Posted: April 11, 2025
Penn State's Block and Bridle Club received recognition at the 104th National Block and Bridle Convention held in Ames, Iowa, April 3-5, hosted by Iowa State University.
Penn Staters who attended the national Block and Bridle Convention, from left: Tehya Hall,Butler, PA; Caleb Antram, Somerset, PA,; Mackenzie Jani, Boyertown, PA; Advisor Morgan Brumbaugh, James Creek, PA.
They placed first in three categories: chapter activities, webpage, and scrapbook. This followed strong first place showings in 2024 for webpage and activities. They were also recognized this year with third place in the yearbook category.
Three students represented Penn State at the convention, joining students from 24 Block and Bridle chapters across the country. They included: Tehya Hall, Butler, PA; Caleb Antram, Somerset, PA; Mackenzie Jani, Boyertown, PA. They were accompanied by Club Advisor Morgan Brumbaugh, James Creek, PA.
Brumbaugh, beef and sheep assistant manager, said, "These recognitions affirm the hard work and dedication that our students have for the block and bridle club and demonstrates their desire for excellence. They are leaders throughout the College, and we appreciate their efforts." Other club advisers are Dr. Dan Kniffen, assistant professor of animal science, and Austin Brown, small ruminant extension associate.
Caleb Antram said, "The opportunity to travel and see agriculture in Iowa is an added bonus to our education and allowed us to see where our work in the classroom can take us. National Convention allows us to make friends and connections all across the US with future leaders and industry pioneers. The plethora of awards we received show the dedication and effort our members put into our club year after year and allow our members to be recognized and rewarded for their hard work at the national level."
During the convention, students participated in a variety of industry tours, with one group visiting Sukup Manufacturing, Grand View Beef, and Nichols Cyro Genetics. Another group visited The Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Eggers Show Pigs, and Weise and Sons Hereford cattle, and the third group visited Manchester Fish Hatchery, Snow Rock Dairies, and Westwood Embryos.
An important part of the convention was the opportunity to attend multiple educational sessions led by industry professionals and provide time for networking. A wide range of timely topics were presented, including Precision Agricultural Research, FADs and Animal Health, advancements in reproductive technologies, and sustainability in agriculture, among others. The group also heard from Trent Loos, a sixth-generation farmer who works to advocate for the agricultural industry.
The National Block and Bridle Club is a collegiate organization with 92 chapters across the United States with the purpose of promoting animal agriculture and developing professional and leadership skills in members.
The trip was made possible with partial funding provided by the Office of Undergraduate Education and the College of Agricultural Sciences.
