Matt Boatright, deputy director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture, will present Wendy Cantrell of the Miller County Regional Stockyards with an award of recognition for her contributions to the Youth in Agriculture scholarship program.  Ms. Cantrell led the purchase of the Reserve Champion Steer at the 2007 Missouri State Fair in Sedalia.  The steer was purchased for $20,500 by the Miller County Regional Stockyards and other hometown supporters and was donated to the MU Independent Aggies.   Monies from the sale contributed to the development of the Youth in Agriculture scholarship program for seniors in high school wishing to further their education in agriculture.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008
7:00 p.m.

Miller County Regional Stockyards
Eldon, Mo.

A portion of the funds raised from the Missouri State Fair’s sale of champion livestock is set aside each year to support students beginning agriculture curriculums at Missouri institutions of higher learning.  FFA and 4-H scholarship candidates were evaluated in a variety of areas including their Missouri State Fair participation, grade point average, leadership roles and community involvement.  Thirty-one Missouri high school seniors planning to enter the halls of higher education did so last fall with scholarship funds generously provided by supporters of Youth in Agriculture at the 2007 Missouri State Fair.  One $2,500 “Supreme Scholarship” and thirty $1,000 scholarships were awarded.

Media inquiries please contact Misti Preston, public information administrator, Missouri Department of Agriculture, at (573) 751-8596.