Fair committee awards $26,000 in scholarships to 13 Wayne County 4-H, FFA students

The Wayne County Jr. 4-H Livestock Sale Committee announced a baker's dozen of scholarship recipients for this year's Nebzydoski-White Memorial Jr. 4-H Livestock Sale Scholarship Fund. Thirteen local graduating students in 4-H or FFA each received scholarships of $2,000 to help them achieve their higher education goals.

"FFA and 4-H participants carefully raise their market steers, pigs, sheep, goats and rabbits all year," Wrote Orley White, a livestock sale board member and member of the scholarship committee. "Their project, however, is not complete until they exhibit their animals in various competitions which are held all during the week at the Wayne County Fair. Once they have completed these competitions and their paperwork, their projects are then deemed complete."

"Before there was a livestock auction," White continued, "they took their animals home, and tried to find a way to recoup the money they had spent raising those animals. This was the situation that existed in 1998, when some long-time supporters of the 4-H program decided to have an auction. This auction became highly successful, frequently becoming the second highest grossing sale in PA, next to the Harrisburg State Sale."

The scholarship program began in 1998 "to assist 4-H members with the costs of higher education and careers," as White explained. The program was renamed the Dr. David J. Nebzydoski Memorial Jr. 4-H Livestock Sale Scholarship Fund in 2003 in honor of the eponymous man "who had been an active 4-H Livestock Program participant and later a strong supporter of the program," said White. The fund received another name change in 2007, becoming the Nebzydoski-White Memorial Jr. 4-H Livestock Scholarship Fund to likewise honor Jim White, "another committed Livestock Committee member," she added.

"Scholarship funds are raised by direct donation, often in memory of a loved one, and by the buy back feature of the Livestock Sale," White wrote. "This is done by purchasing an animal at the sale and then designating the animal for resale. The proceeds of the resale go to the Scholarship Fund. By donating through the “buy back” method, you have helped a 4-H member twice. Once, when the proceeds of the initial purchase go to the 4-H member who raised the animal and again when the proceeds of the resale go into the fund to assist a 4-H member in the future."

Student recipients receive a scholarship certification when they graduate or at their class night. The scholarships themselves are awarded in the auction ring, during the Livestock Sale, said White. She noted that, come this year's award ceremony, over the last 24 years the committee will have awarded more than $500,000 to 388 individuals.

The Livestock Sale takes place this year at on August 13, starting at 10 a.m. The auction ring can be found near the northern entrance to the fairgrounds.

This year's Nebzydoski-White Memorial Jr. 4-H Livestock Scholarship awardees are as follows:

Nathan Bateman, son of Russell and Kathleen Bateman, is a member of the Waymart Horizons 4-H Club and plans on attending a Liberal Arts Program at Wyoming Catholic College and pursuing a career in Equine Dentistry.

Allison Billard, daughter of Thomas and Shawn Billard, a member of Cherry Ridge 4-H Club, will be attending Millersville University majoring in Biology/Animal Behavior.

Sarah Collins, daughter of Ronald and Patricia Collins is a member of Waymart Horizons 4-H Club; she will major in Secondary Education English at West Chester University.

Paige Fiume, daughter of Jim Fiume and Stacy McConnell will be attending the University of Findlay, pursuing a major in Animal Science/ Equine Science. She was a member to the Tri-Gal 4-h Club and the Horse Lovers 4-H Club.

Olivia Gries has been a member of the Calkins Ag 4-H Club and will pursue a degree in Radiologic Technology at Johnson College. She is the daughter of Jeremy and Holly Gries.

Hunter King, daughter of Jamie Hendrickson, and a member of Bethany 4-H Club, will be studying to be a Vet Tech at Johnson College.

Sara McNichols is the daughter of Timothy and Mary McNichols. Sara was a member of the Creamton Area 4-H Club and intends to study Animal Science at the Scranton campus of Penn State.

Emma Modrovsky plans to study Biology Education at Millersville University. She is the daughter of Michael and Kimberly Modrovsky and was a member of the Tri-Gal 4-H Club.

Luke Noble, son of Marty and Jenn Noble, was a member of the Calkins Ag 4-H Club. Luke will be seeking a degree from the Welding program at Johnson College.

Abigail Price, the daughter of Scott and Kelly Price, was also a member of the Calkins Ag 4-H Club. She will attend Bloomsburg University majoring in PTE Early Childhood Education.

Maria Spinelli, a member of the Pleasant Mount Go-Getters, is the daughter of Brian and Beth Spinelli. She will be majoring in Biology at the University of Scranton.

Brianna Taninies is the daughter of William (IV) and Dawn Taninies. She has been a member of the Laurella 4-H Club. She will pursue Exploratory Studies at West Chester University.

Jacob Turner plans to attend Lackawanna College majoring in Criminal Justice. He is the son of Joel and Betsy Turner and was a member of Calkins Ag 4-H Club.

This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: 4H, FFA students to receive scholarships at Wayne County Fair