The Scholarship Committee has announced the three recipients of scholarships for 2008. USA FREE is a non-profit charitable foundation established by R-CALF USA.
The scholarship fund was established in 2006 and is funded through private donations. Contributions are tax deductible under USA FREE’s not-profit status. This year, there were 18 applicants who were required to write a research paper on a topic of major importance to the U.S. live cattle industry. Applicants also must have immediate family who are members in good standing with R-CALF USA. The funds will be distributed to each student’s school.
First-place recipient, with a $2,000 scholarship, is Alison Baue, daughter of J. Allen and Ruth Baue, of Hysham, Mont. Alison will start to attend the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology this fall, and her field of study will be industrial engineering. Alison presented her research paper, titled “Country-of-Origin Labeling: A COOL Solution for the U.S. Cattle Industry,” during the 9th Annual R-CALF USA Convention, Feb. 21-23, 2008, in Omaha, Neb.
Second-place recipient, with a $1,500 scholarship, is Rena Berrett, daughter of Dale and Sharon Berrett, of Jordan Valley, Ore. Rena plans to attend Oregon State University this fall to pursue a degree in agricultural business management. Rena’s research paper dealt with how making more information available to the general public about the nutritional benefits of beef would help slow the growing trend of vegetarianism in the United States.
Third-place recipient, with a $1,000 scholarship, is Nicole Steffes, daughter of Darrell and Jeanette Steffes, of Vale, S.D. Nicole attends the University of Wyoming – Laramie. Her major is molecular biology and her minor is chemistry. Her long-term goal is to attend medical school at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion. Nicole’s research paper dealt with the management and regulation of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and how this disease is one of the most critical threats to the U.S. cattle industry.
“We have a very bright future with our young people and we want to be there to support them,” said USA FREE President Charlie Stevenson. “All 18 applicants demonstrated the academic and personal excellence of America’s rural youth. The task of selecting three finalists from a field of such excellent candidates was not easy.” cattlenetwork
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