Twenty-one students from five Kansas schools have been awarded the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s Kansas Agriculture Skills and Competencies Certificate.
High schools with students earning certificates include the following from Herington High School – Colten Gehrk, Henry Nelson and Ethan Urbanek.
To earn the certificate, students must complete requirements in classroom instruction, supervised agricultural experience (SAE) and FFA participation. Recipients have demonstrated excellence in agricultural knowledge, career readiness, and leadership development, while maintaining a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher in all school coursework.
“Students earning the 2026 KDA Agriculture Skills and Competencies Certificate represent the best of Kansas agricultural programs. Their achievement reflects years of dedication, leadership, and involvement in agricultural education and FFA activities. These students are well prepared for college, careers, and future success,” said John Clark, the agricultural education teacher at Buhler High School.
“These students are developing the technical skills, work ethic and leadership experience that will strengthen Kansas agriculture,” said Suzanne Ryan-Numrich, KDA marketing director. “No matter what sector of agriculture they pursue careers in, they are helping build the next generation of Kansas’ workforce and ensuring our state remains a leader in agriculture.”
For over 10 years, the certificate has been endorsed by industry organizations and employers across Kansas. Applications for the Kansas Agriculture Skills and Competencies Certificates are accepted each spring. To find more information, visit agriculture.ks.gov/ageducation.