30Murfreesboro, TN—Six Tennessee college students have been awarded the Youth Beef Heifer Initiative Scholarship, sponsored by the Tennessee Cattlemen’s Affiliation (TCA) and Farm Credit score Mid-America (FCMA). They acquired this award on the Tennessee Cattlemen’s Affiliation Youth Awards Banquet sponsored by Kubota Tractor Company, on Saturday, January 21, 2023, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
The Heifer Initiative focuses on cost-sharing of beef cattle for youth. First place winners of every age division are awarded $2,000 and belt buckle sponsored by the College of Tennessee Animal Science, and the second-place winners are awarded $1,000.
“The heifer scholarship initiative is likely one of the most rewarding packages our affiliation presents to youth,” mentioned Melinda Perkins, TCA Director of Youth Packages and Outreach. “We’re in a position to assist the long run leaders of our trade by offsetting the price of buying a heifer. This is only one method we might help them get off to the precise begin in our trade. We’re grateful to accomplice with Farm Credit score Mid-America on the heifer scholarship program once more this 12 months.”
Tommi Pleasure Hensley of Unicoi County gained first place within the Youth Division and Morgan Shamblin of McMinn County positioned second. Hannah-Jane Davis of Giles County acquired first place within the Junior Excessive Division and Ethan Giles of Anderson County positioned second. RuthAnn Johns of Rutherford County gained first place within the Senior Division and Caden Delaney of Henry County acquired second.
“I’m blessed and grateful to obtain the Farm Credit score Mid-America/Tennessee Cattlemen’s Affiliation Youth Beef Heifer Initiative Scholarship this 12 months,” mentioned RuthAnn Johns, senior excessive winner from Rutherford County. “I’ve not too long ago determined to focus extra on the breeding side of the cattle trade. With this scholarship, I can be seeking to buy a heifer or bred heifer with genetics that can additional my herd and permit for the beginning of an elite gene pool that my household is working towards.”
This scholarship cash is to be put in direction of the acquisition of a beef heifer of their alternative from a Tennessee Cattlemen’s Affiliation member inside one 12 months of receiving the funds. There are three age divisions: Youth, Junior Excessive, and Senior Excessive.
“I’m excited to obtain this scholarship. I plan to buy a Shorthorn or ShorthornPlus heifer to indicate then use in my herd,” mentioned Caden Delaney, second-place winner from Henry County. “This scholarship has opened the door for lots of enhancements in my herd.”
The appliance for the 2023 Beef Heifer Initiative Scholarship can be out there within the fall of 2023.
TCA was based in 1985 and has greater than 7,000 members from throughout the state and the southeast. The group works to supply the cattlemen of Tennessee with a company by way of which they might operate collectively to guard their pursuits and work towards the answer of cattle trade issues and to construct the mandatory goodwill that can convey each governmental esteem and recognition to the trade.