Assisting students interested in pursuing agriculture is critical to the long-term viability of the industry. They are enthusiastic about learning new skills and eager to share their vision about what needs to be accomplished in the future. Providing these young adults an opportunity to grow and succeed is one of the first steps in developing future leaders in agriculture.
For this reason, Cotton Farming is pleased to continue its support of the Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association scholarship program that benefits Texas Tech University students. Each year, the magazine, which has co-sponsored the TCGA Trade Show for about 25 years, contributes a portion of revenue from the sale of ads in the TCGA printed program and ticket sales for the Exhibitor’s Luncheon. In 2019, Cotton Farming raised $4,150 to help bolster the scholarship fund.
“As any parent who has a kid in college knows, it is a significant financial burden,” says Tony Williams, TCGA executive vice president. “The Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association scholarship program, in partnership with Cotton Farming magazine, helps ease the financial burden and is a wise investment in our future leaders.”
Jane Piercy, Texas Tech’s director of development and external relations, says agriculture students appreciate any kind of help given to them while pursuing their degrees.
“Without assistance from the Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association, the dream of a degree in higher education can be unrealistic for many of our students,” she says. “We are grateful that the association sees the value of scholarships for our students.”
Here are the recipients of the 2020 TCGA scholarships:
John Barnwell, Lubbock, sophomore, economics.
Grace Blackwell, Checotah, Oklahoma, senior, economics.
Brittney Couch, Little Elm, Texas, senior, agribusiness.
Monica Haugen, Colton, Washington, senior, agricultural communications.
Bailey Hufnagle, Canyon, Texas, senior, agricultural and applied economics.
Madison Rogers, Lubbock, junior, agribusiness.
Carlie Shae Witte, Clint, Texas, senior, plant and soil science.
Trevor Johnson, Crowell, Texas, is a senior agricultural and applied economics major and the recipient of the Rocky King
Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship was established in 2000 by the Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association as part of the TCGA Scholarship Endowment.
Scholarships are awarded to students in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources who have an interest in and/or a background in cotton. At least one TCGA scholarship is awarded annually in memory of Rocky King, a long-term member of the association.
For more information about the Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association scholarship program for Texas Tech students, contact the association’s office in Round Rock, Texas, at 512-476-8388 or visit www.tcga.org.
Ginners Schools Canceled
Due to COVID-19, the restrictions placed on the U.S. Department of Agriculture facilities as well as state restrictions that include social distancing, Ginners Schools for the remainder of the year have been canceled.
Given the many uncertainties this year as to whether facilities and states will allow re-openings and if instructors will be allowed to travel, the decision has been made to cancel the remaining schools for 2020.
This was a difficult decision, but we cannot plan when there are so many unknowns and unanswered questions. Even if re-openings occur, the phase-in protocols will require limiting meeting size and social distancing and will limit what is considered nonessential travel.
It is hopeful that we will soon get back to a state of normalcy and that we will resume our schools in 2021.
For more information, visit National Cotton Ginners Association website.