Seven Jersey youth pursuing degrees in animal, dairy and food science or ag business received scholarships totaling $13,000 presented by American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA) at the annual Junior Banquet, November 9, 2013, in Louisville, Ky. Four recipients were from Wisconsin, with one each from Mississippi, North Carolina, and Washington.
The Russell–Malnati Scholarship for Advanced Studies of $5,000 was awarded to Morgan Randall, Soldiers Grove, Wis. The daughter of Robert and Marla Randall is a junior at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls majoring in animal science with aspirations of becoming a large animal veterinarian. She is the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences representative for the Horticulture Society. Through her involvement in the UWRF pre-vet club, Morgan has volunteered at a therapeutic riding center and participated in equine necropsies. This past summer, she was an animal health consultant intern at Nelson Agri-Center in Viroqua, Wis. She was one of 35 participants selected for the third Jersey Youth Academy, conducted by the AJCA this past July.
Janelle Remington, Juneau, Wis., received the Jack C. Nisbet Memorial Scholarship of $1,500. The daughter of Richard and Gail Remington is a freshman at the University of Wisconsin-Madison majoring in dairy science. She placed eighth in the 2012 National Jersey Youth Achievement Contest. Janelle has served as president of her FFA chapter and is a leader for both the Richwood Rangers and Dodge County 4-H Dairy clubs. In 2012, Janelle showed the Junior All American Senior Heifer Calf and the Reserve Junior All American Junior Yearling Heifer. In 2011, she won senior showmanship at World Dairy Expo and was high individual of the 4-H dairy judging contest at the Pennsylvania All-American Dairy Show. She was also a member of the third class of Jersey Youth Academy.
The $1,500 Bob Toole Jersey Youth Award was presented to Sydney Endres of Lodi, Wis., a freshman at UW-Madison double-majoring in dairy science and life science communications and minoring in Spanish. She was selected for the second class of Jersey Youth Academy (2011) and this year received a National Dairy Shrine/Marshall E. McCullough Scholarship. In the past month, Sydney has competed in the National FFA extemporaneous speaking contest and been selected the 2013 National Jersey Queen. The daughter of David Endres and the late Patricia Endres is a youth representative on the Lodi Community Action Team and a volunteer for the UW Organ and Tissue Donation program.
The V. L. Peterson Scholarship of $1,250 was presented to Jacob T. Leum, Viroqua, Wis., who is studying animal science with an emphasis in dairy at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. The son of Tom and Donna Leum established his herd nearly a decade ago with the purchase of two Jersey heifer calves. Through internal herd growth, his herd today numbers 38 head. He was one of four National FFA Proficiency Award finalists in dairy production-entrepreneurship for 2013. He served as president of his FFA chapter and received the award for Outstanding Chapter Leader three times. Jacob is also president of the Wisconsin Junior Jersey Breeders Association and the junior representative on the Wisconsin State Jersey Show Committee. He was named the Wisconsin Junior Jersey Breeder of the Year in 2013 and attended the third Jersey Youth Academy in July.
Olivia Price Pearson, daughter of daughter of Corey and Bridgette Lutz, Lincolnton, N.C., received the Cedarcrest Scholarship of $1,500. A sophomore at North Carolina State University, Olivia is pursuing a double major in animal science and food science with a minor in agribusiness. Her Jersey accomplishments include showing the Grand Champion of the junior show at the North Carolina State Fair, placing eighth in the 2009 National Jersey Youth Production Contest, and winning senior showmanship at the 2012 All American Junior Show Show. She was selected for the third class of Jersey Youth Academy. Her high school academic record included being named to three national honor societies. At NC State, she belongs to the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, the Sigma Alpha professional sorority and the university’s animal and dairy science clubs. Olivia is the current North Carolina Jersey Queen, and on November 9 In Louisville, Ky., was named to the National Jersey Queen Court.
The William A. Russell Memorial Scholarship of $1,250 went to Jessica Nicole Smith, Picayune, Miss., daughter of Mark and Debbie Smith and a freshman at Pearl River Community College. Active in 4-H and FFA, plus the National Junior Simmental Association, she is the fourth generation to own Registered Jersey™ cattle at Triple S Farms. Jessica served as president of her FFA chapter for three years and earned the state FFA Degree and the Star Farmer award in 2013. She was a contestant in the first National FFA Talent Contest this past October, having previously placed among the top four in the national anthem singing contest sponsored by FMC Agricultural Products. A participant in the third Jersey Youth Academy, Jessica was the 2013 National Jersey Queen.
The $1,000 Paul Jackson Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Andrea Lynn Smaciarz, Raymond, Wash. Her herd of 20 head got its start nearly 10 years ago when she received a single Jersey calf from a a Jersey breeder as payment for showing his cattle at the Western National Jersey Show. The daughter of Terry and Lana Smaciarz is now a junior at Oregon State University majoring in agricultural business management and animal science. Andrea was co-chair of the selection committee for the Beaver Classic Sale in 2013. She was a member of the team that placed third at the National Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging Contest this past October, and was the ninth high individual overall. Andrea has held leadership positions in 4-H and FFA and was a member of the third class of Jersey Youth Academy.
Applications for the 2014-15 scholarships will be posted on the USJersey website April 15, and are due in the AJCA office no later than July 1. Awards will be presented at the annual Junior Banquet held during The All American Jersey Shows and Sales in Louisville, Ky.
About the National Jersey Youth Program
The American Jersey Cattle Association has made strategic investments in Jersey youth since 1958 when it created the National Heifer Sale to provide annual funding for educational programs and awards. Scholarships are supported by permanent endowments 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.
