A3frLancaster Fanning, Saturday, January 24.-1998
Farm Show Scholarship Foundation Announces Recipients
HARRISBURG (Dauphin
Co) - The Pennsylvania Farm
Show Scholarship Foundation
on Thursday announced the
selection of its fifth annual
scholarship winners at the 1998
Farm Show junior livestock sale
of champions
The scholarship committee
awarded scholarships worth
$2,000 each to 13 Pennsylvania
youth who are pursuing a degree
at a post-secondary institution
Agricultural Secretary
Samuel E Hayes Jr assisted in
the presentation of awards.
Criteria for selection includes
scholarship; leadership in
school, community, and 4-H or
FFA, participation in the Farm
Show, and financial need.
Money for scholarships comes
from a fund established follow
ing the 1993 Farm Show sale of
champion.
A non-profit foundation was
established to administer contri
butions and distribute scholar
ship money At the conclusion of
this year, the fund will have pro
vided $83,000 to students.
The Farm Show Scholarship
Foundation has established an
Ambassador’s Club, a non-prof
it, tax-exempt organization,
intended to increase scholarship
funds for more rural youth.
The following are this year’s
recipients of the Farm Show
Scholarships
Wendy E. Atkins
Wendy E Atkins, 19, is the
daughter of William and Judith
Atkins, Lebanon, Lebanon
County She graduated from
Cedar Crest High School m 1997
and currently attends Harcum
College studying to be a veteri
nary technician
She actively participates in
the aerobics club and is a mem
ber of the Harcum College vol
leyball team During her high
school career, she was involved
m concert band, the soccer and
volleyball teams and played an
active role m her church
She was an active member of
FFA and part of the state win
ning 4-H livestock judging team
from Lebanon County She was
president of the swine club and
vice president of the beef club
She has competed nine years at
the Farm Show
Atkins said, “I am very fortu
nate to have been able to take
advantage of all the opportuni
ties that were presented to me
through 4-H and FFA. I believe
that my 4-H and FFA experi
ences have made me what I am
today”
Stephanie M. Biggerstaff
Stephanie M Biggerstaff, 18, is
the daughter of David and
Cecilia Biggerstaff, Belle
Vernon, Fayette County. A 1997
graduate of Belle Vernon High
School, she currently attend the
Pennsylvania State University,
Fayette Campus majoring in
business administration with an
agricultural business minor.
She plans to establish a career
in hospital administration or as
a farm manager.
She showed market swine for
the past four years at the Farm
Show, and showed in the open
beef breeding and junior beef
breeding classes for the past
three years. As a member of 4-H
since 1991, she has served as
president and treasurer and was
involved in the market swine
and the lamb club.
In her community she played
a key role as a volunteer at her
Thirteen youth each receive $2,000 Pennsylvania Farm
Show scholarships, and stand with state Secretary of Agri
culture Samuel Hayes Jr., center. The scholarship funds are
generated through the sale of livestock champions, dona-
local Red Cross blood drive,
Salvation Army, and Toys for
Tots.
“I have found out that you
only get what you work for, and
that in life you need to work
very hard to accomplish your
goals,” Biggerstaff said.
Keith D. Carlisle
Keith D Carlisle, 19, son of
David and Barbara Carlisle,
Avella, Washington County, is a
1997 graduate of Avella High
School and is attending
Waynesburg College majoring in
elementary education.
While in high school, he was
a teacher’s aide and assisted in
tutorial sessions for elementary
school students He also was a
standout on the football field
receiving all-star team honors.
He now is a member of the
Waynesburg football team.
Having shown Simmental
cattle in 4-H and at the Farm
Show for eight years, he won
reserve grand champion female
during the open show at the
Farm Show in 1996.
During his eight years in 4-H,
he has participated on the judg
ing team and served as presi
dent, vice-president and news
reporter of his local club.
He said he is looking forward
to a future as an elementary
school teacher “I have a very
soft spot m my heart for young
children. I want to share what I
have learned through 4-H with
my students,” he said.
Michelle Cornman
Michelle Comman, 18, is the
daughter of Melvin and Betty
Cornman, Carlisle, Cumberland
County. She is a 1997 graduate
of Big Spring High School and
currently attends the
Pennsylvania State University,
Mont Alto Campus, majoring in
Dairy and Animal Science.
Her future plans are to estab
lish a career in the animal pro
duction industry, concentrating
on sales and marketing.
She plans to do graduate
studies in order to pursue a
career as an agricultural exten
sion agent.
She is a veteran to the Farm
Show competitions having
shown market lambs for seven
years and market swine for
eight years. During the time
she was in the Cumberland
County 4-H and Big Spring FFA,
she served as the president,
vice-president, and secretary.
She is a state FFA Star Farmer,
as well as a recipient of the
State Star in Diversified
Livestock Production and Swine
Production.
Adrienne D. Elkin
Adrienne D Elkin, 20, daughter
of Samuel and Paula Elkin,
Marion Center Area High
School. She is currently major
ing in chemical engineering at
the Pennsylvania State
University.
At Penn State, she is actively
involved in the Biochemical
Society, Women in Science and
Engineering and the Sailing
Club.
She has shown market swine
at the Farm Show for six years.
In the Northern Livestock 4-H
Club, Elkin served as president,
vice-president, news reporter
and secretary.
She said she hopes to work
for a chemical seed, pesticide, or
feed company in the research
and development of new crop
technologies
“With the background I
acquired from growing up
immersed in agriculture, the
education I am obtaining at
Penn State and the enthusiasm
I have towards the subject, I
know I can be a large asset to
the industry,” Elkin said
Trisha C. Gallagher
Tnsha C Gallagher, 18, is the
daughter of William and Janet
Gallagher, Uniontown, Fayette
County. She is a 1997 graduate
of Laurel Highland Senior High
School and is currently studying
nursing at the Pennsylvania
State University, Fayett
Campus.
For nine years she has partic
ipated at the Farm Show in the
areas of clothing and textiles
and food and nutrition. She also
has exhibited market swine for
four years at the Farm Show.
Preparing for her career in nurs
ing, she spends much of her time
as a “candy striper."
A member of the Fayette
County Swine Club, she was
president and news reporter.
She also served on the livestock
judging team and attended the
Governor’s School for the
Agricultural Sciences. '
tions from supporting businesses and Individuals through
the Scholarship Fund’s Ambassadors Club, and through
other fund-raising activities.
She said she would like to
achieve a master’s degree as a
nurse practitioner or a pediatric
nurse. She said her 4-H experi
ence will help her succeed in her
career choice.
Samantha L. Gressley
Samantha L. Gressley, 18,
daughter of Richard and Lucille
Gressley, Fogelsville, Lehigh
County, is a 1997 graduate of
Northwestern Lehigh High
School. She is currently an agri
cultural business management
major at the Pennsylvania State
University, Lehigh Valley
Campus.
She showed market lambs at
the Farm Show for two years
and was active in the Lehigh
County 4-H sheep and beef clubs
serving as the president of the
sheep club for five years. She
was the Lehigh County
Livestock Roundup champion
fitter and showman in 1996 and
1997
“I believe that all of these
activities have helped me grow
into an informed individual and
mature young adult, ready to
face the challenges of colleges,
life in the “real world”, and my
future,” Gressley said. She said
she is seeking a career in farm
management.
Nicole L. Knepp
Nicole L Knepp, 19, is the
daughter of Theodore and Dawn
Knepp, Mohnton, Berks County.
She is a 1997 graduate of
Governor Mifflin High School
and is currently attending the
Pennsylvania State University,
Berks Campus, as an agricultur
al business major.
For the past seven years, she
has shown market lambs at the
Farm Show and participated in
the junior shepherd’s contest.
As an active member of the 4-H
sheep club, she served as the
president for two years and the
treasurer for three years. She
was a champion showman and
fitter for sheep. She also was
active in the beef, swine and
horse 4-H clubs, and was a
member of the livestock and
meats judging team.
“The benefits of exhibiting
my 4-H livestock projects are
many fold, I learned to be a good
sport, and the value of hard
work and determination,” she
said.
“I learned winning is not
what matters most, but being
able to look back on past projects
and seeing how as an individual
you have grown into a more
mature and knowledgeable per
son is what really counts,”
Knepp said. Her plans include
using her degree in agricultural
business to develop a career in
agricultural banking.
Heather A. Lehman
Heather A Lehman, 21,
daughter of Carl and Mable
Lehman, Mechamcsburg,
Cumberland County is a 1995
graduate of Cumberland Valley
High School. She is currently a
dairy and animal science major
at the Pennsylvania State
University, University Park
Campus.
She was actively involved in
FFA since 1991 holding the
office of chapter president and
secretary, area president and
state treasurer She has shown
market swine at the Farm Show
for three years. She is a member
of the Penn State Dairy Science
Club, Collegiate 4-H, and
attended the National FFA con
vention.
She said she plans to pursue
a career as an animal nutrition
ist.
Jessica M. Lori
Jessica M. Lori, 18, is the
daughter of John and Debbie
Lori, Scottdale, Westmoreland
County. She is a 1995 graduate
of Southmoreland High School
She is currently enrolled at the
University of Pittsburgh major
ing in administration of justice.
She played a key role in her
local beef 4-H club by serving as
secretary for four years She also
is a member of the Pennsylvania
Limousin Association.
She has been showing h ve ‘
stock breeding animals since
1989 and participated at the
Farm Show for two years where
she showed a steer and market
lambs. She also showed dairy
cdttlc
In the field of administration
of justice, she plans to focus MT
career in correction and prevey
tion.
Christine M. Michalik ,
Christine M. Michalik,
daughter of Richard nw
Cynthia Michalik, Sellersvillf
(Turn lo Pago A 43) 5