Celebrating 40 Plus Years of Educating and Encouraging Wisconsin Youth Actively Involved in Agriculture

The primary objectives of the Governor's Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction Committee are to educate and encourage youth exhibitors to produce high quality livestock that will provide wholesome and nutritious products, to provide a platform for enhancing and strengthening the agriculture community of Wisconsin, and to foster better understanding of the agriculture industry throughout our society.

History of the Governor's Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction

• Wisconsin State Fair’s premier livestock auction since 1968.
• Animals auctioned are Champions of the Wisconsin State Fair Junior Beef, Junior Swine and Junior Sheep Shows.
• Proceeds raised directly support Wisconsin Youth in the form of scholarships, show premiums, and programming.

Governor’s Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction Committee Announces 2009 Scholarship Awards.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Mary Beth Carr, GBRLA Coordinator, 414.259.4138

March 13, 2009 – The Governor’s Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction Committee has announced the 2009 Scholarship Awards. The Committee is sponsoring five $1000 scholarships and five $500 scholarships. These scholarships, given on an annual basis, will recognize the achievements of Wisconsin State Fair Junior Livestock exhibitors and assist them with their educational expenses.

Individuals must be between the ages of 17-19 as of January 1st of the current year in order to be eligible to apply. They must also be a current or past junior livestock exhibitor who has exhibited beef, sheep, and/or swine at the Wisconsin State Fair. Applicants must pursue a post high school education, and be enrolled or planning to enroll in a University, Vocational/Technical School or University short course. Only one scholarship will be awarded per individual and previous winners may not apply.

All applicants are required to fill out and return a Governor's Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction Scholarship Application, postmarked no later than June 15, 2009 to: Governor’s Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction Scholarship, WI State Fair Park Foundation, 640 South 84^th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53214-0990. All scholarship winners will be recognized at the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction on Wednesday, August 12, 2009.

The GBRLA Scholarship applications have been posted and are available by accessing the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction website, www.gbrla.com, the Agriculture Department page on the Wisconsin State Fair website www.wistatefair.com, through local extension offices, or on the Wisconsin Extension website at www.uwex.edu/ces/animalscience/youthlivestock. For more information, contact Leah Mindemann, GBRLA Scholarship Chair via email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or (952) 270-8778.

The Mission of the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction Committee is to educate and encourage youth exhibitors to produce high quality livestock that will provide wholesome and nutritious products. The Governor’s Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction provides a platform for enhancing and strengthening the agriculture community of Wisconsin, and to foster better understanding of the agriculture industry throughout our society.

2009 Wisconsin State Fair Governor’s Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction Scholarship Application

The Governor’s Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction Committee is sponsoring five $1000 scholarships and five $500 scholarships. These scholarships recognize the achievements of Wisconsin State Fair Junior Livestock exhibitors and assist them with their educational expenses. Eligibility Requirements:

1. Individuals must be between the ages of 17-19 as of January 1st of the current year.

2. Individuals must be a current or past junior livestock exhibitor who has exhibited beef, sheep, and/or swine at the Wisconsin State Fair.

3. Individuals must pursue a post high school education, and be enrolled or planning to enroll in a University, Vocational/Technical School or University short course.

4. Only one scholarship will be awarded per individual.

Scholarship Procedure:

1. All applicants are required to fill out and return a Governor's Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction Scholarship Application, postmarked no later than June 15, 2009 to: Governor’s Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction Scholarship, State Fair Park Foundation, 640 South 84^th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53214-0990.

2. Ten recipients will be chosen from the applications received by the scholarship committee. The top ten finalists will interview for the awards. This is a one-time scholarship.

3. Applications will be judged on the following basis: State Fair participation, 35%; Leadership activities, 30%; Interview, 20%; Scholastic Achievement, 10%; Career plans, 5%.

4. Each of the ten finalists will be interviewed on Tuesday, August 12, 2009 to determine the scholarship winners. Each finalist will be contacted in advance for scheduling.

5. The top ten candidates will receive the scholarships regardless of species exhibited.

6. Winners will be recognized at the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction on Wednesday, August 12, 2009.

7. For scholarship recipients entering their first year of college, the scholarship will be awarded after completion of the first semester and Wisconsin State Fair has received a copy of transcripts from the 1st semester and schedule for 2^nd semester. For scholarship recipients entering their 2nd year of school, the scholarship will be awarded after receiving a copy of current transcripts.

Name______________________________________ Birth Date __________________

Address______________________________________________________________________________

Email (required – this will serve as the main means of communication) __________________________________________________________________________ Parent/Guardian_______________________________________________________________________

Phone number _____-_____-___________

Check the species that you have exhibited and list the most recent year you exhibited livestock at Wisconsin State Fair. ___ BEEF (Year: ______) ____ SHEEP (Year: ______) ____ SWINE (Year: ______)

B. College Intentions: Name of University, Vocational/Technical School, or University short course in which you have been accepted ____________________________________________________________________________________

List your intended Major to be studied_____________________________________________________________

C. Agricultural Experience:

4-H Club Member years ____________ 4-H Offices Held _____________________ FFA Member years ________________ FFA Offices ________________________ Other Youth Group Member (name)- __________________________ years _______

Other Youth Group Offices held___________________________________________

Honors and awards received in 4-H/FFA/Other Youth Groups. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ D. Educational Background: High School attended_____________________________________________________________ Expected date of graduation________________________________________________________ Rank in class________ Size of Class_________ **Rank in class verified by signature of School Official ___________________________________ Title_______________________________________

E. Involvement outside of 4-H/FFA/Other Youth Groups: (This may be an attached sheet.)Extracurricular Activities:________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

F. Other honors received: This may be an attached sheet.____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

Recommendations: Letters of recommendation from three(3) persons, arranged for by the applicant, should be attached. Letters must not be from immediate family members.

G. Please write or type a summary, not to exceed one page, on your involvement and experiences while exhibiting at the Wisconsin State Fair. This written narrative may be an attached sheet. H. Please write or type a summary of your career plans. This written narrative may be an attached sheet.

I. Attach transcripts of your grades.

Signature _________________________ Date ______________________________ Send application, postmarked no later than June 15, 2009 to:

Mary Beth Carr, GBRLA Coordinator Wisconsin State Fair Park Youth Foundation 640 S. 84^th Street Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53214 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 414.259-4138