UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Growing up in an urban area near Pittsburgh, Martha Pangburn had few interactions with those working in agriculture.
"There aren't many farms where I live, so I never thought much about agriculture or farming," said the Quaker Valley High School senior. "Actually, I believed stereotypes like it's a simple, not-very-exciting way of life."
Her interest in nutrition and food science as a college major and future career led her to take part in the Pennsylvania School for Excellence in the Agricultural Sciences at Penn State this summer, where she gained a new perspective and admiration for agriculture.
"This school defied the stereotypes and opened my eyes," she said. "I never realized the different aspects of agriculture, how much it affects our lives, and the level of science, research and technology that is involved."
Pangburn was one of 34 students who were enlightened about agriculture during the four-week residential program, which provides academically talented rising high school seniors an opportunity to explore the agricultural and natural-resource sciences and life on a college campus.
Participants also are encouraged to look beyond borders and come up with solutions to global problems such as malnutrition, social injustice and water scarcity, according to Jenneth Layaou, director of campus enrollment and retention for Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, who oversees the program.
"Since we began hosting this program in 1986, it never fails to amaze me how much the students evolve as students and scientists during the few weeks they are with us," she said. "Even more incredible is how these students make their mark on the world. Like those before them, this year's students are destined to make important contributions to society."
During their time on campus, students took part in classes, hands-on activities and service projects led by faculty and staff. Topics included global agriculture, environmental and natural-resource systems, animal science, food science, and plants and people.
Many times the lessons extended beyond the walls of a classroom. For example, the students tracked wildlife using radio telemetry and studied plants during visits to The Arboretum at Penn State; they learned about agriculture then and now at the Pasto Agricultural Museum; and they went mushroom hunting at the University's Mushroom Research Center.
They also toured Penn State's Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center at Rock Springs, in Ferguson Township, Centre County, where they gained valuable insights into research involving cover crops, weed management, soil fertility, crop variety trials, pest-management strategies and plant disease, among other topics.
A trip to Stone Valley Recreation Center in Huntingdon County to study water quality, stream structure and amphibians was a highlight for Ellone Falvo of Hickory High School in Mercer County, who wants to study plant science or forest ecosystem science at Penn State.
Second on her list was a presentation about genetically modified organisms.
"I always thought that GMOs were bad because of food labels that say 'GMO-Free,'" she said. "But I learned that they aren't bad and a lot of it is crossbreeding plants to grow better and stronger plants."
Her father, Richard, followed the school's Facebook page and enjoyed seeing how much fun his daughter was having.
"It was a good experience for her, being on campus and learning what agriculture has to offer," he said. "Plus, it helped her become more independent."