Winners of the 2017 Wisconsin Pork Association (WPA) youth pig project scholarships were announced recently. The Wisconsin Pork Association Youth Committee created the program to assist youth in developing pork production projects for 4-H or FFA. The goal is to encourage youth to become involved in the Wisconsin pork industry, offering opportunities to develop life skills and showcase career opportunities available within the industry.
Thanks in part to sponsorship from Wisconsin pork producers, the WPA Youth Committee was able to award twenty $50 scholarships this year. Over 60 youth had applied for the scholarship funds. Those receiving scholarships were: Thomas Sorg, Darien; Luke Fischer, Alma Center; Samuel Hines, Beldenville; Nathan Seitz, Krakow; Haylee Rusch, Seymour; Luke Zutz, Valders; Josh McCullough, Monroe; Zachary Magnus, Neillsville; Tyler Giddings, Hatley; Noah Hines, Beldenville; Emma Vorpagel, Hartland; Rachel Serocki, Greenwood; Brooke Magnus, Neillsville; Sabrina Leisgang, Seymour; Carter Newton, Markesan; Brooke Kaczmarowski, Pulaski; Austin Michels, Chippewa Falls; Cayley Vande Berg, Rosendale; Madeline Zutz, Valders; and Zachery Hines, Beldenville. The scholarships are awarded to youth in three age categories and are to be used to offset the costs associated with their pig project for the upcoming show season.
The 2017 Youth Pig Project Scholarships were made possible in part by the following sponsors: Magolski Farms; Krebs Farms; Tom Knauer Family; Doherty Family Farm; Graff Show Pigs; Wehrle Farms; Waite Farms & Show Pigs; Morgan Pittz; Jake’s Pig Palace; Clothier Genetics; and Wisconsin Pork Association.
To apply, Wisconsin youth submitted a Pig Project Scholarship request to WPA which addressed the following areas: project goals, simple budget for the project, Meat Animal Quality Assurance certification date, future goals as they relate to the pork industry, and a paragraph stating why the Wisconsin Pork Association should select them for the Youth Pig Project scholarship.
For more information on the Youth Pig Project, contact the Wisconsin Pork Association at 1-800-822-7675, or go to our website at http://www.wppa.org/youth-pig-project/
