Three Jersey youth from North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia have been named winners of a Reuben R. Cowles Youth Educational Award for 2013.
Recipients of the $1,000 awards were Josh Hannah, Cleveland, Tenn.; Olivia Pearson, Lincolnton, N.C.; and Caroline Warns, Keezletown, Va. Presentations were made November 9 at the annual Junior Banquet held during The All American Jersey Shows and Sales in Louisville, Ky.
Josh Hannah graduated from Cleveland State Community College in May, and is currently working at the Southeastern Farmers Co-op and on Hannah Brothers Dairy. He is planning to resume his college work at the University of Tennessee, with a long-range goal of becoming an ag teacher. Josh ranked ninth in the 2012 National Jersey Youth Achievement Contest, recognizing accomplishments in developing a herd of 40 Jerseys and leadership in the Tennessee Junior Jersey Cattle Club. He has also been coach for youth dairy cattle and nursery-landscaping judging teams.
Olivia Pearson is a sophomore at North Carolina State University, pursuing a double major in animal and food science. Through her 4-H and FFA work, she has earned state and national awards in the show ring, particularly in fitting and showing competitions. She was selected to participate in the third Jersey Youth Award this past July. At NCSU, she is the dairy species chair of the Animal Science Club and was recently named a College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Ambassador. Her goals are return to the family farm and set up a facility for on-farm processing of cheese and ice cream.
Caroline Warns is a sophomore majoring in agricultural science at Virginia Tech. She served as president of the Spotswood FFA and ranked second in the state dairy production proficiency contest. She has earned numerous top 10 rankings over the last four years as an individual and team member in dairy judging, cattle working, and dairy knowledge contests, including the Virginia Junior Dairymen’s Contest. She was recently an intern at WHSV, Harrisonburg, helping produce a weekly show for RFD-TV. Caroline is currently a youth member of the National 4-H Dairy Conference planning committee and
The Cowles Youth Educational Awards honor the example and dedication to the Jersey breed of Reuben R. Cowles, two-term director of The American Jersey Cattle Club and recipient of the Distinguished Service Award in 1977. A lifelong Jersey breeder and community leader in Statesville, N.C., he helped launch the All-Jersey® milk marketing program, which increased demand for Jersey cattle across the southeastern U.S. Mr. Cowles was particularly known for the assistance and encouragement he gave to young Jersey dairy farmers, many of whom he helped establish in the dairy business.
The Cowles Educational Fund is a permanent endowment administered by the American Jersey Cattle Association. Contributions are recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as 501(c)(3) tax deductible charitable gifts and may be made at any time during the year. For more information, contact the American Jersey Cattle Association by writing 6486 E. Main Street, Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068-2362, visit USJersey.com, or connect at Facebook.com/USJersey.
