Down in Harrisburg, a local Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapter got to show off their landscape design skills, with a hometown cafe inspiring victory.

The Northeast Bradford FFA submitted two chapter projects this year, both of which won awards.

“We live very close to Towanda PA, which is a home to Shore Sisters, which is a café, bakery," said Anna Towner, a high school senior and member of Northeast Bradford FFA.

The chapter's landscape design entry took home an award for 'Best Exhibit Theme Statement', because of the Shore Sisters link.

“It’s basically a place where everyone is super welcome and able to go to to gather, and hang out, get good food," said Towner. "and its very homey and a welcoming place so we wanted to incorporate that by using them as our inspiration.”

Chapter members in the agriculture design class worked on the project all year.

“We worked on anything from assembling to painting these boards, getting a handgun, screwing them in, anything like that," said Brooke Calkins, another senior member. "So worked together to really bring this to life.” 

“Their building is white, and kind of has that farmhouse, autumn, welcoming feel," described Towner.

Both of the seniors felt their last year of FFA was well spent. 

"It turns out I have loved every second of it," said Towner. "And I have learned to actually be good at something.” 

“This is my last [year], where I will be receiving my Keystone. So, it is a bittersweet ending to my FFA career, but definitely a nice thing to end it with this beautiful display," said Calkins.

Both girls said they are not planning to go into design, but will use the skills they learned like team work and organization in the careers that they do chase down.