2024 Futurity Scholarships Awarded
Presented at the National Gelbvieh and Balancer® Show, held in conjunction with the fourth annual 2024 Cattlemen’s Congress, both the People’s Choice Balancer Futurity and Breeder’s Choice Gelbvieh Futurity Scholarships were awarded. Each scholarship provides the winning recipient with $1,000 to be used for the continuation of their education in the field of their choice. Criteria for both scholarship opportunities include active membership within the American Gelbvieh Junior Association (AGJA) and being actively enrolled as a high school senior or college student who has not yet turned 22 as of January 1, 2023. Scholarship funds may be used to attend a two-year or four-year college, university, or technical school.
The 2024 People’s Choice Balancer Bull Futurity scholarship recipient is Gentry Warner, Arapahoe, Nebraska. Gentry is the daughter of Dan and Kate Warner and currently attends Kansas State University majoring in Agricultural Education and minoring in Animal Science with plans to be an agricultural educator. Graduating from Arapahoe Public High School, Warner served as the President of her FFA Chapter, 4-H club, and the National Honor Society. Additionally, Warner was recognized as the Outstanding Agricultural Business Student and Outstanding Introduction to Agriculture Student.
“Gelbvieh and Balancer people and cattle will always have a special place in my heart. I will continue to advocate and raise the breed that upholds many traits and qualities that I now understand,” Warner mentioned.
Lincoln Martin, son of Eric and Holly Martin, of Bucklin, Kansas, was selected as the recipient of the 2024 Breeder’s Choice Gelbvieh Bull Futurity Scholarship. Martin is a senior at Bucklin High School. Martin’s career goal is to work in the agriculture industry in rural Kansas allowing him to be involved in his family’s Gelbvieh operation. Martin currently serves as the Bucklin FFA Chapter President and serves as the Southwest District FFA Secretary.
Martin stated, “This year, I had the opportunity to run for the American Gelbvieh Junior Association board of directors. I was fortunate to achieve that goal and have already been working to advance the opportunities for Gelbvieh juniors across the nation.”
Martin currently serves on the American Gelbvieh Junior Association board of directors, exhibited the 2020 AGJA Junior Classic Reserve Champion Gelbvieh Female, and attended IGS: The Summit this past year in Phoenix, Arizona.
Congratulations to both of the 2024 Bull Futurity Scholarship recipients. If you know of an AGJA member who meets the aforementioned criteria to apply for an AGJA scholarship like these, we encourage you to reach out and share the opportunities provided through the AGJA, American Gelbvieh Foundation, bull futurities, and several memorials. Please contact Tawnie DeJong, AGA member and youth activities coordinator, with questions at tawnie@gelbvieh.org.
The American Gelbvieh Association is a progressive beef cattle breed association representing 1,100 members and approximately 40,000 cows assessed annually in a performance-oriented total herd reporting system.
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