Scholarships Awarded to Missouri Youth in Agriculture

(SEDALIA, Mo.) – Thirty-one Missouri high school seniors planning to enter the halls of higher education this fall will do so with scholarship funds generously provided by supporters of Youth in Agriculture at the 2007 Missouri State Fair. The scholarship recipients received certificates of recognition at a banquet held on Saturday, January 26, at the annual convention of the Missouri Association of Fairs and Festivals (MAFF).

A portion of the funds raised from the Missouri State Fair’s sale of champion livestock is set aside each year to support students beginning agriculture curriculums at Missouri institutions of higher learning. 4-H and FFA scholarship candidates were evaluated in a variety of areas including their Missouri State Fair participation, grade point average, leadership roles, and community involvement. One $2,500 “Supreme Scholarship” and thirty $1,000 scholarships were awarded.

Barbara Anderson of Ash Grove was awarded the “Supreme Scholarship.” Recipients of $1,000 scholarships were Kellie Alexander of Linneus, Eric Allen of Marceline, Ellen Amos of Russellville, Jaryn Black of Chillicothe, Renee Brammer of Tina, Trent Braungardt of Moscow Mills, Tiffany Craig of Norborne, Wesley Delaney of Gower, Jana Haley of Eldon, James Hart of Princeton, Anna James of Paris, Evan Kempker of Jefferson City, Jared Main of Bucklin, Callie Mawson of Archie, Cody Meyer of Rosebud, and Jake Montemayor of Lincoln.

Also, receiving $1,000 scholarships were Amanda Niemeyer of Bowling Green, Jonathan Oram of Gilman City, Austin Rash of Macon, Tyler Ray of Hallsville, Kayley Reedy of Windsor, Cayanne Schlueter of Carrollton, Cody Smith of West Plains, Matthew Snook of Mexico, Brandon Solomon of Bucklin, Megan Westerhold of Rich Hill, Megan Westhoff of Memphis, Andrew White of Warrensburg, Kelsey Wilt of Shelbina and Cary Yates of Monroe City.

Members of the Missouri State Fair Commission and staff, Youth In Agriculture committee members, as well as professional fair vendors and representatives from county fairs across the state, were on hand to congratulate the recipients as they were honored during the MAFF convention held at Lake of the Ozarks January 25 to 27.

Wayne Yokley, Chairman of the Missouri State Fair Youth in Agriculture Committee, said, “It’s a proud tradition at the Missouri State Fair to be able to provide scholarships for Missouri’s next generation in agriculture. It is because of the buyers at the 2007 Sale of Champions and the Youth in Agriculture sponsors that today we are honoring thirty-one young people for their dedication to Missouri’s agricultural industry. We thank each member of the committee, each person, and each business who had a hand in making these funds available.”

Over 285 scholarships have been awarded since 1992, according to Yokley, totaling more than $200,000; and representing 80 percent of the counties in Missouri.