AgTexas Farm Credit recognized ag advisors and students at the 11th Annual AgYouth Scholarship Banquet held at Jones Stadium at Texas Tech University.
This year alone, AgTexas awarded more than $26,000 in scholarships to local students, recognizing their academic achievement and dedication to agriculture, leadership and community service. Additionally, it awarded $1,000 to local 4H and/or local FFA leaders.
Local students earning $1,000 scholarships were McKinley Tucker, Whiteface FFA and Hockley County 4H, and Madyson Nichelson, Whitharral FFA.
The Outstanding Adult Leader Award went to Colt Spies, Whiteface FFA advisor Colt Spies, who received a $1,000 check plus an additional $1,000 for the Whiteface FFA Chapter.
According to AgTexas, the event is more than handing out scholarship checks, it is helping shape the next generation of agricultural leaders across the South Plains because, as AgTexas CEO Kayla Robinson stated, “The future of agriculture is in this room.”
To win a scholarship, students must submit an essay outlining their involvement with their local FFA Chapter or 4-H Club, accomplishments, awards and leadership positions, participation in other high school, activities, volunteer work in the community, their vision for where they will be in five years and their commitment to agriculture.
The AgYouth of the Month scholarship program has awarded $224,000. The awards consist of $1,000 scholarships for selected graduating high school seniors involved in 4-H and FFA, $22,500 in Distinguished AgYouth Graduate Scholarships for students already in college, and $1,000 awards to an outstanding 4-H or FFA leader in each of three regions including the South Plains, Panhandle, and Central Texas. The 4-H or FFA leader’s chapter will also receive $1,000.
In total, AgTexas awarded $40,000 to graduating high school seniors, graduate students, and 4-H or FFA leaders across its three regions, with $11,000 for students in the Lubbock area.
AgTexas serves approximately 3,500 members in 43 counties through 11 offices, including Lubbock, Brownfield, Levelland, and Seminole. In the South Plains, AgTexas serves Cochran, Crosby, Gaines, Garza, Hockley, Lubbock, Lynn, Terry, and Yoakum counties.