BROOMFIELD, Colo. — Horizon Organic Wednesday announced the four recipients of the 2017 Horizon® Organic Producer Education (HOPE) Scholarships, an award that encourages young people to pursue careers in organic agriculture. The students, each of whom will receive $2,500, are children or grandchildren of Horizon family farmers. During the past 10 years, the HOPE Scholarship program has gifted nearly $100,000 to 38 college students pursuing a degree in agriculture and related fields.
In 2007, Horizon became the first national organic dairy brand to offer a scholarship program focused on supporting the next generation of organic leaders.
“We are very proud of the 2017 HOPE Scholarship recipients and are honored to help support their educational endeavors,” said Mike Ferry, president of Horizon. “This year’s recipients represent the best and the brightest when it comes to the future of organic agriculture and farming.”
The 2017 HOPE Scholarship recipients were selected by a committee of organic industry leaders, including: Kiki Hubbard, director of advocacy and communications, Organic Seed Alliance; Faye Jones, farm policy coordinator, Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship; Margaret Scoles, executive director, Independent Organic Inspectors Association; Bob Scowcroft, a long-standing organic advocate who has served in various leadership positions for 35 years; Brise Tencer, executive director, Organic Farming Research Foundation; Glenda Yoder, associate director, Farm Aid.
This year’s HOPE Scholarship recipients are:
Sampson “Sam” Alley (Morrisville, VT), age 18, is the grandson of Horizon producer David Rooney of Rooney Farm. Sam will attend Cornell University this fall to pursue a degree in animal science. Sam’s goal for his time at Cornell is to gain the knowledge and preparation necessary to keep the Rooney farm organic and successful for many years to come. “It’s good to see a young person with enthusiasm to return to the family farm,” says Margaret Scoles, executive director, IOIA.
Kristen Davis (New Sharon, ME), age 19, grew up on Silver Valley Farm and is a two-time HOPE Scholarship recipient. Her father, James Davis, and her uncle, Richard Davis, own and operate Silver Valley Farm and have shipped to Horizon for 10 years. Beginning her sophomore year this fall at Husson University in Bangor, Maine, Kristen will study mass media with a focus on marketing communications. Kristen plans to use her degree to advocate for organic agriculture. “The organic industry needs all the media visibility and promotion it can get,” says Bob Scowcroft, former executive director of the Organic Farming Research Foundation. “With Kristen’s roots on her farm she will be well positioned to adopt that role.”
Sydnie Allen (Chelsea, VT) age 19, is the daughter of Horizon producer Rory Allen of Allenville Farm. Sydnie will enter her sophomore year at The University of Vermont this fall, seeking a degree in animal science. As the daughter of a fifth-generation dairy farmer, Sydnie’s hands-on experience living and working on her family’s farm has fostered her passion for organic agriculture and working with animals. Sydnie’s degree is helping her work toward her goal of increasing knowledge about organic agriculture and the relationship between the health of animals and organic farming. “It’s wonderful to see Sydnie’s interest in organic animals and her passion to make connections between healthy people and animals,” says Faye Jones, farm policy coordinator at Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship.
Lucas Waugerman (Buffalo Mills, PA), age 19, has a long family history of dairy farming. Lucas grew up on Fair Family Farms LLC, which been in his family for 206 years and has been a Horizon supplier since 2006. Lucas will begin his sophomore year at Pennsylvania State University this fall in pursuit of a degree in agriculture management. He plans to return to his family’s farm following graduation and continue the family’s tradition of organic agriculture. “Lucas embraces the value of organic dairy and poultry and has a bright future in front of him,” says Glenda Yoder, associate director of Farm Aid.
To learn more about the more than 600 organic family farms that supply milk to Horizon, visit: https://www.horizon.com/farms
About Horizon
Horizon believes the choice for a healthy family and a healthy planet should be an easy one. Horizon offers a delicious variety of certified organic dairy products to satisfy a broad range of consumer needs, and offers pantry staples such as Mac & Cheese. Horizon’s commitment to a healthier planet includes supporting clean, renewable energy for the production of its products with renewable energy certificates (RECs). Horizon works with more than 600 active and transitioning family farmers across the U.S. Founded in 1991, Horizon was a pioneer in the organic industry, the first company to supply organic milk nationally, and remains committed to providing great-tasting dairy products that make it easy for moms to provide nutritious options for their kids. For more information about Horizon’s organic dairy products, visit www.horizon.com.
— Horizon
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