Wyatt Williams is the youngest of 3 and the son of Wally and Kelly Willams of Ferdinand.  He plans to attend the University of Idaho next fall and study Agriculture and Life Sciences.

      Wyatt was a salutatorian at Prairie High School this year as well as being Senior Class Vice President.  He decided that he would “rather excel in academics than in sports, thinking that route would probably get me further in life.”  He spent his spare time working on the ranch and with his 4-H group, where he also held leadership roles.  He has been junior president, vice president, and for the last two years, president of the group.

      Wyatt has taken beef during all 10 years of his involvement with 4-H, which has earned him Reserve Champion showman 3 times, and Grand Champion twice.

4-H has also given Wyatt plenty of opportunity for community service.  He has helped with building the dugouts for the baseball field, road cleanups, and building and distributing toys and food for the Angel Tree of Caring during the Christmas season.

Wyatt is prepared to weather through the good and the bad in agriculture.  He describes good times as “feeding cows on the river on a nice sunny day in March, when all the new babies are being born,”  to the terrible days of doctoring calves at midnight.  He says the good usually outweighs the bad and it all comes together for him in the word “cowboy,” which he is proud to call himself.

Wyatt says that going to college “is one easy way to be able to guide my future.”  He hopes to put time and effort back into the beef and agriculture industry after graduation, making our choosing him for this scholarship a good investment for the industry.

Wyatt seems to have a good head on his shoulders and the ILCCA is proud to help fund his education. Wyatt says it best: “I know the value of a dollar and will not waste the money awarded to me.”

Congratulations!

Pamela Holman is the youngest daughter of Ronald and Rita Holman of Grangeville.  She held many leadership roles during high school and threw sports into the mix as well.  She plans to attend the University of Idaho and study Veterinary Science.

      Pamela participated in four years of varsity basketball and volleyball; softball for 2 years and track for one year.  During her junior and senior years she was team captain for both basketball and volleyball.  She has received many awards for sports and set the record for the most steals in a single game and season for basketball. 

Pamela was her sophomore class vice president, junior class president and was Associated Student Body President her senior year.  She was voted as Homecoming Queen last fall, and was chosen as an Academic All-star for KLEW TV.  She has remained active in her church group as well.

Between sports Pamela did have time for ag-related activities.  She has been in 4-H for three years, where she was Reserve Grand Champion twice at spring show and once at the fair with a steer.  She has also participated in FFA for two years.

      A sit down dinner with family is important to her, and is worked in each day after practices.  This spring her sports schedule allowed her to job shadow at Ferdinand Vet Clinic in the afternoons.

      Pamela knows her education will allow her to return to the area as a productive citizen and she knows the work it will take to get there.  She says her parents taught all their children, “if you want something in life, work hard with pride and don’t give up.”  She says success in college is her responsibility and is also well within her grasp.

Pamela has every intention of returning to the area and “serving those people who have inspired me and have been such a big part of my life.”  She plans to keep the pace up and not only give back as a veterinarian, but also as a basketball coach and with a riding arena where she could teach kids to ride horses.

We wish you the best!

Michele Geis of Keuterville is the daughter of Jesse Geis and Ann Geis.  She is determined to be the first in her family to graduate from college.  She plans to attend the University of Idaho in the fall and major in Forestry or Wildlife Technology.  Her dad is a logger and even now, Michele helps out with that business.  She hopes to keep logging companies in business, and keep our forest healthy so that “our communities stay happy and families can go camping all the time.” 

As well as helping her dad with bookwork for his company, she helps her grandfather, George Geis with his cattle.   She loves all the aspects of cattle ranching and enjoys helping brand, vaccinate and move cows as well as fixing fences.  She also stacks hay for extra money and works for Jack Duman at Truck and Auto Paint Shoppe doing cleaning, paperwork or refinishing work on vehicles.

Michele didn’t participate in a lot of extracurricular activities during high school since she spent most of her time working.  She was involved in the Catholic Church where she participated in a Catholic Fun Meet, as well as being confirmed in the church her junior year.  Michele has been to a few art shows in Moscow through the school and was named student of the month.

Her weekends find her horseback riding, four-wheeling or on a drive, often to the Gospels, Pittsburg Landing or the Snake River, which are her favorite places to visit.

In twenty years Michele pictures herself “living in a log cabin, working outdoors, doing what I love and hopefully helping all the people I can along the way.”

Michele says: “I just want to make a good living, from doing what I love, and if that means four more years of school, I am willing to go for it.”

That is great determination, and we wish you the best! 

Steven Baerlocher of Greencreek is the son of Joe and Arlene, and a graduate of Prairie High School.  He plans to attend Lewis-Clark State College and study Diesel Technology.  He hopes to use his education to eventually return to the family farm, and raise cattle, while also working as a mechanic.

      “I look around and see that just about every farmer has another source of income.  I want to be educated in the diesel technology field and I hope to work in this area for several years; gaining knowledge and experience in hopes of returning to the family farm.”

High school was a busy time for Steven.  While helping his dad with the farm, he was also involved in several extracurricular activities.  Through his involvement with the St. Anthony’s Youth Sodality he has helped with Masses, decorated the church at Christmas, and participated in plays and community service.  This spring he went on a pilgrimage to Italy with several other youth and community members.

Steven has been a member of 4-H for 7 years, helping with community projects and raising beef and pigs.

He was a member of the Technical Student Association where he attended state and national competitions.  During his senior year he earned two first place and three second place awards at the state level.

Sports are important to the entire Baerlocher family.  Steven’s two older brothers played baseball in college and beyond.  Steven played both Babe Ruth and Prairie Baseball; earning a spot in “The Best Players in Babe Ruth League” as well as student athlete of the week and RBI champion his junior year.

Steven is currently raising a few of his own cows and hopes to be a cattlemen member himself in the future.

Congratulations and good luck in your future endeavors!

At a Director’s Meeting last year a decision was made to offer two scholarships per year starting in 2008.  The scholarship committee, made up of the past three presidents, reviewed the six applications and decided on Lee Meunch, from Grangeville and James Boggan from Riggins.

James Boggan will be attending the U of I this fall, majoring in Animal Science—Agricultural Education.  James chose this course of study because it will allow him to “return to the community and family ranch, and further the cause of agriculture and related fields.”  He plans to teach agriculture locally, while continuing to ranch.

      He spends much of his time helping his parents, Doug and Sharon, on their Riggins ranch, where he also owns a small herd.  When his dad has everything under control at home, James can be found working as a clerk in the local hardware store.

James participated in many extra-curricular activities including 4-H, FFA, BPA, Honor Society, rodeo and basketball, where he has earned a letter for four years.  He has won many buckles competing in rodeo.  His favorite events are calf tying, team roping and steer dogging.  He served as his class vice-president for one year.

      James is also involved in Royal Rangers, a boys group through his church.  He has held many leadership roles with the group both locally and regionally.  For the past three years he has been Junior Commander for the local area as well as Northwest Territorial Scout.  He has received the Gold Medal of Achievement and the service award through the Royal Rangers.  The service award required many hours of community service.

A common thread among most of our scholarship recipients over the last several years is their desire to return to the area and give something back to the community.  James also shares that goal.  He hopes to educate the youth of the area, and continue to be involved in his church and community.

We are proud to have you as one of our future leaders, congratulations.

Lee Meunch plans to attend the University of Idaho this fall and major in Animal Science—Beef Cattle Production.  He also plans to join the ROTC program and become a commissioned officer in the Army.  Lee says joining the ROTC “will afford me the opportunity to give a small part back to the country that has already given me so much.”

      Lee’s parents, Alan and Mary, home-schooled him at the ranch, though he kept active with the public school by participating in football, wrestling, track and rodeo.  Lee competes in both bull and bareback riding and has several distinctions in the arena.  He has been selected for the National Wrangler All-Star Rodeo Team from his district; as well as serving as team captain for the state.  Lee has been the bareback riding champion in his district for the past two years and has qualified for state in bull riding for the past three.    Lee’s 4-H involvement has spanned the last nine years with the Fenn Livestock Club, showing everything from chickens to steers.

      If that isn’t enough to keep someone busy Lee has been working as ranch foreman for the past few years at his parent’s ranch and therefore overseeing most of the operation.  He also purchased 20 heifers which he will breed and sell in the fall to help fund his education.

Lee hopes the additional knowledge he receives in school will allow him to be a better rancher and to help other ranchers in his area.

Lee’s goals for his future are clear.  He plans to be raising a registered Black Angus heard of about 90 pair and have an additional commercial herd of about 250.  It’s an ambitious goal, but certainly attainable from this young man who already has so many years of experience under his belt.

Congratulations Lee.  We wish you success with all your goals.

This year’s ILCCA Scholarship has been awarded to Cody Howard of Nezperce.  Cody’s parents are Michael and Gayle Howard.  Mike is a director for the ILCCA and has been a member for 6 years.

      Cody has had a very busy high school career.  As a senior he played football, basketball, and baseball; and served as team captain of the first two.  He was also involved in many school clubs, including BPA, FFA, National Honor Society and 4-H.  He was FFA president for two years and vice president for both National Honor Society and 4-H.

Cody started to take 4-H in 3rd grade with a pig.  He entered a pig the next year as well; but “it just really wasn’t my thing.  I was a cowboy so I thought I needed something a little bit tougher, I needed a steer.”  He had a steer at the fair for six years.

His final year entering a steer, Cody had a goal to earn the Superior Beef Project Award belt buckle.  With hard work throughout the spring and summer (and a broken hand one month before the fair) he had an award-winning steer.  That steer won Cody the Beef Grand Champion Showman, Beef Reserve Champion Quality, Grand Champion Overall Showman and the Superior Beef Project, complete with belt buckle.

Cody’s hard work with 4-H carries over into his life on the ranch as well.  Having worked on his dad’s ranch, as well as his grandparent’s and uncles’ ranches, he is well acquainted with the values and hard work that come with the way of life.

Cody plans to attend the University of Idaho and pursue a degree in Animal Sciences, then return to the area to run his own ranch.  He says an Animal Science degree “will better prepare me for the agricultural business world.”  Cody knows well that a rancher has to be in tune with national and even global attitudes to be successful.

Cody is working on starting his own herd, which he currently runs with his family’s cattle.

If Cody shows the same determination in college and life that he has shown thus far in school and 4-H, he is sure to succeed in all he undertakes.

Congratulations Cody, and best of luck.                                                                                      

2008 - Last year’s scholarship recipient, Cody Howard, was tragically killed in an auto accident last fall during his first semester at the University of Idaho. His family sent the following note:

Thank you for first recognizing Cody with the scholarship and then for donating it to the scholarship set up in his memory.

Cody was really proud that he had won this particular scholarship.  He had joined the Student Idaho Cattle Association at the University of Idaho and was on this way to becoming a cattle producer.  Thank-you for your kindness and generosity.

The family of Cody Howard

The Cattle Association has awarded Amanda Hunter of Harpster the 2006 Scholarship of $500.  She is the daughter of Lamoyne and Susan Hunter, who are longtime members of the ILCCA, and Sandy Carrier.  Amanda graduated from Clearwater Valley High School this spring and is just finishing up her reign as Border Days Princess.      Amanda kept busy during high school with the many clubs and activities she was involved in.  She participated in choir and academic bowl  during all four years of high school.  She was involved in high school rodeo for two years where she competed in barrel racing.  She also kept busy with tennis, band, National Honor Society, FFA and 4-H among other clubs.  She has held leadership positions in many of the groups she was involved with.  Even with all her activities Amanda has maintained her grades and has been on honor roll.

Royalty try-outs take place this weekend, when Amanda will hand over her crown to another.  Her favorite part of being a rodeo princess was getting to meet all the different people.  She was in several parades, as far away as Asotin; and did buzzes at many rodeos.  For those of you not familiar with the lingo - a buzz is when they ride around the arena waving.

Amanda has helped on the ranch throughout her life with everything from working cattle and calving to breaking horses.  She knows that even a ranch has to have someone to manage the money and keep things organized; which is why her degree in Accounting will be beneficial for her.  After college Amanda plans to stay in this area, but is otherwise unsure of exactly what she plans to do.

Congratulations Amanda!  We wish you the best of luck in all your endeavors.

Shane Poxleitner of Keuterville is the winner of the 2005 ILCCA scholarship.   He is the son of Ed and Jackie Poxleitner.  Shane has a busy summer planned that ends with going into the Diesel Technology Program at the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls.

Shane competed in the High School State Rodeo Finals at the end of June, riding bulls.  His results aren’t yet known since his family hadn’t returned from finals at the time of printing.

The day after finals ended, Shane began working in Twin Falls for the remainder of the summer.  He was told he would be working long hours, six days a week.  Hopefully that will be enough to keep him out of trouble!

Shane has been working cattle, as his dad and grandfather did, since he could walk.   He has always enjoyed checking the cows and fencing.  He has started his own herd and plans to become a Cattleman member in the future.

Shane has been involved in many activities, and received many awards, during his years at Prairie High School.  He participated in Wrestling and Rodeo throughout his high school career.  He placed 2nd at wrestling districts in 2003-2005 and placed 3rd at state this year. 

Shane placed 2nd at districts for bareback riding in 2001-2004.  His bull riding consistently improved from 2002-2004, as he moved from 3rd to 1st place.  Shane has also held leadership positions in Rodeo.  He has been Vice President and President of the Prairie Rodeo Club and was a District Director for High School Rodeo.  Shane hopes to continue riding in college, as it fits around school.

Shane has also been involved in church ministry since 2001 and has been involved in 4H.  He has been Vice President of the Keuterville Livestock Club and has received blue ribbons on his 4H Beef Projects.

After graduating from CSI with a two year degree, Shane hopes to attend LCSC or CSI for a 2 year welding degree.  He plans to open his own shop after graduating and to get “married somewhere between now and when I die.”  He hopes to use the skills he learns in college to benefit himself and his community by working on equipment.

Shane sounds like he has some busy years ahead of him, and lots of goals to fulfill.  We wish you the best of luck!