Big Sandy students among 2018 Montana scholarship winners

BOZEMAN — This spring, two Big Sandy students were among the recipients of Montana FFA Foundation’s awarding of more than $60,000 in scholarships and grants to FFA members and local FFA chapters throughout the state.

Big Sandy’s Dakota Terry and Andrea Rutledge were both awarded scholarships.

The total of of $45,500 will be awarded to 43 student for college, leadership development, and top individuals in competitions held at the State FFA Convention in Billings.

The complete list of recipients follows.

Leadership Development Scholarships:  

Alumni Leadership Camp – Jean Blackman, Cascade; Bridger Gouchenour, Conrad; Tallon Hansen, Deer Lodge; Miles Graveley, Deer Lodge; Anabelle Tirado, Roundup; Victoria Tirado, Roundup

Washington Leadership Conference – Paytyn Wilson, Bainville; Jean Blackman, Cascade; Amber Johnson, Choteau; Claire Stevenson, Hobson; Kylee Billingsley, Missoula; Jerrica Bursik, Park City; Victoria Tirado, Roundup

National FFA Convention – Hans Lampert, Deer Lodge; Miles Graveley, Deer Lodge; Tallon Hansen, Deer Lodge 

College Scholarships: 

Leave a Legacy — Dakota Terry, Big Sandy; Kelli Ober, Cascade; Jacob Martin, Culbertson; Logan Donally, Huntley Project; Garrett Bromenshenk, Laurel; Courtnee Clairmont, Ronan (Mission Valley FFA); Saralyn Standley, Missoula; Kyla Andres, Missoula; Heidi Froelich, Park City; Samantha DeMars, Winifred

Murdoch’s – Kelsey Kraft, Laurel 

Blue Shows Through – Zane Bowey, Sheridan (Ruby Valley FFA)

Montana Agricultural Business Association/Montana Grain Elevator Association – Mamie Hertel, Moore 

Montana Land Reliance – Andrea Rutledge, Big Sandy

Vern Dahlstrom – Abigail Stevenson, Hobson

Association of Montana Turf, Ornamental and Pest Professionals – Mickayla Johnson, Hinsdale

Lars Ronning – Kyle Topp, Sidney 

Stockman Bank – Tyler Noyes, Townsend (Broadwater FFA); Katelin Aisenbrey, Bridger (Clark’s Fork FFA) 

Tyler Noyes, Stockman Bank scholarship recipient and a 2018 National Presidential Scholar, reflected on his experience in FFA and his future goals.

“FFA has allowed me to develop and grow as a leader, travel the nation, make long-lasting friendships and connections, and has strengthened my passion for Montana and the agriculture industry,” Noyes said. “The Stockman Bank Next Generation Scholarship will help me pursue my goal of continuing to advocate for Montana agriculture through a career in agriculture business and ag education.”

He will be enrolled in the College of Agriculture at Montana State University in the fall.

Though the amount of scholarship dollars awarded annually continues to grow, the Montana FFA Foundation still turns away two out of every three scholarship applicants. To learn more about contributing to the Montana FFA Leave a Legacy Scholarship fund, please contact the Foundation at 406-582-4118. 

The Foundation also recently selected recipients of the Bulls for Blue Grants and Helping Hands Grants. Additionally, this is the first year that the Montana FFA Foundation has awarded Supervised Agricultural Experience grants for students to expand their agribusiness ventures or to start new entrepreneurship or agriscience research projects.

SAE Grants are a special project funded in partnership with the Gianforte Family Foundation, Wells Fargo, and Cargill. The Bulls for Blue Grant also funds SAE projects, but are specifically for student projects in the area of beef production and are funded by Montana seedstock beef producers.

The Montana FFA Foundation is pleased to announce the following grant recipients!

Bulls for Blue Grants: Kadin Kammerer, Missoula; Colter McWilliams, Missoula; Claire Standley, Missoula; Danielle Horan, Moore; Harleigh Dion, Terry (Prairie FFA)

SAE Grants: Jacob Husman, Big Timber; Dylan Laverell, Big Timber; Jasmine Dougherty, Cascade; Dacey Robertson, Fromberg; Boone Foos, Fromberg; Caleb Meeks, Geraldine; Ellie Meeks, Geraldine; Abby Fritz, Kalispell

Helping Hands Grants are awarded to local FFA chapters who will be implementing community service projects. Hinsdale, Hysham, and Missoula FFA chapters are this spring’s Helping Hands recipients.

Cindy Arnott, one of the Missoula FFA Advisors, said she is excited to begin their chapter’s land reclamation service project,.

“The Missoula FFA will use the Helping Hands Grant to reclaim an abandoned parking lot and return the area to farmland,” she said. “This will remove an eyesore and safety concern for the neighborhood and nearby elementary school.”  

One of the priorities of the Helping Hands Grant is to collaborate with community stakeholders. Arnott said the Missoula FFA is working locally with higher education.

“The project will allow our students to learn from the Missoula College of Technology students who will partner on various facets of implementing this service project,” she said.

Donors for scholarships, Bulls for Blue Grants, SAE Grants, and Helping Hands Grants can be found on the Montana FFA website: http://www.montanaffa.org.

The Montana FFA Foundation supports 97 local FFA chapters across the state of Montana, representing more than 5,300 members. The Montana FFA Foundation’s mission is to cultivate partnerships, promote awareness and secure resources to enhance Agricultural Education and the Montana FFA Association.