By Blake Jackson
U.S. Representative Glenn “GT” Thompson, chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, received the 2024 Leadership Award from the Penn State Ag Council during its fall meeting in State College. The awards also recognized Pennsylvania in the Balance initiative and undergraduate student Jessica Herr.
Marc Lewis, council president, emphasized the awards' importance in honoring individuals and initiatives that significantly impact Pennsylvania's agricultural landscape.
Each recipient was presented with a Penn State Nittany Lion statuette and their names were engraved on a permanent display at the University Park campus.
Thompson, a lifelong resident of Howard, represents Pennsylvania’s 15th District. Before his election to the largest geographical congressional district in Pennsylvania, he dedicated 28 years to roles such as a therapist, rehabilitation services manager, and licensed nursing home administrator.
An Eagle Scout and a member of the Juniata Valley Boy Scout Council for over 30 years, Thompson has actively supported youth through various leadership roles, including scoutmaster and council president.
In 2012, he received the National Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, a prestigious honor awarded to only 2,000 individuals since 1969.
For more than a decade, Thompson has served as co-chairman of the bipartisan Congressional Career and Technical Education Caucus. He introduced the Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act during the 115th Congress, which passed unanimously and was signed into law by former President Donald Trump.
Thompson is a staunch advocate for agriculture and natural resource management, demonstrating strong support for the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences. “He is in a unique position to use his expertise and knowledge to improve American citizens’ lives by addressing the issues facing agriculture, rural businesses, communities and families,” Lewis noted.
Pennsylvania in the Balance initiative was honored with the 2024 Leadership in Action Award for its collaborative approach among agricultural and environmental stakeholders.
Since 2008, these conferences have successfully united diverse stakeholders to find solutions for a thriving agricultural industry while achieving water quality goals for Pennsylvania’s rivers and streams.
The 2024 Youth Leadership Award was given to Jessica Herr from Lancaster County, a Penn State undergraduate majoring in agricultural science with a leadership development minor. Lewis remarked, “Jessica is the vision of what our youth leadership award was created to celebrate serving as a role model, mentor, diplomat and inspiration.”
Photo Credit: PennState College of Agricultural Sciences
Categories: Pennsylvania, Education, General