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Eight Juniors to Receive $5,575 in Scholarships

September 2004

Eight juniors continuing their educations in agricultural and business studies at Minnesota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin institutions will receive scholarships totaling $5,575. They will receive the awards on November 6, 2004, at the Junior Banquet, which caps off youth events of the All American Jersey Show, in Louisville, Ky.

Support for the American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA) scholarship program comes from eight different funds, managed in perpetuity by the AJCA. This year, the Bob Toole Youth Award has been added to the scholarship program.

Jack C. Nisbet Scholarships

The Jack C. Nisbet Memorial Scholarship Fund was created in 1965 to honor the AJCA’s seventh Executive Secretary, whom served the organization from 1943-1947. All nominees for the National Jersey Youth Achievement Contest are eligible for consideration in the year in which they compete in the youth contest.

For the second consecutive year, Joshua Parks, Morristown, Tenn., will receive the Nisbet Scholarship. This year’s award totals $650. Parks is ranked second in the 2003 National Jersey Youth Achievement Contest.

Parks is a junior at Walters State Community College, majoring in animal science. He plans to transfer to Virginia Tech to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in animal science. His goal is to pursue a career in dairy management or nutrition. See page xx for more information on Parks and the Youth Achievement Contest.

V. L. Peterson Scholarship

The fund commemorating “Vic” Peterson, the dean of Jersey area representatives, was established in 1972. This year, the $625 award will be awarded to Jeana Marie Fremstad, Westby, Wis.

Fremstad, the daughter of Michael and Merna Fremstad, is a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is enrolled in the farm and industry short course.

She is active in the Badger Dairy Club, is a staff member of the Little Badger Yearbook and has lent a hand with numerous fitting and showing workshops.

Since she was nine, Fremstad has been involved with the Wisconsin Junior Jersey Association, serving the organization twice as president. She attended all but two AJCA annual meetings over the past 14 years and exhibited cattle at the All American Junior Jersey Show.

Fremstad was a member of the Seas Branch Smithies 4-H Club and the Westby FFA Chapter. She held the office of president for FFA and organized a middle school program to get youth involved at an earlier age. She was a member of the FFA Dairy Judging Team and the Dairy Foods Evaluation Team.

In summing up her life with Jerseys, Fremstad says, “Growing up on a Jersey farm is the best thing that could have happened to me. It has given me a chance to work with a truly wonderful cow: the Jersey.”

After school, Fremstad plans to return to the family farm and take over all calf and young stock responsibilities. As well, she’d like to establish a business offering embryo transfer and ultrasound services to dairy producers.

Paul Jackson Memorial Scholarship

This fund was created in 1965 to honor Paul Jackson’s service to the Jersey breed, which spanned more than half a century. Receiving this year’s $250 scholarship winner is Kristin Reiman, Princeton, Minn.

Reiman, the daughter of Richard and Margaret Reiman, is a sophomore at the University of Minnesota, majoring in agricultural education.

Reiman is a member of the Gopher Dairy Club, Agricultural Education Club, Horticulture Club, Agricultural Ambassadors and Lambda Delta Phi Sorority.

For the past 10 years, she has been developing her herd of Registered JerseysTM. Her herd today is seven milking cows and seven replacement heifers. Reiman has exhibited cattle at the All American Open and Junior Jersey Shows, World Dairy Expo, Minnesota State Fair and the Wisconsin Spring Spectacular. She leases heifers to other youth in order to continue the positive experience she received from participation in these shows.

Although Jerseys were initially added to the herd for show purposes, Reiman remarks, “We found out (just) how profitable Jerseys can be and bought a few more.”

Reiman was a nine-year member of 4-H. She was club and county president, county treasurer and state ambassador. She is a member of the FFA and served the organization as regional president and secretary and as a member of the state officer team.

In 2002, she was honored as the Minnesota Jersey Queen and was a finalist for the state’s Princess Kay of the Milky Way. In 2001, she competed in the National 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl Contest.

While in high school, Reiman was active in cross-country, track, student council, speech, drama and choir.

Reiman plans to use her agricultural education degree to teach young people about the Jersey industry and help them experience the benefits of participation in its programs.

Russell Memorial Scholarship

William A. Russell’s lifetime of experience with and service to the Jersey breed is commemorated by the scholarship that was established in his name in 1977. This award is designated for students who have completed high school and are beginning their university studies.

Receiving the $1,000 scholarship award this year will be Wendy Marie Bok, Defiance, Ohio. Bok, the daughter of Sam and Julie Bok, is a freshman at Defiance College. She is majoring in business and management.

Bok’s herd of 42 cows and 35 replacement heifers includes some of the country’s finest Registered Jerseys. Bok owns three cows that are ranked among the top 10 for JPI, including breed leader, Berrettas Linette. Bok has also done well in Pot O’Gold Production Contests. She won the national competition five times, including this year, with Yosemite Jerrick Khan A8409. See page xx for more information on Bok and the Pot O’Gold Production Contest.

Bok is active in the Defiance County Fair. She has won a variety of awards, including showmanship, best fitting and grand champion. For four years, she served on the Junior Fair Board and is the current vice-president.

Bok is a 10-year member of the Friendly Faces 4-H Club. Each year, she was elected to hold an office, as president, vice-president or reporter. This summer, she is a volunteer at the Ohio State University Extension office, helping with the 4-H program.

On the farm, Bok does evening milkings, bottle feeds baby calves and grain and hay feeds young heifers. She also does much of the paperwork, tattoos, registrations and keeps DHI information current.

Down the road, Bok plans to milk cows on her own farm. She comments, “My cows have been my pride and joy and I want to be successful in the future with them.”

Cedarcrest Farms Scholarship

The Cedarcrest Farms Scholarship was established in 1999 and has been funded by the sale of a bull at two of the Cedarcrest sales. Recipient of the $1,000 scholarship is Aaron Ray Tompkins, Blacksburg, Va.

Tompkins is the son of John and Abreena Tompkins, Ennice, N.C. He is a senior at Virginia Tech, majoring in dairy science.

Tompkins is a member of the Virginia Tech Dairy Club and Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity. In 2004, he received the dairy club’s Outstanding Male Award. He served on the club’s showcase sale selection committee and was this year’s chair. In 2002, he was a member of the Virginia Tech Dairy Judging Team.

While in high school, Tompkins was active in 4-H and FFA. In FFA dairy judging, he placed first in state and 10th in national competitions. He was a member of the North Carolina State 4-H Dairy Judging Team that competed in the Eastern National and World Dairy Expo events. He represented his state at the National 4-H Dairy Youth Conference in 1998 and the Southeastern Dairy Youth Retreat in 1999, where he placed first in the Junior Dairyman’s Contest and third in the Jeopardy Dairy Quiz Bowl.

In 2003, Tompkins received the Paul Jackson Memorial Scholarship from the AJCA.

Remarks Tompkins, “My plans for achieving my goals are being lived out, as I currently lease a 125-head dairy (Rising Sun Farms) in Ferrum, Va. I continue to be an avid learner as a full-time student and active participant in Jersey activities on the local, state and national levels.”

Reuben Cowles Youth Award

The Rueben R. Cowles Youth Award supports a variety of education experiences for individuals whom are no older than 30 and live in six southeastern states. The trustees of this fund selected Aaron Ray Tompkins to receive the $800 award.

The Fred Stout Experience

This award was first given in 2002, in memory of Fred J. Stout, Jr. Stout worked selflessly for the Jersey organizations for 19 years and was instrumental in the growth and development of Jersey Marketing Service (JMS). The award provides partial support for an internship or other on-farm or marketing experience with Registered Jerseys.
Receiving this year’s award was Allison Waggoner, Pendleton, S.C., daughter of Steve and Kitty Waggoner. She is a sophomore at Clemson University, majoring in animal science.

Waggoner used the $750 award toward a summer internship with Jersey Marketing Service. She is working primarily in the southeast with area representatives to help Jersey breeders buy and sell cattle.

Allison is a member of the Clemson University FFA, Block and Bridle Club and Dairy Science Club. She is also a secretarial assistant at the office of the Clemson University Research Farms.

Waggoner has been actively involved in the South Carolina Junior Jersey Cattle Club. She was elected to the offices of president, vice-president and secretary and was the state Jersey Queen in 2003.

Says Marilyn Easter, co-chair of the South Carolina Jersey Youth Committee, “This is a hard working young lady that loves new challenges, dearly loves her Jersey cows and the dairy industry.”

She was a member of the Pendleton FFA Chapter and recently elected South Carolina FFA Secretary. On the state level, she was a finalist for State Star Farmer and won the Prepared Public Speaking Contest, the Dairy Judging Contest and the Dairy Foods Contest. Twice, she was a recipient of the Washington Leadership Conference Scholarship.

Waggoner was a member of the Anderson County 4-H Club. In 2001, she won the state’s 4-H dairy judging contest. In 2000, she was selected as a delegate to the National 4-H Dairy Conference in Madison, Wis., and was named winner of the Tennessee 4-H Dairy Project.

After completion of her undergraduate studies, Waggoner plans to attend Virginia Tech, to obtain a Masters Degree in dairy genetics.

Bob Toole Youth Award

The lifelong enthusiasm Bob Toole felt for the Jersey cow is a tribute to the value of youth programs and on-farm experiences. To provide youth with opportunities to grow in the Jersey industry, the family, friends and business associates of Bob Toole have established a scholarship in his name.

The Bob Toole Youth Award will be given annually through the American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA) scholarship program to a young person who seeks formal education or practical experience related to the breeding, developing and showing of Jerseys.

Toole’s enthusiasm for the Jersey breed began when he was just 10 years old. Every weekend and summer, he would catch a bus to rural Syracuse, N.Y., to work on Silver Spring Farm, owned by his grandfather, John Luchsinger, and uncle and aunt, Fred and Betty Luchsinger.

The experience kindled an enthusiasm for farm life and the Jersey breed that continued throughout his life. When speaking of these times, Toole referred to them as “the best days of my life.”

Of all farm joys, showing Jersey cattle was Toole’s greatest. Years later, he fondly reminisced about having his own calf to train, care for and show at the New York State Fair. Visits to the Silver Spring show string brought about long discussions on famous cow families.

During his lifetime, Toole had a full, varied career in business. He worked at the Social Security office, Sandoz Pharmaceuticals and Carrier Corporation. He founded R.F. Toole Associates, Ltd., an employee benefit and human resources consulting firm. Toole also served 33 years in the medical services branch of the U.S. Army Reserves, retiring as full colonel.

In 1997, Toole fulfilled a dream, when he acquired a small herd that was bred by his Uncle Fred. In 1998, almost 50 years after his love affair began, Toole exhibited his own Jerseys at the New York State Fair. At 57, he was dubbed the “oldest 4-H kid in the barn.”

In recent years, Toole showed cows under the Brier Hill Farm name at the New York State Fair, Spring Carousel Show and All American Jersey Show.

Toole’s legacy continues, as many of his cows are now shown by Mary Giroux, Brier Hill Farm, and the Chuck (Toole’s cousin) and Sue Luchsinger Family, Silver Spring Farm.

The first recipient of the $500 Bob Toole Youth Award is Abe Caldwell Cobb, II, Perkins, Okla. Cobb, son of Abe and Trisha Cobb, is a sophomore at Oklahoma State University, majoring in agribusiness.

Cobb is a member of Oklahoma State University Collegiate FFA and the Dairy Science Club. He is also a member of the judging team that will compete at World Dairy Expo this fall.

When he was two years old, Cobb received two grade Jersey calves from his parents. From this $100 investment and Jersey expansion, his herd has grown to 26 milking cows and 29 replacement heifers.

Cobb has been active in 4-H and FFA programs. He was runner-up for the Oklahoma State Star Farmer. In FFA dairy judging, he was a member of the state’s winning team and received a gold medal on the national level.

Cobb has exhibited cattle at a variety of local, state, regional and national shows, including the state fairs of Oklahoma, Colorado and Arkansas and the Southern National and All American Jersey shows.

While in high school, Cobb was active in Student Council and National Honor Society and graduated Valedictorian. He was a member of the varsity football and baseball teams.

Cobb plans to return to the family’s Cobblestone Dairy Farm and go into partnership with his parents.

Remarks Cobb, “I cannot envision my life away from my Jerseys and this land.”

Awards for 2005-2006

Applications for 2005-2006 Jersey Youth Scholarships will be accepted from April 1 through July 1, 2005. Forms may be downloaded from www.USJersey.com/YouthProgram/scholarshipinfo.html. Or, call 614/861-3636, extension 334, for more information.