Reynoldsburg, Ohio—Meagan Chittenden, Schodack Landing, N.Y., and Olivia Pearson, Lincolton, N.C., have been selected as the 2014 recipients of the Fred Stout Experience Awards.
The fund supporting these awards was created in 2000 in memory of Fred J. Stout Sr., Mt. Carmel, Ill., a lifelong Jersey breeder and member of the Jersey Marketing Service staff from 1978 to 1997. Stout was instrumental in the growth of JMS marketing activities, and later added duties as a type evaluator and in customer field service for the American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA).
Stout believed that the best learning experiences happen in the everyday world. These awards honor that conviction by providing financial support for on-farm and JMS internship experiences.
JMS Internship Recipient: Olivia Pearson
Olivia Pearson started her internship with Jersey Marketing Service on May 15. She will assist with preparation, staging and wrap-up work for the company’s auction and private treaty sales through the 57th National Heifer Sale, June 27 in Alexandria, Va.
Olivia has completed her second year in the advanced degree program at North Carolina State University. She has outlined a five-year program of study that will result in baccalaureate degrees in animal science and food science, plus an M.S. degree in animal science genetics. Her immediate career goal is to work for Jersey Marketing Service or an A.I. organization. Long term, she plans to return to the family operation, Piedmont Jerseys, to set up a facility for processing value-added Jersey milk products.
An intensely focused student, Olivia has earned Dean’s List and International Dean’s List honors, and is also a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. Her extracurricular activities include the Dairy Science and Animal Science clubs, plus the Sigma Alpha professional agricultural sorority. She is also an ambassador for the NCSU College of Agriculture.
Olivia won senior showmanship at The All American Junior Jersey Show in 2012, also placing gold in the National FFA dairy handler competition. She was crowned the 2013 North Carolina Jersey Queen and was the second runner-up in the National Jersey Queen Contest. Olivia was also a recipient of a Reuben R. Cowles Jersey Youth Award and selected for the third class of Jersey Youth Academy last year.
Farm Experience Recipient: Meagan Chittenden
Meagan Chittenden, Schodack Landing, N.Y., was selected for the on-farm experience, which begins June 1 at Young’s Jersey Dairy Inc., one of the top agritourism attractions in the state of Ohio. She has completed her first year of studies at the State University of New York, Cobleskill, majoring in agricultural business.
Born into the family that owns Dutch Hollow Farm LLC, Meagan has been involved in the Jersey business from an early age. Her dairy interests have expanded over years of 4-H work and participation in the Dairy Visions program to intersect with agri-business and the culinary arts. She worked for two years in various capacities, including ice cream manager, at O’Kenny’s Express in Valatie, N.Y., and completed an internship at The Light House Baker in Castleton. She also competed in the ProStart USA culinary competition as part of a team that created and executed a menu for a three-course meal.
An outstanding student, Meagan wrote the script for Odyssey of the Mind competitions from 2010 through 2012. She also represented her county three times at the annual 4-H State Teen Action Rep Retreat.
She was selected as the Columbia County Dairy Princess for 2012-13, with promotion activities ranging from recording radio spots about the dairy industry, writing newspaper articles, and presenting programs about dairy products for students from pre-kindergarten through grade 8.
Meagan has received awards in the New York, New England and National Jersey Youth Production contests. She was a member of the third class of Jersey Youth Academy.
About Jersey Youth Programs
Previous recipients of the Fred Stout Experience Award are Tara Bohnert, Illinois (2003), Allison Waggoner, South Carolina (2004), Dan Bauer, Wisconsin (2005), Aaron Horst, Pennsylvania (2006), Jacob Pieper, Maryland (2007); Katie Albaugh, Maryland (2008); Brady Core, Kentucky (2009); Ivy Roberts, Florida, and Kim Wilson, Missouri (2010); Amy Maxwell, Iowa, and Joseph Fjarlie, Wisconsin (2011); Robert McGarry, Vermont, and Lyman Rudgers, New York (2012); and Meagan Bolen, Ohio, and Wyatt Smith, Minnesota (2013).
The Fred Stout Experience Fund is one of nine educational awards for Jersey youth managed by the American Jersey Cattle Association, Reynoldsburg, Ohio. Contributions to these funds are recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as 501(c)(3) tax deductible charitable gifts and may be made at any time during the year.
Applications for 2014-15 academic scholarships are due no later thanTuesday, July 1, 2014. Deadline to apply for the 2015 Stout Experience Awards is December 1, 2014. For more information, visit USJersey.com.