National Swine Registry

NJSA

NJSA Scholarships

NJSA Outstanding Member Scholarship | Claude Robinson Scholarship
Jason Shipley Memorial Scholarship | The Maschhoffs Inc. Pork Production Scholarship | Gregory D. Johnson Memorial Scholarship | NJSA Visionary Leader Scholarship

ATTENTION NJSA MEMBERS
Pork Checkoff Pork Industry Scholarships
Scholarship applications and supporting materials are due Sept. 15, 2008. A minimum of 16 scholarships will be awarded for the 2008-2009 school year!

Apply for the 2008 NJSA Outstanding Member of the Year Scholarships

The NJSA will award $200 to the novice winner, $300 to the junior winner, $500 to the intermediate winner and $1,000 to both senior winners.

Senior information
Cover letter
Application
Guidelines
Checklist

Intermediate information
Cover letter
Application
Guidelines
Checklist

Junior information
Cover letter
Application
Guidelines
Checklist

Novice information
Cover letter
Application
Guidelines
Checklist

2007 NJSA OUTSTANDING MEMBER OF THE YEAR SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
Senior: Emily Arkfeld, Dunbar, Neb.
Senior: Hayley Wertenberger, Claypool, Ind.
Intermediate: Rachael Arkfeld, Dunbar, Neb.
Junior: Kyle Kerlee, Denair, Calif.
Novice: Payton Hines, Quincy, Mich.

Click here for complete press release.

The NJSA will award $100 to the novice winner, $200 to the junior winner, $300 to the intermediate winner and $1,000 to both senior winners.

Judges evaluated each applicant on a combination of youth leadership activities, NJSA leadership and associated affiliate leadership, interest in the swine industry and scholastic record. They considered ages as of Jan. 1, 2006, and were impressed by the talent found in each age division.

This year’s judges included Jill Zimmerman, Kan.; Warren Beeler, Ky.; Terry Shaffer, Ind.; Andy Rash, Ind.; Molly Arnold, Ind.; Angie Bowman, Ill.; Julie Maschhoff, Ill.; Dan Hoge, Ill.; Willard Olson, Kan.; Bryn Poliska, Iowa; Lee Denzer, Ill.; and Jodi Sterle, Texas.

Thank you to all contributors to the NSR Foundation who help make this scholarship program possible.

Emily Arkfeld
Senior Scholarship Winner
Emily Arkfeld, 18, is the daughter of Tim and Luanne of Dunbar, Neb. She is a freshman at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she is a member of Block and Bridle, National Agri-marketing Association (NAMA) and Burr Residential Hall Government. Her goal is to earn a Ph.D. in meat science.

She has been an active NJSA member, participating in the National Junior Summer Spectacular (NJSS), National Youth Leadership Conference (NYLC), American Royal and World Pork Expo Junior National (WPX). In 2007, she finished first in the senior speech contest and third in the senior skillathon. She currently serves on the NJSA services team and as a NJSA mentor.

As an FFA member, she has been actively involved in the Supervised Agriculture Experience Program (SAE) of raising purebred Hampshire swine and sheep. She has completed extensive pork-quality research studies and has won numerous national honors. In 2007 alone, she was named the National Swine Production Entrepreneurship Proficiency Winner, National Agriscience Student of the Year, Nebraska State Star in Agriscience, Nebraska Agriscience Student of the Year and Nebraska State Degree Recipient. She was also first in the National Agriscience Fair – Zoology Division IV.

“I have a very strong passion for purebred Hampshire swine and want to apply purebred genetics, pedigrees and Estimated Breeding Values to create a high-quality product for my customers of Hampshire Hill Farm Pork,” Emily says. “It will also be very rewarding to keep presenting my cutting-edge research and see it implemented in the meat industry. This way, my findings will have an impact on a larger group of American consumers.”

Hayley Wertenberger
Senior Scholarship Winner
Hayley Wertenberger, 22, is the daughter of Mike and Jill Wertenberger of Claypool, Ind. She is employed by Chore-Time Hog Production Systems, one of the world’s leading providers of hog equipment. She hopes to advance within the company as her education progresses.

Hayley served as NJSA secretary and co-chairman of the services team. Her greatest honor in the NJSA was being elected to serve the membership in 2005. She achieved great success in the show ring and participated in the NJSA NYLC, Western Regional, WPX, NJSS, Eastern Regional and Southwest Regional.

She participated in many leadership activities, but her favorite was livestock judging. She judged at Black Hawk College – East Campus and on her 4-H judging team. In 2002, she was named an All-American Judge at the National 4-H Contest. In 2004, she received one of the greatest honors of her life when she won the Tom Harper Livestock Excellence Award honoring a 4-H member who committed him/herself to the livestock industry and community assistance.

“It is my goal to develop a reputable name in the swine business. I have always looked up to certain individuals that raise quality showpigs. What makes them special to me is that they don’t sacrifice their morals to win,” Hayley says. “They maintain their integrity and do not have the need to falsify birthdates or try to get around the system. They will answer any question honestly and try to help anybody with their projects. These producers are the people I look up to, and I intend to follow in their footsteps.”

Rachael Arkfeld
Intermediate Scholarship Winner
Rachael Arkfeld, 16, is the daughter of Tim and Luanne of Dunbar, Neb. Rachael is a junior at Lourdes Central Catholic School. She has been an active NJSA member and hopes to someday become an agricultural-education instructor.

She serves as a mentor in the MVP program and has participated in the WPX, NJSS, NBS® and American Royal. She, too, participated in the NYLC and helped raise money for NJSA by selling tickets for the raffle. In 2007, she finished fourth in the NJSS intermediate speech contest and was eighth in showmanship at the NBS®.

She has achieved great success at the Nebraska State Fair, exhibiting the 2007 Reserve Champion FFA Hampshire Gilt and Barrow. She was also named the 2007 Ak-Sar-Ben Premier Exhibitor. In addition to showing pigs, she also enjoys competing in FFA contests, running track and playing in the band.

“The way that someone is raised and the opportunities they are given have a huge impact on the way an individual progresses through life. With my family, life in the country and working with livestock, is not only a way of life, but also a major family endeavor,” Rachael says. ”Because we work as a family, no one person finds themselves idle and very quickly learns how important the livestock and agriculture industry is to the economy.”

Kyle Kerlee
Junior Scholarship Winner
Kyle Kerlee, 12, is the son of Chip and Maddi Kerlee of Denair, Calif. He is in sixth grade at Gratton Elementary.

Kyle has participated in many NJSA shows including the NJSS, WPX and Western Regional. His highlights include winning the 2007 junior sweepstakes at the Western Regional and exhibiting the Champion Hampshire Gilt at the 2004 WPX.

He is avid raffle-ticket seller and always enjoys raising money for the NJSA. He also helps with the Western Regional silent-auction event to raise money for that show.

When he’s not busy with NJSA activities, he enjoys being a member of the Turlock Hoof N Horns 4-H club where he has a talent for baking. He entered a pumpkin-pie contest where all of the pies were donated to the Samaritan Foundation Daily Bread Program for Thanksgiving desserts. He also likes judging livestock and showing lambs.

At school, he is a member of band and chorus and is a student representative for the sixth grade. He is also the quarterback of the JV Hughson Youth Football team and was just elected to play in an All-Star competition. He also plays basketball and baseball.

“I really like watching other judges and learning from them,” Kyle says. “I would like to go to a college where I can play football and also judge livestock. That would be the ultimate dream.”

Payton Hines
Novice Scholarship Winner
Payton Hines, 7, is the daughter of Brian and Donna Hines of Quincy, Mich. She is in second grade at Jennings Elementary.

Payton has been active in the NJSA since she was 3 years old when she competed in her first show at the Eastern Regional. Since then, she has also participated in the WPX, NJSS and NAILE. She is a protégé in the MVP program and enjoys the opportunity to spend time with her mentor at shows and sales.

She has won many honors in NJSA, including Grand Champion Barrow Overall at the WPX, where she won a one-year trailer lease from Integrity Trailers. She also exhibited the Champion Hampshire Gilt at the Eastern Regional. In addition, she finished third in the sweepstakes at the Eastern Regional and was sixth at the NJSS last year.
She says that friends are what she enjoys most about the swine industry.

“I love to do the skillathon and showmanship,” Payton says. “It is fun to have Grandpa Hines help me and watch me at the shows. I love to see my mentor, Aimee Shaffer, and my fellow protégé, Jada Johnson. I like to show pigs and make new friends at all of the NJSA shows.”

Apply for the 2009 Claude Robinson Scholarship

This $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to one incoming college sophomore, junior or senior enrolled in a junior or senior college judging program. The scholarship will be awarded on leadership activities, livestock judging experience and interest, and community service. The deadline is March 1, 2009.

Cover letter
Application
Guidelines
Checklist

Apply for the 2008 Jason Shipley Memorial Scholarship

The family of Jason Shipley is graciously offering a memorial scholarship to honor an incoming freshman, sophomore or junior in college who is enrolled in an agricultural related field. Applicant must have a strong background in athletics and the swine industry.

Applications are due to the NSR office by May 15. The winner will be recognized at the National Junior Summer Spectacular in July 2008.

Cover letter
Application
Guidelines
Checklist

Apply for the 2008 The Maschhoffs Inc.
Pork Production Scholarship

The Maschhoffs Inc. in Carlyle, Ill., is offering two pork-production scholarships to NJSA members ages 18 to 21 who are or will be enrolled in an agricultural program at a recognized college or university. The first-place winner will receive a $1,500 scholarship and the second-place winner will receive a $1,000 scholarship.

Applications are due to the NSR office by May 23. Winners will be recognized at the National Junior Summer Spectacular in July 2008.

Cover letter
Application
Guidelines
Checklist

Apply for the 2008 Gregory D. Johnson
Memorial Scholarship

The family of Gregory D. Johnson is graciously offering a $1,000 memorial scholarship to honor a graduate student. The applicant must be a spring 2008 college graduate with a bachelor's degree in an agricultural field or a current graduate student pursuing a master's or doctorate degree in swine genetics, swine reproduction or swine nutrition.

Applications are due to the NSR office by May 15. The winner will be recognized at the National Junior Summer Spectacular in July 2008.

Cover letter
Application
Guidelines
Checklist

Apply for the NJSA Visionary Leader Scholarship

The National Junior Swine Association Visionary Leader Scholarship has been established to recognize one member of the NJSA Board of Directors for his or her outstanding contributions and service to the members of the NJSA.

Applications are due May 15. Scholarship applicants must be members of the NJSA Board of Directors. Each director is required to apply for this $500 scholarship. Applications should be typed. Extra pages may be used as necessary.

The rankings will be compiled by NSR and winners will be announced at the National Junior Summer Spectacular. NJSA board members can only win one scholarship.

Application
Guidelines