Young Ag Professionals State Committee

Please note: home county is italicized.

District 1

Zach Jones
570.267.8239 | Email
Susquehanna, Wayne/Pike, Wyoming/Lackawanna

I’m a 5th generation family member here ar Robinson Family Farm in South Canaan in Wayne County.  Robinson Family Farm is a diversified vegetable and beef operation. I work for the county conservation district as the nutrient management specialist and I’m also a farrier. I did not grow up on the farm and I didn’t start in agriculture until I was in high-school. Since then I have been learning as much as I can particularly in soil health. I got started in Farm Bureau in 2017 and joined the county board and then a spot on the state YAP committee. One of my favorite things in farm bureau is the professional development and the people I get to meet. I’ve met some of the greatest people through this organization and I can’t wait to meet more!

District 2

Matt La Brie
Bucks, Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton

I’m a part-time employee at Evergreen Farm in Lehigh County. Evergreen Farm is a family-owned cash crop and beef operation. I’m currently studying Mechanical Engineering at Penn State University. I was not raised on a farm but have enjoyed learning and working on the farm since high school. Since I started, I have tried to get as many people out to see and help in the process of growing and harvesting crops. I got started in Farm Bureau in 2020 and joined the county board and the state YAP committee. One of my favorite things about the Farm Bureau is all the different experiences and creating connections with other farmers. I’ve learned so much about agriculture and can’t wait to learn more!

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

Lauryn Watkins
570-971-6686 | Email
Centre, Clinton, Lycoming

District 7

Vacant
Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, Union

District 8

Kaleb Long, Committee Chair
717-629-0078 | Email
Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, York

Hi. I’m Kaleb Long. I was born and raised in Lancaster County. I was active in FFA, and 4-H, growing up. I attended Penn Manor School District, where I graduated in 2011. I then attended Delaware Valley University and received a B.S. in Ag Business. Growing up, I worked for many farmers in Manor township. I mainly helped with baling hay and straw, and in the tobacco fields. I am currently employed full time as a Crop Consultant for Nutrien Ag Solutions, and I run Conestoga Oneega Farms which is a swine breeding operation with my parents. I’ve been serving on the Lancaster County Farm Bureau Board since 2017 and have been the District 8 YAP committee member since November 2020.

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

Ally Fisher
Bedford, Blair, Somerset

Hey everyone my name is Ally Fisher from Bedford County! I am the newly appointed district 11 representative for Pennsylvania Young Ag Professional. I have raised dairy goats with my parents on our family farm, Massey Hollow Farm for the past 12 years. We also raise beef cattle, and meat rabbits, along with hay and other crops. I was very active in 4-H and FFA and have held many of offices in both organizations, have shown many different species and have learned alot through them. I still stay active throughout agriculture by showing dairy goats, helping my parents on the family farm, and by being apart of the PA Farm Bureau and my County farm bureau by serving as our county secretary. I am so excited to see what this organization has in store for me and I can’t wait to learn more!!

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

Zach & Brittany Speer, Promotions Chair
Email
Beaver/Lawrence, Butler, Mercer

Zach and Brittany Speer are co-chairs of District 15 and the YAP Butler County.  Zach was raised on his family’s dairy farm in northern Butler County. Brittany was raised on her family’s cash crop farm in southern Butler County. Zach currently works full time at Brittany’s family farm: Har-Lo Farms Inc. Brittany is involved with the family farm by providing marketing advice and maintaining social media platforms for the farm. Brittany works full time off of the farm but helps during the harvest season. Brittany & Zach are known for their micro pig Miles who lives in their house.  In the future Zach hopes to own his own herd of long horn cattle.  Zach and Brittany share the same values and love of agriculture.   They will pass their agriculture passion and values to their future generations as well as anyone else.

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.