Scholarship Information
High school seniors and/or college students can be awarded up to $14,000 in scholarship money from the Erie County Agricultural Society Annual Scholarship and Fairgrounds Gaming. Students who are actively involved in America's Fair activities (including, but not limited to; junior exhibit competition, Erie County Fair Marching Band, 4-H or F.F.A. Fair activities) and are high school seniors residing in and attending a high school in Erie County or a student attending college, through their junior year are eligible for our scholarship program.
Download an application here.
If you have any questions regarding this scholarship program, please feel free to contact Russell Marquart, CFE at 649-3900 ext 403. 2008 Scholarship Winners Paul C. Laing Memorial Scholarship Sarah Barber - a student at the State University of New York at Morrisville studying agriculture and veterinary medicine. She has been an actove member of Erie County 4-H, Springville FFA and the Morrisville Collegiate FFA; earning her New York State FFA Empire Degree in 2007. Sarah has been an active participant in the competitive exhibits department of America's Fair since 1999, showing market lambs, hogs, birds, and steer; winning 4-H Market Lamb Project Champion 4 years and 4-H Market Pig Project Champion 2 years, in addition to shoeing in Fair Horse shows and Cattle Shows. Sarah has been described as dedicated, respectful, and responsible by teachers and employers alike. She plans on continuing her animal science studies in hopes of some day becoming a large animal veterinarian, specializing in equine. Erie County Agricultural Society Scholarship Dan Gowanlock - currently a rising junior at Ohio State University majoring in Animal Science with a minor in Agri-Business with a GPA of 3.5. He has exhibited 4-H pigs, lambs and steers at America's Fair for ten years in addition to working as a summer employee of the Erie County Agricultural Society in the Agriculture Department. At Ohio State, Dan is involved in th Saddle & Sirloin Club and is also a member of the Buckeye Dairy Club. Dan sees room for growth technologically in animal science agriculture, and hopes to use his college education to make animal agriculture more efficient as well as more environmentally friendly while allowing farmers with any size farm to stay in business. Erie County Agricvultural Society Scholarship Karrie Duffett - a recent gradute of Paul Smith's College majoring as a forest technician. Karrie chooses to further her education even more and is currently enrolled at Buffalo State College in geological and environmental earth science working towards a bachelor's degree. She hopes with her degree from Buffalo State she can make a difference in the environment, energy usages and agricultural well being of our area. Karrie is a former 4-H member who showed horses at America's Fair for 11 years, as well as participated in the Youth Development Building. An active member f the Buffalo State Collge Geology Club, she helped the club become more financially solvent and continues to work hard at a career choice she loves. Erie County Agricultural Society Scholarship Staffan Roalsvig - a recent graduate of Sweet Home High School, where he had a 3.0 GPA and was on the honor roll for 7 semesters. He has been an active exhibitor of sheep not only in 4-H Fair shows, but also the Open Class at America's Fair. His work with animals on his grandfather's farm is part of the reason why Staffan plans to attend the University of Buffalo in the fall majoring in Veterinary medicine and pathology. An active volunteer, Staffan did 50 hours of community service at Roswell Park Cancer Institure analyzing data. Staffan has shown great leadership not inlu in school on the Debate Club and Senior Class Council, but as a member of the 4-H Teen Council he was a leader at the Cornell Cooperative Extension of the Erie County Annual Meeting. Erie County Agricultural Society Scholarship Alicia Keller - a recent graduat of Pembroke High School ranked 8th in a class of 112. She is an active member of 4-H, and also shows in America's Fair Open Class Hog Show, Hog Preview Classic where she won Honorable Mention Senior Showman in 2007. Alicia plans on attending Perdue Univeristy hoping to obtain an education in agriculture economics and communication while also taking an active role in an array of clubs and activities. She has set high goals for herself, confident that she will obtain an internship at an agricultural based company, act as an aide on Capitol Hill, run for the NJSA Board of Directors and ultimately seek a position at an agricultural based company or in the USDA. And with the positive words she has received from school teachers and 4-H leaders, she may just accomplish these goals. Erie County Agricultural Society Scholarship Tyler Strub - recent graduate of the Springville Griffith Institute High School, ac active member in the Springville FFA as well as the National Technical Honor Society. He is also an active 4-H member who has exhibited market livestock since 1998, owning the 2007 4-H Supreme Champion Breeding Gilt. Working on several dairy farms owned by family members, Tyler sparked an interest in dairy science which he plans to learn more about in the fall when he attends the State Univeristy of New York at Morrisville majoring in Animal Science Dairy Program. His future plans are to own and manage his own farm and work in a vocation related to the agricultural industry. Fred E. & Anne R. Sparling Memorial Scholarship & Erie County Agricultural Society Scholarship Andrew Kelkenberg - Graduating from Akron High School and attending the University of Buffalo in fall majoring in structural engineering, hoping to help design farm structures. An active member of his 4-H club for ten years, Andrew has shown steers and pigs at America's Fair, as weill as participated in the Youth Development Building with his woodworking and tractor rebuilding projects. He has been called hard-working and responsible by his 4-H leader and has shown not only through his 4-H achievements, but also through his many scholastic and athletic awards. Erie County Agricultural Society in conjunction with Fairgrounds Gaming & Raceway Laura Walter - Currently a senior at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where she is enrolled at the Benjamin T. Rome School of Music studying Music Performance. Although she is not currently pursuing a career in agriculture, her active participation in America's Fair, as a three year summer employee of the Erie County Agricultural Society in the Competitive Exhibits Department and a six year member of the Springville FFA shows her dedication to agriculture. While in the FFA, she was Chapter President and received her Empire Degree. Lauara plans to continue her education in Library and Information Services at the University of Buffalo next year hoping to become a librarian and help and serve the rural community she grew up in. Erie County Agricultural Society in conjunction with Fairgrounds Gaming & Raceway Daniel Telaak - recent graduat of Eden High School ranking 23rd in a class of 140. He was involved in his local FFA Chapter where he served as President and also exhibited pigs at America's Fair. The son of a dairy farmer, Daniel plans on majoring in business at Hilbert College with thoughts of specializing in either agricultural business or opening his own business in the future. He is an active community and school volunteer who has been called kind and mature by former teachers and his current employer. Erie County Agricultural Society in conjunction with Fairgrounds Gaming & Raceway Jessica Gallman -has been active in 4-H Rabbit Department at America's Fair since 1997, not just as an exhibitor, but also volunteering to help clean the barn and feed the animals. Described by her 4-H leader as a dedicated worker who is well organized and very responsible. She is a 2008 graduate of Lakeshore High School where she was ranked 50th out of 236 students. Jessica is attending Edinboro University of Pennsylvania in the fall, majoring in marketing, something she believes her years in the 4-H trying 'to make the best better' had an influence on. Fred E. & Anne R. Sparling Memorial Scholarship Chad Bruning - As a recent graduate of Akon High School, Chad is planning on attending college majoring in Agricultural Mechanics,a passion of his, which was cultivated by the necessity to help out on his family farm. Chad hopes that with his education he can be an essential part of the farm, and can save his father and brother stress and money by fixing machinery as well as supplementing his income by fixing other farmers' equipment. Besides hleping out on the family farm, Chad shows 4-H market steers, hogs and lambs at America's Fair, and also played on the football team all four years of high school. Fred E. & Anne R. Sparling Memorial Scholarship Felicia Judd - A recent graduate of Akron High School, Felicia will be attending Genesee Community College in the fall majoring in accounting and also plans on taking a horse massage therapy course in the future. Upon graduating from college, she hopes to base her accounting services on equine businesses and start her own horse farm. Felicia has participated in the Erie and Niagara County 4-H for nine years showing horses at both county fairs. Not only does Felicia participate in 4-H, she also swam for Akron High School.
