The Beta Sisters
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Sierra Weaver
Sister Sierra Weaver is a junior studying agricultural science, with minors in poultry and avian science, food systems, and agribusiness management. She is currently one of the four live-in students at the poultry education and research center on campus. Originally, Sierra is from Dover, PA, where her family owns a horse boarding facility. On campus, she is President of the Poultry Science Club, Secretary of the Beta Sisterhood, and an active member of Block and Bridle.
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Olivia Kaltenbach
Olivia Kaltenbach is a junior majoring in Animal Science, looking into the Equine Science minor from Eastbrook, PA. On campus, she works with horses of all ages at the Penn State Horse Barns, and she also works in the Ag Administration offices. When not at school, Liv travels PA and OH in search of rodeos where her main events are goat tying, barrel racing, and pole bending. In the future, Liv plans to dive deeper into equine genetics or nutrition and travel as much as possible to explore job opportunities.
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Cheyenne Bastian-Brown
Cheyenne Bastian-Brown is a junior majoring in Agricultural and Extension Education with a minor in International Agriculture. She is the current President of the Sisterhood. Cheyenne grew up in a small village called Ralston, Pennsylvania where she raised rabbits. On campus, she is involved with The PSU FFA Alumni and Supporters as President, University Park Undergraduate Association as the College of Agricultural Sciences Representatives, Ag Advocates, Teach Ag! Avengers, Dairy Science Club, serves as the 2024 Pennsylvania State Honey Queen, and works at Suzanne Meyers Performance Training. In her free time, she loves to work with her sheep and watch the Gilmore Girls. In the future, Cheyenne plans to become a secondary educator in her hometown after graduation and hopes to one day serve at the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.
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Rylee LeValley
Rylee LeValley is a junior majoring in Early Childhood Education with a minor in psychology from Stillwater, Pennsylvania. She is currently the treasurer of the Beta Sisters in the house. Rylee intends to graduate in the spring of 2025 and become an elementary school teacher after graduation. Over the summer, Rylee interned and worked at a daycare/preschool in her hometown. Through the house Rylee hopes to learn and understand more about agriculture
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Erika Dammeyer
Erika Dammeyer is a sophomore majoring in Agricultural Business and Management. She is from Orange County NY and Wayne County PA. She currently holds a position as assistant rush chair. On campus she is involved in the Dairy Science club where she currently serves as their ag student council representative.
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Abby Kniss
Abby Kniss is a junior majoring in Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences. She grew up on a small farm in Thomas Mill, PA. She is the current chaplain and clay shoot assistant chair. On campus she is involved with the Pre-Vet Club, Meat Science Club, Poultry Science Club, and Project Paws. After graduation she plans on attending vet school obtain her DVM in mixed animal medicine with a focus in large animals.
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Jessica Fleisher
Jessica Fleisher grew up on a dairy farm in Newport, PA. She was active in 4h, FFA, county and state Jr. Holstein Association, and Perry County Dairy Promotion. She has held multiple leadership roles in these organizations. Currently, she is a Sophomore majoring in Animal Science, business option. In her time at Penn State, Jess has been involved with Dairy Science Club, PSU FFA Alumni and Supporters, Ag Student Council, the Beta Sisters, and works at the PSU dairy barn. She currently holds the positions of Cheesebox chair for Dairy Science Club, Social Chair for FFA Alumni and Supporters, and Secretary for Ag Student Council.
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Erica Teagarden
Erica Teagarden is a sophomore majoring in Agricultural and Extension Education with minors in Horticulture and International Agriculture. On campus, she is involved in the PSU FFA Alumni and Supporters Chapter, a Teach Ag! Avenger, and an Ag Advocate. In the Sisterhood, her positions are Homecoming Chair and Co-THON Chair. She is from Claysville, Pennsylvania and grew up being actively involved in both 4-H and FFA and currently holds the title of Washington County Fair Queen and is a Pennsylvania Farm Show Junior Committee member. Erica grew up on a small farm raising market animals to show and sell at the fair. Her time spent on her family’s farm sparked her interest in the agricultural industry and fueled her passion for wanting to educate others about the industry.
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Keli Brown
Keli Brown is a sophomore majoring in Agribusiness Management with a minor in Agronomy. She is the current Assistant Treasurer of the Sisterhood. Keli grew up in a small village called Klingerstown, Pennsylvania where she lives on a fourth generation dairy-beef farm. On campus, she is involved with The PSU FFA Alumni and Supporters and Dairy Science Club. In the future, Keli plans to work for the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) in her home county after graduation.
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Kira Maurer
Kira Maurer, is a sophomore majoring in Animal Science, with a minor in Equine Science. Activities at Penn State include working at the PennState Quarter Horse Farm, along with being apart of the Penn State Western Equestrian Team. Kira is from Dalmatia, Pennsylvania, where her family owns a Christmas tree farm, along with an Angus cow calf operation.
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Stella Swanson
Stella is a Sophomore studying Biomedical Engineering from Hookstown, PA. She serves as the social chair for the Beta sisters. On campus she is involved in the Women in Engineering Program as an advisor and is on the executive board of the Penn State Equine Research Team. For the Equine Research Team she is the ag student council representative.
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Rachel Carr
Rachel Carr is a junior majoring in Supply Chain Management and minoring in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. She is from Damascus, Maryland. She serves as the Sister Trip Chair for the Beta Sisters. On campus, she’s involved in the Supply Chain Management Association and the Management and Information Systems Association. In her free time, she enjoys riding her four-wheeler, playing guitar, running, and going to concerts.
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Abigail Bemisderfer
Abigail Bemisderfer is a sophomore studying Animal Science, with plans to minor in Poultry Science. Abby lives on a beef cattle farm in south central PA, where she raises cow/calf pairs of her own. On campus, she works for Farm Operations and Services and is also a member of the Poultry Science Club. In the future, Abby plans to work in the poultry industry.
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Keona Dyer
Keona Dyer is a Sophomore studying Animal Science with plans to go pre-vet. She is currently serving as the Co-Rush and Thon Family Relations Chair. Keona lives on a small farm in Schuylkill Haven PA, where she has dogs, cats, and horses. On campus, she is involved in the Pre-Vet Club hoping to go to vet school in the future with a focus on large animals.
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Ella Smith
Ella Smith is a sophomore majoring in Animal Science with the intention of minoring in Equine Science and going the pre-vet route. She currently serves as the co-treasurer and ag student council representative. She is from Eastern Lebanon County, PA and works at a tack shop over summer. On campus, she is a member of Pre-vet club, PSU FFA Alumni and Supporters, and several horse clubs including the Penn State horse judging team. Aside from school she enjoys competing in hunter/jumper shows with her horse and going line dancing. In the future, Ella plans on attending vet school to become a large animal/ equine veterinarian.