Scholarship

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.

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.

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.