Summary:
The N.C. State Fair Junior Livestock Sale of Champions each year raises money for show winners, but also for junior livestock show participants through scholarships. Since this program started in 2015, nearly $400,000 in scholarships have been awarded to young people who have participated in the junior livestock shows.
- I was recently able to recognize some of our 2022 N.C. State Fair Junior Livestock Scholarship recipients at the Got to Be NC Festival.
- They joined me for the daily tractor parade and a short program recognizing their accomplishments.
- This year we were able to award $57,000 in scholarship money to 28 junior livestock show participants. There were 26 $2,000 scholarships from a percentage of the bids made during the 2021 Junior Livestock Sale of Champions.
- There were also two $2,500 scholarships that were sponsored by Farm Credit Associations of North Carolina.
- Since this program started in 2015, we have awarded nearly $400,000 in scholarships funds to youth to assist them and their moms and dads with their higher education expenses.
- I hope many of these students choose to pursue careers in agriculture or a career that helps support agriculture.
- Regardless of their choices, I hope every student continues to be an ambassador for agriculture by preparing themselves to be future thought leaders and change makers for agriculture. And by helping people outside of agriculture understand where their food comes from and why farmers should he revered and celebrated.
- I am incredibly proud of our youth livestock shows at the State Fair and all of the hard work these young people invest in caring for and preparing an animal for the show ring.
- These experiences help teach them responsibility and instill a strong work ethic – qualities that will serve them well throughout life in whatever career they pursue.
- I was impressed by the list of schools that students are attending, including many schools in state with strong agricultural programs such as my alma mater N.C. State University and the University of Mount Olive. Plus, others around the country such as Texas Tech University and Oklahoma University.
- I was pleased to meet with these scholarship recipients during the Got to Be NC Festival. They are bright and hardworking young people and they are just one of many reasons why I believe agriculture has a strong future ahead.
- Congratulations to all of the 2022 scholarship recipients. Study hard and I know you will do great things.
- You can find a list of scholarship recipients on our homepage at www.ncagr.gov.