportunity to study abroad over Spring Break 2013 with the former Secretary of Agriculture, Sam Hays in Guanajuato, Mexico.  In 2014, Kaytee was honored to have earned her American FFA Degree at the National FFA Convention in Louisville, Kentucky.

Kaytee and her husband, farm part-time alongside of her parents on her family’s farm raising meat goats, Hampshire sheep, beef cattle, New Zealand Meat Rabbits, and poultry.   They reside in Hopewell Township, Bedford County with their daughter and two sons.  In her spare time, you can find Kaytee traveling, camping, kayaking, hunting, attending livestock shows or spending time with her family!

District 12

Simon Itle
814.932.4356 | Email
Cambria, Clearfield, Indiana

Simon is a 4th generation family member of Vale Wood Farms, comprising of a 200 dairy cow herd along with a processing plant to produce and home deliver a full line of dairy products to the local area. He graduated from The Pennsylvania State University with a degree in Food Science. Applying his degree, Simon is working full-time in the dairy processing facility with an emphasis on food safety.

District 13

JohnMark Miller
724-599-5967 | Email
Armstrong, Clarion/Venango/Forest, Elk, Jefferson

JohnMark Miller grew up on a grain farm that spans Northern Indiana and Southern Jefferson counties. After graduating from Punxsutawney Area High School in 2017 he pursued a Bachelors of Agribusiness Management at Penn State University. In 2021 he graduated with his B.S. of Agribusiness Management and Minor in Entrepreneurship and Innovation from Penn State. Currently JohnMark works as a Field and Forage Crop Educator with Penn State Extension and assists on his family’s farm in the evenings and on weekends. He also has is a part owner of a beef cattle operation with his brother and a friend, Triple J Cattle Company. He joined Farm Bureau as an opportunity to continue to connect and grow within the ag community as well as fostering the continuation of this way of life. He someday hopes to enter a full time manager role with his family farm.

District 14

Jeremiah Pfadt
814-920-3376 | Email
Crawford, Erie, Warren

I’m Jeremiah Pfadt, I’m from North East, PA in Erie County. I grew up on a family-owned century farm, farming grapes and cattle. Since I was in high school, I have worked on other farms in the dairy, beef, and grape industries learning a variety of different farming techniques and skills. After attending the New Castle School of Trades in 2016, I worked on a custom harvesting crew in the mid-west learning about grain farming and harvesting. I recently got appointed to the District 14 Young Ag Professionals State Committee, where I plan on connecting with many like-minded people to help shape and mold the future of farming in Pennsylvania.

District 15

Jackie Thompson
724-944-7719 | Email
Beaver/Lawrence, Butler, Mercer

Jackie grew up on her family’s dairy and hog farm in Lawrence County. She was active in the Junior Livestock programs growing up showing multiple species, and continues to remain active by selling show pigs, judging, and coaching kids with their projects. Jackie graduated from Penn State with a degree in Animal Science, Business Management. She currently is the chief of staff for her State Representative and works on her farm.

District 16

Caroline McChesney
724-454-9293 | Email
Fayette, Greene, Washington, Westmoreland

Hello, my name is Caroline McChesney. I’m honored to serve as the District 16 YAP chair, representing Allegheny, Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties.  Agriculture has always been a passion and has had a heavy impact on my life. From a young age, starting as early as 8 years old, I’ve been around Farm Bureau. Growing up, I was involved in 4-H and FFA, showing Beef Cattle, Lambs, and Pigs.

I’m an 8^th generation farmer on the original 100+ acre farm based in Derry Township, Westmoreland County. Over the generations, my family has produced nearly every commodity with a perseverance for the farm to continue to the next generation. Currently, McChesney Farms is a cow/calf to finish, direct to consumer sales beef operation.