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By Lily Baucom, Georgia Foundation for Agriculture

The Georgia Foundation for Agriculture (GFA) is excited to name the 24 students it has selected to receive a total of $70,000 in scholarships for the 2023-2024 academic year. GFA scholarships are awarded to students who intend to pursue or are pursuing degrees in agriculture, forestry or family and consumer sciences at a school that is part of The University System of Georgia, Berry College, Emmanuel College or any accredited college/university in Georgia with an ag program or a Georgia accredited technical college.

“The Georgia Foundation for Agriculture is committed to supporting Georgia’s next generation of agricultural leaders. Our 2023-24 scholarship recipients are passionate students pursuing various careers in agriculture,” said GFA Board Chairman and GFB President Tom McCall. “Georgia Farm Bureau is proud to support the foundation’s efforts. There are new, fascinating specialties in agriculture that our scholarship recipients are committing to. We look forward to following these deserving students and their agricultural careers.” 

The scholarships are for graduating high school seniors headed to college or a technical college next fall, rising college juniors and seniors, and students enrolled in the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine who plan to care for farm animals.

Recipients are listed below.

College Freshman Scholarship for Agriculture 

Ten students planning to enter college this fall at Fort Valley State University (FVSU), Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) and the UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences (CAES) were awarded scholarships of $3,000 each: Jane Ashely Rowell, Coffee County; Elizabeth Sanders, Dodge County; Willow Waldrep, Monroe County; Ariana Collins, So. Fulton County; Lawson Mercer, Emanuel County; Payne Murphree, Early County; Jack Pringle, Henry County; Thomas Raley, Glascock County; Adam Stone, Carroll County; and Haigen Walker, Irwin County. The top three candidates – Rowell, Sanders and Waldrep – each received an additional $1,000.    

These 10 students plan to pursue degrees in ag education, animal science, ag engineering, plant science, poultry science, avian biology and biological sciences. 

Technical College Scholarship for Ag 

Kiley Padgett, Hall County; Larson Newsome, Lee County; Addie Pierce, Barrow County; and Maley Dawkins, Franklin County were each selected to receive a $1,500 scholarship to attend North Georgia Technical College, South Georgia Technical College and Athens Technical College. These students plan to pursue biology, modern agriculture, robotics and veterinary technology degrees. The top two candidates –Padgett and Newsome– each received an additional $500.    

Rising College JR/SR Scholarships for Ag  

The foundation awarded ten $2,000 scholarships to these rising college juniors and seniors: Drew Hart, Bulloch County; Lexi Cindrick, Troup County; Bailee Tracy, Harris County; Emily Arp, Baldwin County; Gracie Grimes, Candler County; Hannah Williams, Telfair County; Katlyn Davis, Effingham County; Sage Barlow, Fayette County; Sarah Beth Kersey, Emanuel County; and Tyler Hunter, Bulloch County.

The students plan to attend UGA CAES and ABAC in the fall and are studying ag engineering, ag education, animal science, ag communications, pre-veterinary, and poultry science. 

UGA College of Veterinary Medicine Scholarship

Joy Thompson, Fannin County and Morgan Rowan, Lowndes County will each receive scholarships of $5,000 as they study to become food animal veterinarians at the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine. 

Lily Baucom is executive director of the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture. Visit  www.gafoundationag.org to learn more about the foundation’s programs or to make a tax-deductible donation. Instructions for applying for the 2024-25 scholarships will be posted on the GFA website this fall.