UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Agricultural Council recently lauded the achievements of a founder of a public affairs firm dedicated to agricultural and rural affairs, a communications leader in the College of Agricultural Sciences, a program that promotes careers in agriculture and a Penn State student from Huntingdon.
During its fall meeting in State College, the council presented awards to acknowledge individuals, organizations and events that advance agriculture in Pennsylvania, said Council President Marc Lewis. Winners received a Penn State Nittany Lion statuette and their names engraved on a permanent display on the University Park campus.
The 2023 Leadership Award was given to MeeCee Baker, president and chief executive officer of Versant Strategies, a leading Pennsylvania public affairs firm specializing in agricultural and rural affairs. Lewis said Baker has worked tirelessly to connect Washington, D.C., and Harrisburg decision-makers to producers and landowners for positive results in public policy.
As an educator by training, Baker mentors young people, especially those from challenging home situations, Lewis added.
“From raising funds for the Walter Biddle Saul School in Philadelphia to memorializing a student who was tragically murdered to modernizing how her church conducted a food stand at the local county fair, MeeCee is always willing to support causes close to her heart,” he said.
Baker is a Penn State Alumni Fellow for the College of Agricultural Sciences. She also received the Gold Medal from the Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture and the Jefferson Award from the PennAg Democrats for service to rural Pennsylvania.
She was named third on City & State’s “Pennsylvania Agriculture Power 100” list and one of the “Fifty over 50” by the same group. Additionally, she was recognized as a “Top 30 Lawyers and Lobbyists” by the Central Penn Business Journal, while her firm was recognized in City & State’s “Top 50 Lobbyists.”
Mary Wirth, director of college relations and communications in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, also received a Leadership Award. Wirth, a Penn State alumna, joined the college in 2001.
As part of the dean’s office, the unit she oversees is responsible for managing the college’s relationships and strategic communications with external audiences — with an emphasis on alumni, industry, legislators and prospective students — and encompasses the three mission areas of the college: education, research and Penn State Extension.
Additionally, Wirth is responsible for governmental relations for the college, serves as the executive director of the Penn State Ag Council, and directs the college’s Office of Conferences and Short Courses.
One of Wirth and her team’s most celebrated achievements is a project known as Atlas, which established a historic and comprehensive new business model for Penn State Extension. Created in partnership with extension leadership and launched in 2017, the Atlas digital platform gives clientele access to education when they want it, where they want it and how they want it.
Wirth has received national accolades, including the 2019 Professional Award from the Association for Communication Excellence, the highest honor given by the association.
“It is only fitting to recognize Mary for her leadership of this organization,” Lewis said. “She has strengthened engagement and communication with college stakeholders and customers and enhanced all three mission areas in the college, resulting in the more effective, efficient and strategic use of college resources.”
The 2023 Leadership in Action Award was presented to the Ag and Food Careers in Pennsylvania project, which supports workforce development as part of the Grow PA Agriculture initiative.
“We recognize the exceptional service to Pennsylvania agriculture in building the next generation of ag leadership,” Lewis said.
Through the project, each summer college students work as interns for Horizon Farm Credit, PennAg Industries Association, Pennsylvania Friends of Agriculture Foundation, the Center for Dairy Excellence, Land O’Lakes, Country View Family Farms and Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch.
The students also work on a group project, developing information for the Ag and Food Careers in PA website and reference bureau. To date, interns have created a video library highlighting more than 70 agriculture-focused careers in Pennsylvania. They also developed lesson plans and a series of social media posts designed to educate high school students about careers in agriculture.
Katerina Coffman, a third-year student studying animal science and agribusiness management, received the 2023 Youth Leadership Award. She was one of four college students selected for a summer internship on progressive dairy farms through a partnership with the Dairy Excellence Foundation, PA Dairymen’s Association and the Professional Dairy Managers of Pennsylvania.
Internships included hands-on farm experience as well as student-conducted research projects.
Coffman’s internship focused on working with the herd manager at Brubaker Farms in Mount Joy. Additionally, she conducted an experiment to identify the bacteria causing mastitis on the farm.
Coffman was the State Alternate Dairy Princess in 2020-21. One of her favorite dairy promotion activities was helping Fresh Express, a food delivery program in Huntingdon County. She also was a research fellow with the Pennsylvania House Republican Ag and Rural Affairs Committee during the spring semester.
“Along with taking a full schedule of classes, Katrina works at Penn State’s Dairy Barns, where she milks cows and immerses herself in research,” Lewis said.
The Penn State Ag Council is an independent association of more than 90 organizations representing agricultural or related interests in Pennsylvania. The council advises Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences and advocates for agricultural education and research to legislative policymakers and agricultural leaders.