Paul and Jean Hoshiko Memorial Family Scholarship & Weld County 4-H Leader's Council (High School) Scholarship
Madison Miller is the daughter of Stephanie Miller of Frederick, CO and Todd Miller. She is a Senior at Mead High School and is looking to attend college either at Aims in Ft Lupton or Front Range Community College in Longmont and would like to major in Agricultural Business and Media Communications. Her career goals are centered around combining her passion for esthetics and ag business, and media communications. She plans to start by becoming a licensed esthetician which will provide her with a stable job while pursuing her degree.
Madison grew up in a single parent household and learned the value of hard work, resilience and community support. Despite managing dyslexia, she developed effective study strategies and a passion for learning. Her decision to study AG business and media communications is driven by her passion for agriculture and the desire to make a meaningful impact on her community.
She’s been the captain of the Mead High School Varsity Cheer team and a former USAG CO state champion gymnast. She also has a passion for photography having been named the 2022 Colorado State Fair Reserve Grand Champion and a two-time Weld County Grand Champion in photography in 22 and 23. Madison is currently the Weld County Fair Queen, vice president of the 4-H Tailtwisters Club, and a member of the St. Vrain Valley FFA chapter. The opportunities have allowed her to help with many community non-profits such as the Weld 4-H, Ft. Lupton and Weld County Food Banks and has allowed her to develop leadership skills and a deep understanding of the importance of community service. By earning her degree, it will enhance her life by equipping her with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in the chosen fields and make a meaningful impact. Madison feels that she will be able to promote sustainable AG practices and support local farmers.
Madison is the recipient of the Paul and Jean Hoshiko Memorial Scholarship and the Weld County 4-H Leader’s Council (High School) Scholarship.
Paul and Jean Hoshiko Memorial Family Scholarship
Cora Schaffner is the daughter of Leanne and Darin Schaffner of Greeley. She is a Senior and is currently home schooled and would like to take the Certified Nurse Assistant course at Aims Community College as she would like to gain the skills necessary to care for individuals with special needs. She is drawn to helping others because when she was 14 years old, she got a Severe Traumatic Brain Injury from a car accident. She needed a lot of assistance from people in the medical field for a long time. She stayed at Children’s Hospital in Denver for two months. While there, she was cared for by nurses, doctors, and therapists who gave so much of their time to help her recover. Because of that experience, Cora knows just how important this job can be to those receiving care. She would love to help others in a similar way that she has been helped. Cora is standing here today because of others who gave of their time, energy, and knowledge to help her recover the best she could from her brain injury. They didn't give up on her, even when times seemed bleak. Therefore, she feels very motivated to help others who go through hard times to remember not to give up either. To obtain her CNA Certificate will allow her to help others in practical ways, make a difference in the world, and allow her to become a more well-rounded individual with an additional skillset that will be useful in a variety of ways to serve others.
Cora is a 8-year member of New Horizons 4-H Club. When she joined 4-H eight years ago she was 9 years old and decided she wanted to compete in 4-H because her older sister, Adelynne, had been doing it for the last two years and loved it. Cora began wanting to learn Archery because she had always loved shooting but had never heard of Archery until she saw it as an option for a 4-H project. she was so excited yet nervous at the same time. It was nerve racking to try something different, but Cora was ready. As she grew older, she decided to also compete in the Horse Project because her older sister had been competing and riding horses and it had always been a big part of her life. Cora enjoyed it a lot, although Archery was still her favorite project. Her favorite memory from the Horse Project is winning a buckle for the Intermediate Overall Champion just one year after the accident. Cora was proud of how far she had come. It took a lot of practice to regain her balance and stretched her mind to memorize each pattern. Over the many years she has done, 4-H it has helped her learn how to participate in her club as a Treasurer, Secretary, and President. Cora has enjoyed how being a part of that has helped build her confidence in front of others and given her an opportunity to experience a great leadership role. She also loved all the community service things she has taken place in for they have helped her realize all the ways she can make a positive difference in her community. Cora feels accomplished in 4-H because she made it to Level Two for the Ranch, English, and Western Divisions at Fair. She’s really enjoyed learning all she could with the many leaders helping to teach new skills.
Cora is the recipient of the Paul and Jean Hoshiko Memorial Scholarship.
Beef Excellence Committee Scholarship
Makennah Tucker is the daughter of Wendy and Jonathon Tucker of Briggsdale, CO. She is a Junior at the Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, OK and is planning to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in both Ag Education and Animal Science. She plans to become an ag teacher and FFA Advisor. She hopes to coach her students to complete in and win many FFA competitions at the local, state, and National levels as well as win chapter awards.
Makennah was in 4-H for about 11 years with the Crow Creek 4H Club. Being in 4-H helped shape her into a better leader and citizen, and she learned to be helpful to the younger youth, respectful to each other, hardworking and willing to share knowledge with anyone who needs it. Her greatest accomplishment through 4H was to be able to start her own show cattle herd which helped her learn responsibility, management, record keeping and many other thins to prepare her for her future. Makennah’s cattle herd provides food for her family, food for others, show calves for her, and show calves to sell. From the meat and show calves she has sold, Makennah has been able to help pay for a portion of her college education thus far.
As an ag teacher and FFA advisor, Makennah’s goal is not only to educate students about agriculture but to create opportunities for them to engage and succeed. She hopes to build competitive teams for district, state, and national contests, allowing students to explore Career Development Events (CDEs) and Leadership Development Events (LDEs). These experiences will expose them to different careers in agriculture while they are still in high school, sparking interest in industry-related degrees and careers.
Makennah is incredibly passionate about becoming an educator and advocate for agriculture. She hopes her enthusiasm will inspire students to see the value in this industry and recognize the importance of protecting and advancing it for future generations. Agriculture needs strong, dedicated leaders, and she is eager to play her part in shaping the next generation of agricultural professionals.
Makennah is the recipient of the Beef Excellence Committee Award.
Norgren Family Memorial Scholarship
Shae Stone is the daughter of Nolan and Jodi Stone of Eaton. She is a Freshman at Butler Community College in El Dorado, KS and majoring in Agribusiness and Agriculture. Then she is planning to receive a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Ag-Communications from Oklahoma State University and again participate on the Livestock Judging Team. Her long-term aspirations include pursuing a career in the Ag-pharmaceutical field, where she can contribute to the beef industry’s growth and development. Ultimately, she hopes to return to her family’s 300-head cow-calf ranch and become a part of its management. Throughout her journey, Shae will continue to actively serve my community and represent it as a young agriculturist. My goal is to uphold the 4-H motto, "To Make the Best Better."
Shae was an 11-year member of Country Boots & Skirts 4H Club and has been showing cattle since 2014. Her long-term aspirations include pursuing a career in the Ag-pharmaceutical field, where she can contribute to the beef industry’s growth and development. Ultimately, she hopes to return to her family’s 300-head cow-calf ranch and become a part of its management. Throughout Shae’s journey, she will continue to actively serve her community and represent it as a young agriculturist. her goal is to uphold the 4-H motto, "To Make the Best Better." Shae takes immense pride in her family's history and legacy in Colorado, as a fifth generation native. Her family's deep roots in production agriculture have instilled in her a strong work ethic and a deep appreciation for agriculture. In 2019, Shae achieved her dream of winning the Grand Champion Market Beef at the Colorado State Fair. It was her greatest 4-H accomplishment and a moment she’ll never forget. She spent months preparing her steer for the State Fair and had worked tirelessly to ensure that he was ready. Looking back, Shae remembers how much hard work and dedication it took. Winning Grand Champion was a dream come true, and a moment that will always hold a special place in her heart. Livestock judging has been an integral part of Shae’s life. It has not only allowed her to develop her skill set but also provided her with the opportunity to travel and meet some amazing people along the way. This experience has fueled her passion, and she is pursuing her judging career further at Butler Community College all thanks to 4-H.
Shae is the recipient of the Norgren Family Scholarship.
Weld County 4H Foundation Scholarship
Ellie Davis is the daughter is the daughter of Julia and Josh Davis of Ault. She is a senior in high school, attending Colorado Early Colleges, Douglas County North and will be graduating this May from Aims Community College with an Associate of Arts degree. She participated in the concurrent enrollment program through Colorado Early Colleges throughout high school, and in the fall, plans to attend CSU to pursue a degree in Agricultural Education and become an Ag teacher.
Ellie is a 11-year member of the Wyatt 4-H Club. She has been a member of 4-H since she was 8, and this is her last year eligible to participate. Throughout her 10 years in 4-H, she showed pigs every year and also dabbled in cake decorating and quilting. Her older brother, Jack, inspired Ellie to join 4-H. Her cousins next door were involved in 4-H, showing steers and lambs, and Jack wanted to participate too by showing pigs. However, her parents told Jack he couldn’t start until Ellie was old enough to join as well. That’s how she ended up in the livestock and agriculture world she now knows and loves. Through her time in 4-H and the move to a different county, she has held several leadership roles, including president twice, vice president once, secretary once, treasurer once, and she’s been a part of the youth council board. These experiences helped her develop many valuable skills, including how to speak to people she didn’t know, how to give a demonstration as if she was explaining something to a friend, and how to lead her siblings in daily barn chores. She also learned to be a good sport and cheer for others, even when they beat her or didn’t perform as well as hoped. These lessons have taught Ellie how to manage expectations, be friends with those she competes against, and show up for her animals every day—even on days when she didn’t feel like it. She used to think that leadership and citizenship were opposite sides of the board, but if anything 4-H has shown her that they are more alike than unalike. Being a good leader means leading by example, which starts with being a good citizen. Her 10 years in 4-H have not only shaped her agricultural skills but have also helped her develop as a leader and a person. The lessons she learned about hard work, perseverance, and dedication have strengthened her character. The relationships she built and the experiences she had have made Ellie a better leader and more compassionate individual. As Ellie transitions out of 4-H, She’s grateful for all the opportunities it has given her, and she is looking forward to applying the knowledge and skills she gained to the next chapter of her life.
Ellie is the recipient of the Weld County 4-H Foundation Scholarship.
Weld County 4-H Foundation Scholarship
Ena Gibson is the daughter of Craig and Sumiko Gibson of Greeley. She is a Freshman at University of Wyoming in Laramie, WY. Ena wants to work with wildlife because she love animals and the environment, and wants to make a difference in the environment through working with wildlife and their habitats. Ena got the opportunity this fall to speak with a Colorado Parks and Wildlife worker who explained to her the things they do and all the different careers related to wildlife within Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Speaking to the Employee confirmed her career goal of becoming a Wildlife Biologist (or related field). She knows life doesn't always go as planned so She knows she may be taken into different career, but all in all Ena knows she wants to work with wildlife. Ena plans to go to college to get a bachelors of science in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology and Management, and although she knows college Chemistry will be a challenge, she’ll put in all her effort to do her best, and not give up when things get hard. If this means failing the class the first time, taking it again instead of simply giving up and changing majors. She hopes to get hands on experience related to this career through a variety of internships and volunteering so that she can best be prepared and ready to eventually enter her intended career.
Ena is a 10-year member of Westward 4-H Club. When she joined 4-H nine years ago, she was as shy and quiet as can be. For many years, she spoke to near no one, and was terrified to stand up and say her name during introductions at club meetings. This persisted for almost 5 years. However, by 9th grade she began to gain confidence. She believed that as she grew older, she became more comfortable with the people around her. At the time she only participated in the Shooting Sports Project. This meant Ena spent 5 years with the same people. She became comfortable with them and started gaining confidence in herself. A big help in this confidence boost was joining Air Pistol. She ended up having the confidence to nominate herself to be Secretary of her 4-H club. It was a perfect way to allow herself to slowly step up in leadership, without pushing herself too far. At the time, She also became Reporter of the Youth Executive Council. Ena knew she had to push herself to make progress, but she also knew she had a limit. These were the two first steps to opening herself up. By Sophomore year, Ena applied to become a Colorado 4-H Shooting Sports Ambassador. She knew she loved shooting sports, and this seemed like a perfect way to involve herself in leadership while also pursuing her passion. She was accepted and began the journey of learning public speaking. Throughout her 4-H career, Ena has grown immensely in both her confidence and initiative, as well as in her community involvement and professionalism.
Ena is the recipient of the Weld County 4-H Foundation Scholarship.
Weld County 4-H Foundation Scholarship
Kayla Kugler is the daughter is the daughter of Jay and Rene Kugler of New Raymer. She is a Freshman at Laramie County Community College and is majoring in Applied Science. She is currently working towards getting her Associate's in Applied Science. This spring, Kayla will also be applying to the LCCC Diagnostic Medical Sonography program to then start in the summer of 2025. This is a two-year program that will provide her with a national license when completed. From there she’ll use her certification and become an ultrasound technician. Kayla’s commitment to this field was further reinforced when she had the opportunity to shadow an ultrasound technician during high school and in the past couple weeks. Watching her interact with patients, while also ensuring accurate imaging and contributing to the diagnosis was inspiring. She saw first-hand the importance of their work in health care and realized that being an Ultrasound Technician is not just about operating equipment but also about delivering accurate results while providing compassionate care. This realization also motivated her to pursue this path with determination and focus.
Kayla has been a member of the Prairie 4-H Club for 10 years. During her time in 4-H, she learned valuable skills such as leadership, communication, diligence, and compassion. 4-H pushed her outside her comfort zone and taught her that success involves both highs and lows. She has had the privilege of participating in projects like ceramics, rabbits, breeding beef, goats, chickens, and horses, and learned how to manage responsibility and follow through on tasks. During her time in 4-H, she learned valuable skills such as leadership, communication, diligence, and compassion. 4-H pushed Kayla outside her comfort zone and taught her that success involves both highs and lows. She’s had the privilege of participating in projects like ceramics, rabbits, breeding beef, goats, chickens, and horses, and has learned how to manage responsibility and follow through on tasks. In addition to her projects, She has held several leadership roles, including President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary. These experiences taught Kayla effective communication, teamwork, and conflict resolution. As President, she learned to lead meetings and inspire others. As Treasurer, she became skilled in financial management, budgeting, and accountability. In all roles, she learned that leadership is not just about being in charge but about serving others and working toward a shared goal. These leadership experiences have equipped her with essential skills for my future as an Ultrasound Technician. Kayla is excited to combine her interest in healthcare with the communication, organization, and problem-solving skills I gained through 4-H. Her goal is to work in ultrasound technology, assisting in early diagnosis and contributing to patient care. She is particularly interested in obstetric ultrasound and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on mothers and babies. This scholarship will allow her to continue her education and pursue her dream of becoming an Ultrasound Technician. She is eager to apply the lessons she learned in 4-H as she embarks on her new journey.
Kayla is the recipient of the Weld County 4-H Foundation Scholarship.
Weld County 4-H Foundation Scholarship
Teagan Joseph is the daughter of Cindy and Bret Joseph of Eaton. She is a Freshman at Aims Community College and is planning to attend Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA, majoring in Biblical Counseling. She will start in traditional counseling through a position with a church or ministry to walk alongside individuals that are struggling with various life challenges. After she has gained experience in this position, she wants to transition into owning her own practice. Teagan will incorporate Equine Assisted Therapy in her practice. In the later portion of her career, she wants to cater towards First Responders and Veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and children with special needs. Teagan has decided to pursue a career in Biblical Counseling because she wants to help individuals that are going through various obstacles in life. She was born with a rare eye disease that caused her to lose her vision, yet she felt able to overcome her challenges through the support of her parents and teachers. Having a person that believes in you and wants you to succeed will change a person’s life. She knows that it changed hers, and Teagan wants to be that cheerleader for someone else. She decided to change her major from Psychology to Biblical Counseling because her faith is especially important to her. Teagan is going to receive her degree from Liberty University since they are an accredited university for Biblical Counseling certification. They are also military spouse supporters. After she receives her degree, she has a goal of becoming a Counselor for a local church or ministry. However, when Teagan can have a few years of her practice, she wants to start her own business. When her fiancé is done with the military, Teagan wants to get a property that can support horses. Her goal is to start an Equine Assisted Therapy practice where she can focus on First Responders and Veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Teagan is currently a Freshman at Aims Community College. She participated in 4-H for 12 years including her time showing Bucket Calves . Later she wanted to add another experience to her project by purchasing a three-year-old horse to exhibit in the Green Horse Division. Each new division continued to grow her as a horseman and competitor. Teagan gained valuable relationships that she maintains to this day. Both of her projects grew throughout her time in 4-H, and they shaped her into the person she is today. Another area that molded Teagan into the person she is today was her experience in various leadership roles. For three years, she was blessed to serve as the Weld County Horse Council Vice President. She thoroughly enjoyed this position as she got to cultivate her teamwork skills and creativity. At the Club Level, Teagan was elected to serve as the secretary of Country Boots and Skirts 4-H Club from 2019 to 2021, and Vice President from 2021 to 2022. Both roles taught her organization skills from taking notes to creating agendas or minutes for meetings. Most importantly in all these positions she was taught how to have proper public speaking skills. This skill is crucial to success in a career. Aside from leadership roles, she got to play a part in serving her community through 4-H. Being an active community member is a valuable skill that not many young people get to prioritize anymore. Teagan was blessed 4-H taught her to be a humble citizen that puts others before herself.
Teagan is the recipient of the Weld County 4-H Foundation Scholarship.
Weld County 4-H Foundation Scholarship
Cole Halley is the son is the son of Gail and Alan Halley. He is a Sophomore at Northeastern Jr. College. He is planning to attend South Dakota State University in Brookings. He has two loves in life-agriculture and technology. Through his employment at Larson Farms and Feeding he was able to find a way to combine these two passions into one career goal. Cole’s goal is to obtain his degree in agriculture and bio systems engineering, and then to obtain employment in the research and design program, specifically precision ag technologies, at John Deere. It is through his work experience with Larson Farms and Feeding that Cole found his interest in agriculture and bio-resource engineering with an emphasis in precision agriculture. He has continued to develop his employment skills by obtaining a job with Colorado Department of Natural Resources Water Division as a contract employee and participating in a work study program at NJC.
His first year in 4-H, Cole showed a cow/calf pair at the Weld County Fair and that made him eligible for the Cattle for Kids program. He was fortunate to have had his name drawn for one of the scholarships to buy his own heifer. Cole met with many breeders throughout Weld County before he found the heifer that he wanted to start his own herd with. He now has six cows in his herd from his first heifer purchase. Of these six, Cole has shown three of them as breeding heifers at the Weld County Fair. While Cole was not a 4-H officer, he lived a full 4-H life. He worked three years to earn enough money to participate in the Washington Focus trip, despite COVID trying to keep everyone from participating. Cole has also shown market sheep and goats at a national level in Montana at the NILE, Nebraska at Aksarben, at Arizona at Arizona National Livestock Show. Through these national shows, he met some amazing people and has seen the world of showing on an extremely high level. He was also a member of the Weld County Fair Junior Livestock Sales Committee Youth Ambassador program. Being a youth ambassador member allowed him to develop his communication and marketing skills as he met with various business owners throughout Weld County promoting the livestock sale. Cole learned how to set goals and to work hard to achieve his goals. He learned how to talk in front of a crowd confidently. He learned how to be both a leader and a team player to accomplish tasks. These skills will benefit him as he transitions into the adult world and become a leader in the agriculture industry.
Cole is the recipient of the Weld County 4-H Foundation Scholarship.
Dorothy Martin Zabka Memorial Scholarship
Ashlynn Johnson is the daughter of Kyle Johnson of Kersey. She is a freshman at Casper College majoring in Agriculture to become an Ag teacher.
She chose to teach agriculture because of the profound impact her ag teachers and the FFA program had on her. During high school, she became deeply involved in her FFA chapter, competing in every event, spending countless hours in the ag room, and taking on various projects as a chapter officer. Through this, she formed close relationships with her advisors, who were always there to offer guidance, listen to her concerns, and support her during her toughest times. Initially, Ashlynn enrolled in school as an Occupational Therapy Assistant major, but over time, she realized that it wasn’t her true passion. After many conversations with her dad and reflecting on her experiences in FFA, Ashlynn discovered that teaching agriculture was the path she was meant to take. She aspires to be the kind of adult who students can rely on, someone they can trust and feel safe with. She wants to make a meaningful impact on students' lives both within and beyond agriculture, advocating for the future of the industry. Most importantly, she wants to educate those who may not know much about agriculture and show them its importance. The desire to teach and inspire others stems from the example set by her two ag teachers, who have been a tremendous source of inspiration in her decision to pursue this career.
Her participation in 4-H led Ashlynn to become actively involved in her FFA chapter, where she served in two officer positions. These leadership roles taught her the importance of responsibility, being a role model, and earning the trust of others. While her involvement in 4-H and FFA looked different, both experiences instilled in Ashlynn valuable leadership skills that have shaped the person she is today. One of the most impactful experiences Ashlynn had was attending the Citizenship Washington Focus trip, where she traveled to Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, and New York City. She witnessed incredible historical landmarks and learned about our country’s past leaders. This trip gave her a deeper understanding of what it means to be a citizen—being an active and responsible member of a community, whether on a local or national scale. Overall, Ashlynn attributes her accomplishments to her time in 4-H and FFA. The relationships, lessons, and experiences she gained will continue to shape her as she strives to be a great leader and citizen.
Ashlynn is the recipient of the Dorothy Martin Zabka Memorial Scholarship.
Ben Wilson Memorial Scholarship
Kashley Hayden is the daughter of Shelley and Scott Hayden of Keenesburg. She is a Junior at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater and is majoring in Agribusiness. She is hoping to do something in the ag industry. She is also interested In working in the oil and gas industry. Kashley has had some experience as she had an internship at a reclamation company. It was an experience that allowed her to learn many of the different aspects of large companies, as well as specific to the reclamation industry.
Once Kashley was old enough for Cloverbuds, she was at every meeting. She hit nine years old and was ready to show. Being a part of agriculture has always been important to her. Holding officer positions in her school's FFA Chapter, and being president of her 4-H club, she was always looking to improve the agriculture experience for herself, as well as other members of her clubs and communities. As it became time to choose a college and a major, her heart kept coming back to agriculture. She decided on Oklahoma State University, which would allow her to see other parts of the country, as well as learn different aspects of agriculture that may not be present in Colorado. Kashley knew that Agribusiness would allow her to pursue a wide variety of careers within the agricultural field. She wants to make an impact on agriculture, and wants to inform people on how much of a difference agriculture makes on their lives, even if they are not directly involved in row crop and livestock production, the industry is all around us every day. Kashley wants to advocate for agriculture and to pursue a degree in something that she is not only passionate about, but is devoted to making an impact on the industry as well as on citizens who are unfamiliar with agriculture. As she is getting into classes for her specific major, she’s getting a greater idea as to the aspect of her degree, and is happy with her decision on her degree and where it could take her.
As soon as Kashley was able to show, she bought her first two pigs. Naturally, they had to be named, so she went with Pork N’ Beans. When July came, Pork was the Reserve Grand Champion Gilt at the Weld County fair. At that moment, she knew that showing would be something she would treasure forever. Being the former president of her 4-H club, Magic Spurs, it is crucial for Kashley to be a leader and show up for the members of not just her club, but other club members as well. 4-H has allowed her to learn those special skills that she’ll take with her for the rest of her life. Whenever she is stressing out over her animals not eating, or not looking good enough, she thinks back to Pork and how although she had very little knowledge, they succeeded. Now, with having a more extensive knowledge about many species of livestock, Kashley knows that she can make it work and doing her best and putting in the hard work will result in the success that she will strive for. Finishing up her last show year was one of the hardest times of her life. Although upsetting, she knew that as this chapter closes, it has opened up many doors for her and her future that she is so grateful for.
Kashley is the recipient of the Ben Wilson Memorial Scholarship.
Helmut and Bob Brunner Memorial Scholarship
Abby Perez is the daughter of Janelle Perez of Keenesburg. She is a Junior at CSU in Ft. Collins and is majoring in Equine Sciences to become an animal welfare lawyer or follow the route of public policy.
Abby had many encounters with animal activist groups throughout her time in FFA and 4-H. Most of these encounters were during her Colorado State FFA officer year, where she traveled the state to promote agriculture and leadership. While attending an Ag Forum event in Denver, an animal activist group decided to have a small gathering at the event and she was able to have a conversation with one of their members. The conversation started very aggressively on both sides until she decided to stop trying to argue and start listening. When Abby studied abroad in Italy, they were able to visit a number of farms to learn about European practices and one dairy really stood out to her. The dairy in Bologna showed us their Partigano cheese making process and then we were allowed to look at the cattle. They had a few calves separated from the rest and of course the rest of her group went to go pet them. In the US whenever her school group or her 4-H group would visit a dairy we would have to put on hand sanitizer, gloves, and booties to pet the calves, while in Bologna they didn’t give us anything. This was a huge shock to Abby because at closer look she could see, hear, and smell the sickness from the calves. Also, when taking a closer look at the dairy cattle, she could see abscesses all over the heifers and most of them had hoof problems. The pens were not clean at all and Abby was appalled. In Italy she learned that most agricultural producers do not believe in vaccinations, castration, docking, or anything that is not “natural”.
Abby started 4-H later than other kids and had no idea what she was doing. No one in her family showed in 4-H so we were all trying to figure it out together. When she transferred to a new club and ran for president, she made it her goal to help out the younger members in the club as well as help each member practice and learn their parliamentary procedure skills. During meetings, she would offer help to the members who wanted to start a horse project and was able to see them flourish. Abby was presented the opportunity to join the Citizens Washington Focus program and volunteered at many events to help her citizenship skills as well as help her community. This was monumental in her citizen and leadership skills gained. She always thinks back to her time in 4-H and truly believes that it made her into the leader she is today. Through Abby’s time as her club president and her time as her local counties Fair queen at Southeast Weld County and Weld County, Abby was able to gain the confidence to continue her leadership through FFA and hold chapter, district, and even a state office. She is now a leader in her college career holding an office in her Farm Bureau Chapter as well as running for a student government position through CSU College of Agricultural Sciences. She thanks her community and mentors for who she is today and all that she has accomplished.
Abby is the recipient of the Helmut and Bob Brunner Memorial Scholarship.
Gene Inloes Memorial Livestock Judging Scholarship
Tayla Wiedeman is the daughter of Becky and Nate Wiedeman of Eaton. She is a Junior She is a freshman at Texas Tech University in Lubbock majoring in Ag Communications. Once graduated, she is hoping to work at a commodity group or corporation to help with their communications to the public, via social media, publications, marketing and other platforms. She would also like to lobby on the state and national level, advocating for the future of agriculture. The ag industry is the future of our world. 1.5% of the population is responsible for feeding, fueling and clothing everyone and that number declines each year. Even though the industry plays such a vital role in society, it still faces scrutiny, especially from urban areas.
Growing up competing through 4-H, Tayla learned that it was more than a club. It was an opportunity to create lifelong friends and memories while learning lifelong skills. She was involved in 4-H for 11 years, exhibiting market and breeding sheep. As she progressed through her career, her responsibility and hard work continued to progress as well. Knowing that your sheep are depending on you to feed and water them each day gives you a sense of maturity from a young age. For Tayla, her summers were planned around her sheep. 4-H also gave her various opportunities to grow in professional ways, all the while making lifelong friends. She served as the president of her club, Country Boots and Skirts, for five years and was vice president and secretary before that. Tayla is grateful for the leadership and organizational skills that she acquired through this position. One of her favorite parts of being president was seeing the growth and joy among the younger members' faces’ as they were rewarded by success in their hard work. Through Country Boots and Skirts, she volunteered for various organizations like Wreaths Across America and Operation Shoebox. Tayla enjoyed the community service aspect of 4-H as it was so rewarding to give back to the community in a meaningful way. She also had the opportunity to judge livestock at the national level through 4-H, travelling the country evaluating some of the highest quality livestock. She did all these activities alongside some of her best friends, making memories and growing her network, which she will carry with her throughout her entire life.
Tayla is the recipient of the Gene Inloes Memorial Livestock Judging Scholarship.
Weld County 4-H Leaders Council Scholarship, Kenneth & Clarice Benson Memorial Scholarship & Josh Jarman Memorial Scholarship
MacKenzie Umberger is the daughter of Jacob Umberger of Frederick. She is a Senior at CSU and is majoring in Journalism and media communication.
All MacKenzie ever wanted to do her entire life was to entertain others. She was a studio-trained dancer for fourteen years. She loved being on stage because she got that rush of passion for her craft and felt weightless as she moved to the beat. Dance made MacKenzie escape the thoughts in her head for the couple of minutes she would be on stage, and it was so peaceful for in those moments. She is currently studying Journalism and Media Communication at CSU in the College of Liberal Arts and is minoring in Creative Writing, which directly reflects what she wants to do with her life. She has always been a writer at heart and believes she has stories worth telling. MacKenzie’s ultimate career goal is to start her own television production company that shows underrepresented stories, characters, and creators to broader audiences through visual and audio mediums. MacKenzie, as a woman who is actively working towards entering the entertainment and media industry, has faced the struggles that come with sexism in a male dominated field. According to the 2023 report by Dr. Martha M. Lauzen, “Women On Screen and Behind the Scenes on Broadcast and Streaming Television in 2022-23”, women made up 22% of directors and 41% of producers of all scripted television shows. There is a serious problem with having voices heard in Hollywood, and she is working hard now to one day give others who are minorities in the industry.
4-H, throughout MacKenzie’s ten years as a member and now as a leader, has taught her many skills such as ones that are project-based like sewing or cake decorating. It has also taught her skills like public speaking and time management. One of the skills you may not immediately think of when looking back at her 4-H journey is how to be a graceful loser. MacKenzie was in the Shooting Sports project for four years in the Archery discipline. She went to the state fair for Archery three years in a row. No, she wasn't good. Not even a little bit. The thing is, there were six spots to send down to state for each class, and MacKenzie placed second all three years because there were only two in her class. So, she went to state each of those years, and the first year was rough. In total, she earned 8 points in the entire competition. Everyone chalked it up to nerves, and so the next year, she shocked everyone and earned 7 points. Unfortunately, she got worse. Third year rolls around, and she was at the contest as a moral booster for all of the kids from Weld County and the rest of the competition. (She wasn't nearly as bad at county for the record.) she encouraged everyone on her line the way you would've expected them to do for her. She really tried to do better, that year especially, but at the end of the day, 6 points are better than none. She is now a 4-H leader and is the firs -person people send their kids to when they are struggling with losing because she was an "experienced loser". Once she mourned a loss of this or that, that's when it's time to use all of the other skills she learned in 4-H to become better. She is a video producer, and whenever she has a problem on set, she uses her problem-solving skills to fix things in often unique ways. When she has a new show idea, MacKenzie must pitch it in front of her entire class and all three of her professors, but she knows how because of 4-H. She was in the 4-H film making project, and that taught her what it's like to create videos. And 4-H taught her how to move past pitfalls.
MacKenzie is the recipient of the Weld County 4-H Leaders Council Scholarship, Kenneth & Clarice Benson Memorial Scholarship and the Josh Jarman Memorial Scholarship.