Fifteen Jersey Youth Receive Scholarships Totaling $34,350
Fifteen Jersey youth continuing their education will receive scholarships from the American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA) totaling $34,350. They will receive their awards on November 8, 2025, at the Youth Awards Ceremony held during All American festivities in Louisville, Ky.
The 15 recipients are pursuing higher education at universities and colleges in 10 states—California, Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin. They are pursuing degrees in agribusiness, agribusiness management, agribusiness supply chain management, agricultural business, agriculture education, animal science, animal science/dairy production, dairy and food management, dairy science, nutrition and food science and veterinary medicine.
Twenty-seven students applied for scholarships from the AJCA this year. Youth can apply for as many scholarships as they are eligible to compete for.
Support for the AJCA scholarship program comes from eight different funds managed in perpetuity by the AJCA. In order to make larger scholarship amounts available, Jersey breeders can contribute to the funds at any time by contacting the AJCA at 614/322-4451.
Russell-Malnati Scholarship for Advanced Studies
Kylie Marie Konyn
Freeville, N.Y.
This scholarship is available to graduate students seeking degrees in dairy science, animal science, large animal veterinary practice, dairy production, dairy manufacturing, or dairy product processing.
Kylie Marie Konyn, Freeville, N.Y., will receive this $5,000 scholarship. The daughter of Frank and Stacy Konyn is pursuing a master’s degree in animal science, with emphasis in transition cow health, nutrition and management, at Cornell University. She earned her undergraduate degree in dairy science from the University of Wisconsin (UW)-Madison.
Konyn grew up on the last remaining dairy in San Diego County, California, and established Aspire Jerseys in 2013 with a calf gifted to her by former National Jersey Queen Regina Pozzi. She also purchased several foundation animals through the Pot O’Gold program. Today, the herd includes 134 animals.
She has exhibited cattle at the county, state and national level and won production awards at the state and national levels. She uses tools like JerseMate, genomic testing, embryo transfer and in vitro fertilization to improve both type and production.
Active with the California Junior Jersey Cattle Association, she was president three times and also served as vice president, reporter and secretary. She was a member of Class VII of Jersey Youth Academy and placed among the top 10 in the National Jersey Youth Achievement Contest three times. She was the California Jersey Queen and Western National Jersey Queen in 2019, named first alternate in the national contest in 2020 and won the national title the following year.
Konyn received the Morris B. Ewing ABS Genetic Performance Scholarship in 2023 and the V.L. Peterson Scholarship last year.
While at UW-Madison, she was on the Dairy Challenge team and the dairy judging team. She was first in reasons and high individual overall at the 2024 National Intercollegiate Dairy Judging Contest. She was an outreach officer for the Badger Dairy Club and chaired positions for the Badger Invitational Sale. She also belonged to the Association of Women in Agriculture and was a public relations officer for UW-Madison Collegiate Farm Bureau.
She is currently a research assistant with Dr. Thomas Overton at Cornell and previously worked with Dr. Heather White at the UW-Madison, where she contributed to feed efficiency projects, assisted graduate students and conducted her own research.
Konyn has interned with Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, Standard Dairy Consulting, Cargill Animal Health and ABS Genus. She received funding from the Dairy Innovation Hub to work with Dr. Chuck Nicolson on a project to increase Wisconsin’s dairy export capacity and access to global markets. She also studied abroad at Wageningen University in the Netherlands.
For the upcoming academic year, Konyn has also received a Kildee Scholarship from the National Dairy Shrine and a GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship.
The Walter and Joyce Owens and Family Scholarship
Cassandra Bohnert
East Moline, Ill.
The award in available to incoming or current students enrolled at an accredited two- or four-year college or university in a dairy related major. It is based on financial need, leadership skills, and academic performance.
Cassandra Ann Bohnert, East Moline, Ill., is this year’s recipient of the $5,000 scholarship. The daughter of Scott and Karen Bohnert, is a sophomore at Iowa State University working on a degree in dairy science.
She grew up on Bohnert Jerseys, a 700-cow Registered Jersey farm operated by her family. Among her most memorable dairy milestones was saving for and then purchasing her first Jersey at the Pot O’Gold Sale. She has been active in 4-H and other youth programs, exhibited cattle at local shows, the state fair and the All American Jersey Show and attended national Jersey conventions.
She is an integral part of the crew that operates Bohnert Jerseys and gained hands-on experience working with several other Jersey dairies. She helped DeMent Jerseys and Kilgus Jerseys with their show strings at the Illinois State Fairy and completed a mini-internship with Dutch Hollow Farm in Schodack Landing, N.Y.
In 2024, she received the William A. Russell Memorial Scholarship. This July, she attended Jersey Youth Academy.
At United Township High School, she was a member of the varsity basketball team, receiving the Panther Pride Award for leadership and integrity. She was a member of the National Honor Society and the National Spanish Honor Society and graduated magna cum laude in 2023. She also received the John Deere Student Award.
She volunteered with her church, the Rock Island County Fair, and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, among others.
Bohnert is a member of the Iowa State Dairy Club, has been on the university’s dean list and works at dairy farms locally to earn funds for her education. This fall, she plans to travel to Santiago, Chile, to attend the World Dairy Summit to learn about the industry and strengthen her Spanish-speaking skills.
She received scholarships from several other agriculture organizations, including Midwest Dairy, Genex and the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board.
After graduation she plans to be involved in production agriculture on a Midwest Jersey dairy farm as a herdsperson, eventually returning to Bohnert Jerseys to help manage the herd upon retirement of the current herdsman.
The Lineweaver Scholarship
Sarah Diehl
McVeytown, Pa.
This award is available to students who have completed at least one year at an accredited four-year college or university in a dairy, animal science, or dairy products department. It is based on financial need, leadership skills, and academic performance.
Sarah Eveline Diehl, McVeytown, Pa., will receive the scholarship award of $3,500. She is the daughter of Joe and Kristin Diehl. She is a senior at Virginia Polytechnic State University this fall, majoring in dairy science, with a focus on pre-veterinary medicine.
She grew up on Musser Run Jerseys, operated by her family. Her life has revolved around Jersey activities, from showing her first calf, Belle, at the age of six to giving a history of Elsie the cow to members attending the Pennsylvania Jersey Cattle Association when she was 12. More recently, she attended Jersey Youth Academy in July and visited the Isle of Jersey with the Virginia Tech Dairy Club.
Diehl was an active 12-year member of 4-H, serving as president of both the county’s dairy and beef clubs.
A member of the Virginia Tech Dairy Club, she is a former intramural sports chair and currently serves as president. She has participated in Dairy Challenge at the regional and national levels and is now on the university’s dairy judging team and the American Dairy Science quiz bowl team.
At Musser Run Jerseys, she was primarily a calf feeder and milker. This summer she worked for Huntingdon Vet Service, helping with herd checks and farm calls and administering vaccinations.
She received several scholarships from Virginia Tech, including the Bradley S. Johnson Scholarship and the Paul M. Reaves Scholarship, and earned one from the Center for Dairy Excellence too.
Long term, she plans to become a large animal veterinarian.
Morris B. Ewing ABS Global Genetic Performance Scholarship
Madelynn Hoffman
Manheim, Pa.
Junior or senior undergraduate students seeking a career in genetics, dairy production, large animal veterinary medicine or milk marketing are eligible for this scholarship.
Madelynn Rose Hoffman, Manheim, Pa., is the recipient of the $2,750 Ewing Scholarship. The daughter of Curt and Psuche Hoffman is a senior at Cornell University, working on a major in animal science with a pre-veterinary concentration and a minor in microbiology.
Hoffman established her Registered Jersey at the age of 12 when she purchased a cow from a neighbor. She is involved in all aspects of operating the multi-species robotic dairy farm, from managing reproduction protocols and making breeding decisions to formulating rations. She is also involved in planning for the farm’s future, which includes a processing plant and an on-farm market.
She attended Jersey Youth Academy in 2021 and has shown cattle at the local level and the All American Jersey Show.
Hoffman has participated in dairy jeopardy, dairy bowl and dairy judging. She was president of her local 4-H club and served on the junior farm show committee for the Pennsylvania Farm Show. Active with FFA, she competed on the agricultural business management team that won the state contest and earned a gold medal at nationals.
She has also been involved with equestrian activities like dressage and trail riding.
During school, she ran track and cross-country and now trains for marathons.
At Cornell, she was a shift leader in the McArt lab, where she taught students how to collect blood, milk and body weights on research cattle and take uterine and rectal temperatures. She also maintained and updated records, processed blood samples, and managed supplies.
She will represent Cornell in the North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge.
Looking ahead, she hopes to specialize in a food-animal practice with a focus on dairy and swine.
The Robert Bignami Memorial Scholarship
Clancey Krahn
Albany, Ore.
This scholarship is for students who have attended Jersey Youth Academy and are enrolled in an accredited four-year college or university majoring in an agriculture-based degree. The award is based on financial need, academic performance, and leadership skills.
The recipient of this $2,500 award is Clancey Christine Krahn, Albany, Ore. She is the daughter of Ben and Amy Krahn. A junior at Oklahoma State University (OSU), she is dual majoring in animal sciences/dairy production and agricultural communications and minoring in marketing.
She and her family own and operate Royal Riverside Farm, a vertically integrated Registered Jersey farm. In 2018, they built a creamery on the farm and began bottling milk. Today, milk is distributed to 60 stores and coffee shops across Oregon.
From “grass to glass,” Krahn’s experiences with Jerseys have shaped her and laid a strong foundation for her future in the dairy industry. She has been involved in all aspects of the farm’s operation, from daily chores to the show string to farm tours and managing the on-site farm stand, The Classy Cow.
Krahn was active in both 4-H and FFA, serving the former as club president and the latter as both chapter and district president. She was the youth representative on the Linn County Livestock Auction Committee.
She was the fifth high individual in the National 4-H Dairy Judging Contest and a national gold medalist in the FFA milk quality and product evaluation contest. In 2023, she was awarded the Oregon FFA Star Farmer and won the national dairy production entrepreneurship proficiency award.
An active exhibitor, she showed cattle at county and state fairs and the All American Junior Jersey Show, where she showed the Junior Champion in 2023. She also received laurels as grand champion showman at the Western National Jersey Show.
She was crowned National Jersey Queen and Oregon Dairy Princess Ambassador in 2023.
She attended Class VIII of Jersey Youth Academy and recently completed the U.S. Dairy Education and Training Consortium in Clovis, N.M., a six-week experience in dairy industry education.
At OSU, she is an officer in the Dairy Science Club, a mentor in Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and a member of Ag Communicators of Tomorrow. She is active with Chi Omega sorority and was recently selected as the Panhellenic senator for the student senate. She also competes on the university’s Dairy Challenge and dairy judging teams.
Krahn received a Klussendorf Scholarship and a Milk Marketing and Dairy Products Scholarship from National Dairy Shrine along with scholarships from the Oregon Dairy Farmers Association, the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association and AgWest Farm Credit.
Upon graduation, Krahn plans to pursue a master’s degree in agricultural communications and leadership from OSU. She will pursue a career as a trusted voice for farmers at the local, state and national levels through public relations, legislative outreach or marketing.
William A. Russell Memorial Scholarship
Kiara Konyn
Escondido, Calif.
This scholarship is available to high school graduates accepted into a college or university for the fall program of the school year (entering freshmen).
This year’s recipient of the $2,750 scholarship is Kiara Louise Konyn of Escondido, Calif. The daughter of Frank and Stacy Konyn, she is following in the footsteps of her sister, Kylie, and will attend UW-Madison to earn an undergraduate degree in the dairy and food animal management and pre-vet program.
At the family farm, she gives tours to visitors and helps with cow care and calf feeding. She and Kylie operate Aspire Holsteins and Jerseys.
Konyn served her local 4-H club, the 56 Ranchers, as treasurer, secretary, corresponding secretary and sergeant at arms and received a platinum star award. She has also been very active with state junior breed associations, including those for Jerseys, Brown Swiss and Angus. She was the corresponding secretary and reporter for the California Junior Holstein Association, which named her Breeder of the Future. She also recently received a Distinguished Junior Member award from Holstein Association USA.
Among her youth dairy activities are judging, quiz bowl and showing. She has helped Jersey Marketing Service with the All American Jersey Sale and worked with the Kash-In Jerseys show string at the All American in 2021. She has also helped with show strings for Maple Leigh Futures and Vorgrin Boarding at World Dairy Expo.
Konlyn was a member of the Ramona Junior Fair Steering Committee and an active athlete in school, playing varsity golf, water polo and swimming. She maintained dual enrollment in Palomar College and MiraCosta College to earn college credits and was a member of National Honor Society.
She has graduated two dogs with Guide Dogs for the Blind, has another dog in training, and is raising a fourth puppy for the program.
Konyn will also receive scholarships from San Marcos Kiwanis and the San Diego County Fair, the California Holstein Association and county and local branches of Farm Bureau.
Her career goal is to become a large animal veterinarian.
V. L. Peterson Scholarship
Jessica Hewitt
Baton Rouge, La.
Awarded to students who have completed at least one year of college work are eligible for this scholarship.
Jessica Haley Hewitt, Baton Rouge, La., will receive the $2,250 award. She is enrolled in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Louisiana State University. The daughter of Jill Thomas of Acampo, Calif., Hewitt graduated from Molalla High School in 2022 and earned an associate degree in agricultural science from South Dakota State University (SDSU) in the spring of 2025.
While she did not grow up on a dairy, Hewitt maintained a herd of Registered Jerseys at Lady-Lane Farm in Mulino, Ore., and was responsible for their care and work in the processing room at that dairy.
She was active in 4-H and FFA, serving the latter as chapter secretary and reporter. She exhibited cattle and participated in speaking competitions. She was crowned Western National Jersey Queen in 2022 and participated in the Oregon dairy princess program. She attended Class VII of Jersey Youth Academy.
She was the 2024 on-farm experience recipient of the Fred Stout Experience award. She interned with Misty Meadow Dairy in Tillamook, Ore., where she gained hands-on experience working with the hospital team at the main dairy every day and helping the dairy put on the Legacy of Legends Volume II Sale.
In high school, Hewitt was varsity softball captain for three years and played competitively on a club softball team.
At SDSU, she was a member of the dairy club, pre-veterinary club and swing dance club. She also has experience working in the equine teaching facility at SDSU, giving riding lessons to youth and trail rides to veterans and supporting university and outreach efforts.
Down the road, Hewitt’s goal is to become a large animal veterinarian focused on bovine care.
Jack C. Nisbet Memorial Scholarship
Nicole Arrowsmith
Peach Bottom, Pa.
This scholarship is presented to an eligible candidate in the 2021 National Youth Achievement Contest.
Receiving the $2,250 scholarship for the second time is Nicole Veronica Arrowsmith of Peach Bottom, Pa. She is a senior at Pennsylvania State University, majoring in agribusiness management.
She grew up on Hillacres Jersey Farm, a fully registered herd owned and operated by her parents, Tom and Amanda Arrowmith, and their family. Since 2003, the family has been processing milk from the 60-cow herd into cheese and marketing under the Hillacres Pride label. Cheese is sold primarily at farmers’ markets.
Arrowsmith was active with 4-H and youth breed associations. She was social chair for the Lancaster Milkduds 4-H Club and secretary of the Lancaster Junior Holstein Association. She attended numerous state and national Jersey conventions and Jersey Youth Academy in 2021.
A favorite pastime is showing cattle, something she has done since she was small, trailing along the end of a halter. In 2023, she realized a lifelong dream: breeding and exhibiting a Junior All American. Her entry, Hillacres Chrome Hibiscus, was Junior All American Senior Three-Year-Old and Reserve All American in the open show. More recently, the family showed Grand and Reserve Grand Champion Jersey at the New York Spring Carousel.
Arrowsmith continued to hone her skills during an internship with Budjon Farms of Lomira, Wis., where she worked with the show cows and heifers this summer.
In high school, Arrowsmith participated in high school musicals, was a member of National Honor Society and class secretary.
Today she is a group leader in the afterschool program for Nittany Lions Reads/Nittany Lions Counts, active with the Penn State Dairy Science Club and chairs the Nittany Lion Fall Classic.
She plans to return to Hillacres Jersey Farm and further develop the herd and Hillacres Pride product line.
Cedarcrest Farms Scholarship
Keegan Medeiros
Laton, Calif.
This award is for an undergraduate or graduate student enrolled in a program to earn a degree in large animal veterinary practice, dairy production, dairy manufacturing, or dairy product marketing. Through completed coursework and a goal statement, the student must demonstrate significant progress towards the degree and clear intent for a career in agriculture.
Keegan Medeiros, Laton, Calif., is the winner of the $1,500 Cedarcrest Farms Scholarship. The daughter of Melvin Medeiros and Christina Medeiros is a freshman at California State University-Monterey Bay (CSUMB), working on a degree in agribusiness supply chain management.
As a fourth-generation dairy farmer, her journey began when she was 10, when her father bought her a Registered Jersey heifer named Kasual. This purchase was followed by another named Dakota. The herd now numbers 20 head.
She is also active with the dairy farm operated by her grandfather. Four years ago, he sold most of the Holsteins to transition to Jersey. Today, the herd is about 70% Jersey and 30% Holstein.
Medeiros has been active with the Rural Route 4-H Club. She enjoys exhibiting her animals and mentoring other members about showing.
At Clovis West High School, she volunteered with a program to provide lunch activities, rallies and school dances and put on character-building lessons at the beginning of each semester. She was class president and played varsity basketball, a skill she will continue at CSUMB as a scholarship athlete.
She is also receiving scholarships from Fresno Kings Counties CattleWomen, Dairy Farmers of America, AgWest, the Junior League of Fresno and Hanford Elks along with the Nate Fellner Scholarship.
Medeiros plans to work in the dairy industry in milk marketing.
Paul Jackson Scholarship
Sara Reed
Columbia Cross Roads, Pa.
This scholarship is available to students who have completed at least one year of college work. It has been awarded since 1965 to honor Paul Jackson’s service to the Jersey breed.
Sara Lynne Reed, Columbia Cross Roads, Pa., will receive this year’s scholarship of $1,000. She is the daughter of Leonard and Erin Reed. She is a junior at Penn State, with a major in animal science and a minor in agribusiness management.
She and her family operate Ravineside Farm, a small herd of Registered Jerseys bred with a focus on type and show cattle. When not in school, she cares for the animals, customizes the nutrition program and researches genetics. She and her mother have shown at the local, state and national levels.
Reed was active in 4-H and FFA. She was president of the LeRoy Community 4-H Club and helped with educational events on fitting and judging for clubs in Bradford and Susquehanna counties. She was president and vice president of the Troy FFA Chapter and treasurer of the Bradford County FFA.
She is active with her state Jersey association and is vice president of the state junior Holstein club’s executive committee.
Reed was crowned Pennsylvania Jersey Queen in 2021 and placed among the top five in the national contest the following year. She attended Class VIII of Jersey Youth Academy and is pursuing a career in genetics marketing after hearing a panelist speak.
She earned the William A. Russell Memorial Scholarship in 2023 and the Lineweaver Scholarship last year.
At Penn State, she is a member of the dairy science club. She co-chaired the Nittany Lion Fall Classic Sale last year and is currently the chair for this year’s event. She also helped to run the Penn State Spring Dairy Exposition earlier this year.
Reed also received the Student Leader Scholarship from the Dairy Excellence Foundation and the Palmer Scholarship from Troy High School.
Bob Toole Youth Award
Lee Taylor
Booneville, Miss.
The Bob Toole Youth Award is designated for a high school graduate to fund either college expenses or a clearly defined practical educational experience related to breeding, developing, and showing Registered Jerseys.
This year’s recipient of the $1,500 Bob Toole Youth Award is Lee Frederick Taylor of Booneville, Miss. The son of Bradley and Carla Taylor is a freshman at Mississippi State University (MSU). His major is agribusiness with a concentration in management.
Taylor owns 30 head of Registered Jerseys that are managed with the 110-cow herd at Taylor Jersey Farm Inc., owned and operated by his family. His chore list includes milking, vaccinations, moving cattle, building and mending fences, servicing equipment, working in the fields cutting and raking hay, and tending the show cattle. He has shown since he could walk and has exhibited cattle in six states.
As he works on his degree, Taylor will also be involved in establishing an on-site processing facility to process A2 milk and raise Jersey-Angus crosses for local beef sales. Initially, the Taylors plan to bottle whole milk and then expand into flavored milk, ice cream, butter and cheese. Taylor plans to improve the herd and expand cow numbers.
For the past two years, he has been an ambassador for Prentiss County 4-H. Since May, he has also been an ambassador for the Mississippi 4-H program. He has been vice president of the New Site FFA chapter, participated in dairy judging and helped to coach a dairy products judging team with FFA.
While in school, he was a member of the archery team and mentored younger team members.
Taylor also received the Ike Campbell Memorial 4-H Award and earned scholarships from the Dixie National Sale of Champions for supreme champion, dairy premier exhibitor and academics. He will also receive a freshman academic scholarship from MSU.
AJCA Director’s Scholarship
Delaney Barber
DeWitt, Iowa
This scholarship is awarded to a student (undergraduate or graduate) based on academic performance, activities and accomplishments with Jersey cattle and commitment to continued involvement in the Jersey dairy business.
Delaney Brooke Barber, DeWitt, Iowa, is the recipient of this $1,500 scholarship. The freshman at Iowa State University is the daughter of Curtis and Heidi Barber. She is majoring in agricultural business with a focus on finance and marketing.
She grew up on a dairy farm in eastern Iowa and was active in 4-H, FFA and Ladies in Livestock. She has served her local 4-H club as secretary and treasurer and was a group leader for FFA’s farm safety days three times.
Barber attended Jersey Youth Academy in July and has been a member of the crew helping Jersey Marketing Service manage the All American Jersey Sale and Pot O’Gold Sale for several years. She has also helped the Brown Swiss association with their sales.
She has also led resume and internship workshops for the Iowa Future Business Leaders of America and written materials for CAC Media Group, Ralco Show, Eastern Iowa Farmer, and Humps N Horns.
In high school, Barber was co-captain of the girls’ wrestling team and participated in cross country and track as well. She also completed general education college credits from Clinton Community College.
Barber won the Garland Bastin award from the North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE) and scholarships from the Iowa Jersey Cattle Club, Iowa Farm Bureau, Midwest Dairy, Clinton County extension and the utility company Eastern Iowa REC. She was also the recipient of the Glen and Mary Jo Mente Endowed 4-H Scholarship.
Anne E. Perchard Challenge Award
Regan Jackson
Boyce, Va.
This scholarship recognizes accomplishments, abilities, and leadership potential and challenges the recipient to achieve full potential through continued Jersey activities.
Regan Leann Jackson, Boyce, Va., is the winner of the $350 award. The daughter of Kevin and Laura Jackson, a senior at Louisiana State University (LSU), is majoring in nutrition and food science and minoring in biology.
Her family operated Waverly Farm in Clear Brook, Va., until the herd was dispersed and the family exited the dairy business in 2022. Though she downsized her herd, she preserved some of her best genetics and houses 10 cows at her aunt and uncle’s farm in Pennsylvania. Their current average final score is 88.6%, with five Excellent cows, including a 95-point cow.
Jackson’s passion shines in the show ring. She has shown at the Pennsylvania All-American Dairy Show 11 times and at NAILE 10 times. A highlight was showing WF Valentino Lokie to Grand Champion laurels of the open and junior shows at Harrisburg. She was also named Supreme Best Bred and Owned.
She attended Jersey Youth Academy and won the National Jersey Youth Achievement Contest in 2023. She has also earned the Reuben R. Cowles Youth Award and served on the National Jersey Jug Committee.
Her most impactful involvement was through two agriculture organizations: the Clarke County FFA Chapter and the Clarke-Frederick 4-H Dairy Club. She has been elected to nearly every position with each organization, including president, secretary and reporter. She earned her American FFA Degree in 2023 and was a member of teams that topped the state for dairy cattle evaluation and milk quality evaluation. She was also a member of the team that competed at the National 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl Contest in 2021 and 4-H dairy judging teams that competed at NAILE and World Dairy Expo.
At the university, she is president of the LSU Dairy Science Club and has also served as vice president. She is also president of the American Dairy Science Association-Undergraduate Division and active with the LSU Student Nutritional and Dietetics Association, the LSU Food and Nutrition Science Club and Block and Bridle. She has also served as the junior district director for the Virginia Junior Holstein Association since 2018.
Upon graduation, she plans to attend nursing school and work her way toward a career in medicine, whether through schooling to become a skilled and specialized nurse, a physician’s assistant or a medical doctor.
Reuben R. Cowles Youth Educational Award
There are two recipients of the Reuben R. Cowles Youth Award—Matthew Patrick Holton, Athens, Ga., and Kaitlyn Grace Crompton, Trenton, N.C. Both will receive $1,250 towards their schooling.
Holton is in his fourth year at the University of Georgia (UGA), working on his veterinary medicine degree, with an expected graduation in May 2026.
He and his twin, James, operate H2 Jersey Farm, a Registered Jersey herd in Dawson, Ga. Holton enjoys exhibiting cattle at state fairs in Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, South Carolina and Tennessee and has shown at the All American Junior Jersey Show too.
Holton attended Jersey Youth Academy in 2015 and received several scholarships from the national Jersey organizations, including the Russell-Malnati Scholarship for Advanced Studies and another Reuben R. Cowles Youth Award.
While earning his undergraduate degree at UGA, he was president of the Dairy Science Club and served on the banquet committee for the university’s Ducks Unlimited chapter. In vet school, he has been active with the American Association of Bovine Practitioners and the Theriogenology Club, serving as captain of the palpation team.
He has experience working in the All Animals Veterinary Hospital, was a breeding technician for Dogwood Genetics LLC and interned with Select Sires Inc.
Holton plans to pursue a career in bovine reproduction, working in a specialized practice that provides advanced services, like embryo transfer, in vitro fertilization and bull fertility programs that provide breeding soundness evaluations and semen collection.
He also plans to continue to expand and develop the H2 herd, with an emphasis on genetics that support both production and type. His long-term vision is to process vat-pasteurized, non-homogenized milk at an on-farm plant.
Crompton, a freshman at Virginia Tech, is the daughter of Scott and Amanda Crompton. She is double majoring in dairy science and agriculture education.
She got her start in the dairy world later than some, just a few years ago, and now has a herd that includes 10 Jersey heifers. She has shown them at local, state and national venues, including the 2024 All American Junior Jersey Show, where her winter yearling placed fourth.
This July, Crompton attended Jersey Youth Academy.
She is active in 4-H and FFA, serving the latter as chapter president. She has participated in dairy evaluation and showmanship clinics, quiz bowl and livestock judging. She was named Star Chapter Farmer and earned her State FFA Degree.
Crompton became involved in the North Carolina Dairy Youth Foundation in 2023. She participated in the youth showmasters circuit, placing fifth in senior showmanship in her inaugural year and then earned reserve champion laurels and a scholarship in 2024.
She was also involved with Girl Scouts, where she earned a gold award for a project focused on developing a dairy science curriculum for K-5 students in North Carolina public schools.
Cumulatively, she volunteered more than 200 hours of service teaching agriculture to youth through her work with 4-H, FFA and Girl Scouts.
At Jones Senior High School, she was treasurer of the student government and class president. She was a member of the National Honor Society and served the Neuse Federation as president. She was dual enrolled at Lenoir Community College, where she earned a certificate in sustainable agriculture and became a certified veterinary assistant.
She interned with North Carolina State Extension and has experience working with livestock at Serendipity Farm, a horse farm in Waxhaw, N.C., and Howard Family Farm in Harmony, N.C., and Onslow Feed and Grain.
Upon graduation, she plans to work in the dairy and education fields, advocating for dairy in eastern North Carolina, an area where dairy farming once thrived but is now barely known.
Awards for 2026-2027
Applications for Jersey youth scholarships will be accepted from April 1 through July 1, 2026. Forms will be available closer to the deadline and can be found at www.USJersey.com/YouthProgram/scholarshipinfo.html.
For more information, contact Kim Billman, AJCA director of communications, 6486 E. Main St., Reynoldsburg, OH 43068-2362, or call 614/322-4451.
