In celebration of its 20th anniversary this year, the Kansas State Fair Grand Drive Committee is going beyond just selecting champion animals.
Organizers will also honor the champion 4-H and FFA youth who work hard to raise them.
The Fair is now accepting applications for the new scholarship program, which will award 10 high school and college students $1,000 scholarships. Winners will be announced during the 20th annual Grand Drive, which will take place the first weekend of the Fair, Sept. 6-8.
“Agriculture and education are part of the Kansas State Fair’s mission,” said the Fair’s Competitive Exhibits Director Jenn Galloway. “We created this program to support young adults with big dreams for the future.”
The Grand Drive Scholarship Endowment was established at Hutchinson Community Foundation in the summer of 2018. The Grand Drive committee will be spearheading future fundraising efforts with assistance from the Kansas State Fair Board.
Any past or present exhibitor of the Kansas State Fair Grand Drive who is graduating from high school in 2020 or is a secondary education student enrolled in the 2019-2020 school year is eligible, Galloway said.
Applicants must submit the following items to be considered:
- High school and post-secondary transcripts — Official transcripts not required. A copy of an online grade report showing the applicant's name and organization's name is acceptable.
- Showing livestock essay — Applicants must provide a short, 300 words or less essay describing what experiences showing livestock at the Kansas State Fair Grand Drive have resonated the most with them and why.
- Leadership and career goals essay - Applicants must provide a 300 words or less essay describing leadership and career goals for the future and how the Kansas State Fair Grand Drive has influenced these goals.
- Two letters of recommendation.
Applications are due July 1. To apply, visit http://bit.ly/KSFScholarship19.
Started in 1999, the Kansas State Fair Grand Drive has turned into the state’s premier livestock competition. The event encompasses shows for cattle, sheep, hogs and goats. In 2018, Kansas youth entered nearly 2,500 animals.
The Grand Drive is sponsored by Midwest Ford. For more information about the Grand Drive or the scholarship, contact Galloway at jenn.galloway@ks.gov.
Contact:
Jenn Galloway
Director of Competitive Exhibits
620-669-3623 or jenn.galloway@ks.gov