MARLBOROUGH, Mass. — The Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) awarded Erin Norris, who is attening UConn, the Gregory Finn Scholarship during the organization’s annual meeting in Framingham, Massachusetts, on Nov. 30.
The Gregory Finn Scholarship was established in loving memory of a good friend to agriculture. Gregory L. Finn was MFBF information & public relations director, a religious and devoted family man, who died of a heart attack in 1983 at the age of 55.
“Gregory Finn had the unique ability to communication about agriculture to the consumer population,” said MFBF President, Ed Davidian, who farms in Northborough. “He was a natural at interpreting and conveying the problems facing farmers in a way that non-agricultural communities could understand. We need more people like that today, which is why we award this scholarship every year.”
To qualify for a scholarship, recipients must be a child or legal dependent of a regular members in good standing with MFBF. They also must be at least in their junior year of college, pursuing a degree related to agriculture or communications.
“It is always refreshing to see young people interested in agriculture,” Davidian said. “Erin is a deserving applicant for our scholarship and I think Erin has a very bright future ahead of her.”
Norris grew up on her family’s dairy farm in Westhampton and through her involvement in 4-H, developed a passion for cows. She is studying animal science with minors in agribusiness management and food science at UConn in Storrs, Connecticut. She hopes to eventually return full-time to her family’s farm.
While at UConn she has re-affirmed her dedication to promoting the dairy industry and agriculture as a whole as she started a club called the Agriculture Advocacy Club. She said, “I know there are many people all throughout New England and the entire country who have had little or no agriculture exposure, so I would love to try and bridge the gap with them and teach them more about the vital agricultural industry.”
Congratulations, Erin!
–Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation
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