10-24-05
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SC Farm Bureau Awards Five Scholarships at SC State Fair

Three York County students received college scholarships as winners of livestock competitions held recently during the South Carolina State Fair.

Emily Nance, the daughter of Bill and Jane Nance of McConnells, won a $2,000 scholarship in the South Carolina Farm Bureau Junior Dairy Competition.

Kathryn Lea Keller, the daughter of Brian and Naomi Keller of York, won a $1,000 scholarship in the South Carolina Farm Bureau Junior Wether Goat Competition. She is currently a sophomore at Clemson University majoring in Agricultural Education.

Samuel Hall, the son of Bob and Susan Hall of York, won a $2,500 scholarship in the South Carolina Farm Bureau Junior Beef Competition. He plans to attend Clemson University and major in Agricultural Mechanization.

SC Farm Bureau, in partnership with the SC State Fair, presented a total of $9,500 in agricultural scholarships to five livestock competition winners during the 2005 State Fair held October 6-16.

Other scholarship winners included Keri Perdue of Patrick, a $1,500 scholarship in the Junior Swine Competition, and Matthew Davidson of Duncan, a $2,500 scholarship in the Junior Beef Competition.

SCFB President David Winkles said that the purpose of the scholarship program was to prepare young people to become part of the leadership in agriculture--which is a key industry in South Carolina.

“As a non-profit organization, the SC Farm Bureau Federation continually looks for ways to promote agriculture and at the same time support educational opportunities for young people," he added.

State Fair Manager Gary Goodman agreed, “This is a great example of a partnership between organizations with similar interests and missions. I can think of no better relationship to support our state’s young people as they show their livestock and provide educational scholarships to the winners.”

To be eligible for the scholarships, participants had to be South Carolina youth in grades 10-12, or presently enrolled in a SC college/university four-year program, who had not passed their 20th birthday as of the date of the show.

Entrants competed for the scholarships by entering their livestock in the appropriate competition and submitting a scholarship application. Entry forms and scholarship applications for the 2006 SC State Fair Livestock Competition will be available on-line at www.scstatefair.org beginning July 1, 2006.

Photo Cutlines:

Pictured with Emily Nance is Rick Doran, dairy farmer from Newberry County and a member of the South Carolina Farm Bureau Dairy Advisory Committee.

Pictured with Kathryn Lea Keller is Frances Price of Lexington County, Chair of the South Carolina Farm Bureau State Women’s Committee.

Pictured with Samuel Hall is Kevin Yon, beef farmer from Saluda County and the Chair of the South Carolina Farm Bureau Beef Advisory Committee.

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