Ag Journeys
Kayley (Kay) Henninger
Pronouns: she/they
Hometown: Kutztown/Fleetwood, PA
Major: Forest Ecosystem Management (FOREM)
Minor: Wildlife and Fisheries Science
Clubs: Penn State Cycling Club, Penn State Outing Club
Good at: Styling outfits, ripping up green trails (MTB), singing and dancing anywhere, listening to live music, taking photos, and teaching myself guitar.
FOREM in my peripherals.
“I started in another major. My first-year roommate (shout out Lauren) was in a bio-based major and I often peered over her shoulder while she studied. One day, I joined her for a tour of the greenhouses. It was there we found a stack of ‘free, take me’ books. One was titled Forest Ecosystems. For weeks, it sat on my desk, occupying the corners of my eyes. Its presence was enough to put a tree worm in my brain. Soon after, I transferred to FOREM.”
Forestry felt like coming home.
“My family is incredible. They brought me up with hefty doses of adventure and education. I grew up camping, playing in mud, looking at bugs, climbing trees, calling to birds, and feeling the breeze. I am forever grateful to be so supported and loved. Whether I’m in the classroom or out in the field, I’ve found many places to call home with the people I meet and in the environments I inhabit. I’m constantly witnessing the world fold out in front of me. It’s a privilege.”
“I’m learning to strengthen my identity.”
Trust your instincts.
“One of my favorite courses has been FOR 203 (Field Dendrology) with Dr. Eric Burkhart, the living definition of a hippie genius professor.
‘Get to know the trees. Find the Tree Zen. You must be willing to be a little crazy. You must be present and observant and trust yourself.’
As much as my education has been about the art and science of forestry, it has been about learning to trust my instincts, and my instincts happen to fit well into this area of study.”
Not a career. Careers.
“I see myself doing a few years in a role like firefighting; a few years of management and education, either in government or other organizational settings; and later work in the policy/advocacy realm. I don’t have it exactly mapped out, but the options after graduation are widespread and thrilling.”
House shows.
“Bands come in from all over the world to play in houses around State College. I have fallen in love with music forms I never even knew existed. House shows provide a safe place for expression, forming a uniquely queer and diverse community of music-minded people. I’ll spend an hour putting together an outfit, choosing how I want to present that night—later embracing my confidence in the mosh, or by tanking it near the bass amp—wear hearing protection, kids!”
Listen to your heart. It knows what it’s talking about.
“If your heart says you belong outdoors, if you look to the swaying of the branches and feel their embrace, if you want a community of amazing people and a college experience you’ll want to revisit often and remember fondly—this is the major for you.”
Diversity is everything.
“Ecosystems thrive on robust and healthy diversity; it makes them stronger. People might think of forests as just groups of trees, but there are inputs from millions of species across all the living kingdoms. Every little thing has an impact in some way or another, and it just blows me away. I try and think of it as one big organism. I’m reminded that the things I choose to do are bigger than myself and matter a lot. This fundamental idea has been burned into me repeatedly. At Penn State, we are this entirely unique organism made up of a bustling community, one I’m proud to be supported by and a part of.”
