Harford County Public Schools has announced the achievements of its Future Farmers of America students.

North Harford High School students competed and excelled at the 2025 Maryland Future Farmers of America State Spring Judging Competition in early April, according to HCPS.

In addition, several HCPS students earned the prestigious Gift of Blue recognition.

The Gift of Blue Program is an initiative through FFA that allows teachers to nominate active and deserving FFA members to receive an official FFA jacket and tie/scarf free of charge, according to HCPS. Each chapter contributes $20 per student, while the Maryland FFA Alumni Association covers the remaining cost. The FFA blue jacket is a vital part of the official FFA dress, worn at banquets, community events and competitions.

This year, the following students were awarded the Gift of Blue:

  • Harford Technical High School: Abbie Brodeur, Rebekah Layton and Olivia Melvern
  • North Harford High School: Lucy Heisey, Blakely Jackanicz and Jack Miklos

Additionally, three more students were recognized with the Gift of Blue during North Harford High School’s annual FFA banquet on April 29: Emilie Coogan, Bonnie Parker and Shane Whaley.

On April 5, students competed in the Maryland Future Farmers of America Spring Judging, according to HCPS. The competition was held at the Carroll County Career & Technology Center and the Carroll County Agriculture Center in Westminster.

The following is a list of the event results and the participating students’ names and placements:

Floriculture: North Harford’s team placed first in the state and will advance to the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis in October. Participants included Ryan Layman (3rd place), Jonathan VanBuskirk (7th place), Harley Weisman (19th place) and Bryn Cespedes (29th place).

Food Science: North Harford’s team placed first in the state and will also advance to compete at the National FFA Convention. Participants included Blakely Jackanicz (1st place), Sophie Reinert (6th place), Grayson Whaley (7th place), Miranda Buettner (9th place) and Lucy Heisey (12th place).

Nursery/Landscape: North Harford’s team placed second and will travel to The Big E in Springfield, Massachusetts in September to compete against teams from 11 other states. Participants included Samantha Hawk (1st place), Aunaleigha Walker (2nd place), Nina Field (3rd place), Emilie Coogan (7th place), Jack Miklos (8th place) and Waverly Iriarte (14th place).

Farm Business Management: North Harford’s team placed second and will also compete at The Big E in Springfield, Massachusetts. Participants included Emily Troyer (3rd place), Kelly Gale (5th place), Madison Thomas (10th place) and Georgia Clisham (15th place).

Veterinary Science: North Harford’s team placed second and earned a trip to The Big E. Participants included Jayden Holliday (11th place), Allyson Knott (14th place), Lyla Deckman (18th place) and Erin McGovern (20th place).

The Big E, also known as the Eastern States Exposition, is an annual event held in Springfield, Massachusetts, that brings together the best of agriculture, entertainment and culture from 11 northeastern states, according to HCPS. It is the largest agricultural fair in the northeastern United States and serves as a venue for FFA teams to showcase their skills and compete on a regional level.

Sean Bulson, superintendent of HCPS, expressed his pride in the students’ achievements:

“The dedication, passion, and teamwork displayed by our students in the Maryland FFA State Spring Judging Competition exemplifies the spirit of excellence that is a hallmark of our agricultural programs. We are incredibly proud of their success and look forward to watching them represent Harford County on both the national and regional stages.”

Harford Community College’s Office of Communications receives NCMPR Paragon Award

The National Council for Marketing and Public Relations recently announced that Harford Community College’s Office of Communications won a 2024 NCMPR Paragon Award.

Award winners were announced at the NCMPR national conference that was recently held in New Orleans, according to HCC. Harford’s communications team received a bronze Paragon Award for TV/Video Advertisement.

NCMPR’s prestigious Paragon Awards recognize outstanding achievement in design and communication at community and technical colleges, according to HCC. This national competition is the only one of its kind to honor excellence exclusively among marketing and public relations professionals at two-year colleges.

Winning entries from large and small colleges across the country and Canada demonstrated creativity and originality that set them apart in this year’s competition.