2020 Scholarship Recipients
$1000 Brown Swiss Association Scholarship
Awna Hirsch, CO
My name is Awna Hirsch. I am a senior at Windsor High School in Colorado, and I have been showing Brown Swiss cattle for about five years. In these five years, I have got involved in the breed by becoming a National Association member, and a member of the Rocky Mountain Association. I currently own 9 registered Brown Swiss cattle and I have shown these cattle at both the Rocky Mountain Brown Swiss Show and the Heart of America National Brown Swiss Show alongside showing them at local shows such as the Colorado Dairy Youth Extravaganza, Weld County Fair, and the Colorado State Fair.
Additionally, I am involved in 4-H and FFA dairy judging at the local national and international levels, the Weld County Dairy Advisory Council, and Colorado and National Holstein Associations. My involvement in the dairy industry has led me to pursue a career in the dairy industry.
In the Fall of 2020, I will attend the University of Minnesota majoring in animal science. My goal while attending this university include being an active member of the Gopher Dairy Club and being a member of the dairy judging team. After college, my goals include finding a career working with dairy cattle genetics, conducting a dairy science research project, traveling across the globe, and starting my own family.
When I am not working with my dairy cattle, I spend most of my time listening to music, gardening, or crafting. I enjoy these hobbies because they allow me to express myself and my creativity.
$1000 Brown Swiss Association Scholarship
Taylor Paye, WI
$500 Howard Voegeli Memorial Scholarship
Kelsey Erf, MN
$500 Lynn and Peter Vail Scholarship
Hannah Albert, IL
$500 Progressive BS Sires Scholarship
Kaylen Miller, IL
My name is Kaylen Miller and I live in Orangeville Illinois. I work on my family farm, Mil-K Valley, where we milk a combination of 45 Brown Swiss and Holsteins. My role on the farm includes milking, registering calves, record keeping, and other day-to-day challenges that may arise.
I am currently serving as the 2019-2020 National Brown Swiss Youth Alternate Ambassador. Being a ambassador has given me the opportunity to travel across the country going to shows and interacting with breeders. During high school, I had the opportunity to serve as 2015 and 2016 Illinois State Swiss Miss as well as the Canton II Brown Swiss Princess.
Throughout my time as a Junior Member I have been very active; I exhibit and participate in the Illinois State Fair Junior and Open Dairy Shows, competed at the local and state level, as well as World Dairy Expo. I have also attended national conventions and competed in quiz bowl and showing in the National Junior Heifer shows. Through all of these events, activities, and time spent on the farm I began to develop my passion for the dairy industry. Additionally, through all of these events I gained valuable skills in public speaking and advocacy.
Part of being a good producer is learning and helping others which is a reason why I started helping Norm Magnussen with his cattle sales as a sales clerk. These experiences helped me learn how to manage sales, talk with buyers and more about the behind the scenes actions of a sale.
As a busy college student, I strive to attend as many dairy events as possible such as workshops put on by IBA, Select Sires, Dairy Lab Services, and Decatur Dairy producer meetings. In addition to these events I have also run for Northwest Holstein Dutchess, attended the National Holstein Convention numerous years, exhibited at local & District Holstein shows, and participated in Dairy Quiz Bowl & Dairy Judging on the state and national level.
While exhibiting and showing my animals, I am continuous promoting and advocating for the industry that I love. Education and advocacy is the foundation of the dairy industry and the agriculture industry and I am happy to play my part through public education and interaction. I am currently a Junior at Iowa State University studying Agricultural Business and International Agriculture with a minor in Animal Science. After graduating college, I plan on getting a job in the dairy industry and eventually taking over my family dairy farm.
Some of my hobbies include scrapbooking, cooking, baking, reading, horseback riding, photography, and watching sports. My favorite sports teams include the Chicago Blackhawks, Chicago Cubs, Chicago Bears, and of course Iowa State Cyclones. I also enjoying spending time with my family and friends.
$500 Joseph Miller Memorial Scholarship
Bailey Groves, MO
My name is Bailey Groves and I live in Billings, Missouri. I have been involved with Brown Swiss cattle since I was a member of the Clover Kids 4-H Club. I started showing in Little Tykes classes at the county fairs. As I got older, I started showing at the Missouri State Fair. I have shown at the Southwestern National too.
My involvement in the dairy industry includes being a member of the National and State Brown Swiss Association, and the National and State Holstein Association. In 4-H, I attend dairy cow camps and dairy judging camps in order to strength my dairy judging skills as well as giving reasons skills. In FFA, I participate in the Food for America program so elementary kids will know where their food is produced.
My future goals include being on a 4-H judging team that will judge here in the United States, and hopefully be invited to judge in Europe. I plan to go to college so I can get a degree in the medical field. Also, I plan to continue working on the family farm and showing my Brown Swiss cows.