The North Dakota Stockmen's Foundation (NDSF) awarded two collegiate scholarships, each valued at $500, to Levi Rue of Sheyenne, N.D., and Nickolas Hart of Chaseley, N.D.
Both Rue and Hart attend North Dakota State University (NDSU) in Fargo, N.D., and are pursing beef-related degrees.
In addition to short-answer questions, applicants were required to compose an essay about one issue facing today's cattle producers.
Rue wrote about the importance of advocacy to dispel inaccurate public perception.
“The general public is easily led to wrong conclusions involving animal agriculture and animal treatment,” he wrote. “The underlying problem behind this is that a few producers are careless and do not take enough pride in their work to protect the industry. These few bad apples give everyone a bad image, and it will eventually lead to the downfall of the cattleman. We need to hold ourselves responsible and take action to show that we are good people and good leaders that can handle ourselves in a responsible manner,” he concluded.
Rue earned an associate's degree in farm and ranch management at Bismarck State College in 2009. He currently attends North Dakota State University and is majoring in pre-veterinary medicine. He plans on becoming a large-animal veterinarian and returning to his hometown to practice. Rue is the son of Greg and Brenda Rue.
Hart selected the topic of bacterial resistance due to the overtreatment of antibiotics. He wrote, “If antibiotics are used carelessly, certain strains of bacteria find ways of fighting their effects, making them useless.”
Hart also is majoring in pre-veterinary medicine. After vet school, he plans on returning to North Dakota and working in a large- or mixed-animal practice. He is the son of Kim and Laura Hart.
Ag in the Classroom funds 32 programs
The North Dakota Agriculture in the Classroom Council, working with the North Dakota FFA Foundation, awarded $10,000 worth of grant funds to thirty-two programs who will promote agriculture literacy.
This grant program was designed to offer funds for agriculturally related projects, units, and lessons used for school-age children. The grants will fund hands-on activities which will develop and enrich understanding of agriculture as the source of food and/or fiber in our society.
Grants were awarded to the following organizations, institutions, and schools: Berthold FFA, Bishop Ryan High School in Minot, Bottineau FFA, Burleigh County 4-H Hippology, Burlington/Des Lacs Elementary School, Central Cass Elementary in Casselton, Century Elementary School in Grand Forks, Farm Safety 4 Just Kids (Mid Dakota Chapter) in Bowbells, Grimsrud Elementary School in Bismarck, Hettinger County Extension Office, Kindred FFA, Louis L'Amour Elemen-tary in Jamestown, Maddock FFA, Manvel Public School, Minot FFA, Mountrail County Extension, ND FFA Foundation, ND Stockmen's Associ-ation, New Rockford/Sheyenne FFA, Parshall FCCLA, Parshall High School, Pembina County Extension Service, Ransom County Extension Service, Rolette Public School, Rolla FFA, Roosevelt Elementary School in Bismarck, Scranton FFA, Oakes FFA, Southeast Region Career and Technolo-gy Center in Oakes, Towner FFA, Walsh County Extension Service, and Williston FFA.
Funds for this project were appropriated by the 2009 North Dakota Legis-lature.
The ND Ag in the Classroom's mission is to cultivate an understanding of the interrelationship of agriculture, the environment, and people by integrating agriculture into K-12 education.
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Source: Farm and Ranch, KFGO News Center
