Twenty-six North Carolina students have been named recipients of 2021 N.C. State Fair Youth Livestock Scholarships, Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler announced.
The scholarships are designed for high school seniors and students currently enrolled in an institute of higher education who have participated in the junior livestock or market turkey shows at the N.C. State Fair.
The scholarships are typically funded by sponsors of the annual N.C. State Fair Junior Livestock Sale of Champions. Sponsors stepped up in 2020 to support the youth scholarships because the sale was not held due to the pandemic. A total of 25 scholarships valued at $1,000 each were awarded this year. One $1,500 scholarship was also offered and paid for by Farm Credit of North Carolina.
“As Agriculture Commissioner, I am proud to help cultivate the future of agriculture in our state through these scholarships,” Troxler said. “We are proud to have awarded over $300,000 in scholarships since starting this program in 2015.”
A selection committee evaluated applicants based on their involvement with N.C. State Fair junior livestock shows, academic achievement, extracurricular activities and an essay. Each application was assigned a number and identifying information was removed before evaluation.
Following is a list of the scholarship recipients by county, along with the university or community college they will attend this fall:
Alamance
-- Madison Sifford, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Caswell
-- Katherine Eastep, Blinn College
Cleveland
-- Rex Howard, N.C. State University
Guilford
-- Lakota Sockwell, N.C. State University
Halifax
Zachary Keeter, N.C. State University
Harnett
-- Mason Blinson, Oklahoma State University
Henderson
-- Haley Hargus, Mars Hill University
Iredell
Emily Holland, UNC Greensboro
Johnston
-- Tanner Bentley, UNC Chapel Hill or N.C. State University
-- Isabell Fricke, N.C. State University
-- Kadence Overby, Oklahoma State University
-- Mary Wood, Oklahoma State University
Lincoln
-- Regan Mitchum, N.C. State University
Randolph
Rylee Schofield, University of Mount Olive
Rowan
Cynthia Connolly, N.C. State University
Stanly
-- Marcie Harward, N.C. State University
-- Mattie Harward, N.C. State University
Stokes
-- Lynae Bowman, Redlands Community College
-- Rachel Brown, University of Florida
-- Allison Hartman, Belmont Abbey or N.C. State University
Swain
-- Abbegail King, Clemson University
Wake
-- Mason Judy, N.C. State University
Wayne
-- Taylor Glover, University of Mount Olive
Wilson
-- Thaddeus Sharp, V, N.C. State University
-- Ethan Thompson, University of Georgia
The $1,500 Farm Credit Premium Scholarship winner was Tristen Fulton of Davidson. He will be attending Iowa State University.
For more information on how you can support the 2021 Junior Livestock Sale of Champions or the scholarship program, contact Neil Bowman, director of N.C. State Fair livestock shows, at neil.bowman@ncagr.gov or 919-270-7094.
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