SEKGA and the family of Woody & Gail Maxwell are pleased to offer $2200.00 in scholarships this year. This is the sixth year the scholarship has been awarded. This is open to all children & grandchildren of SEKGA members that are eligible. SEKGA funds are raised through the silent auction items donated by our members, raffle items donated by our sponsors, and a member donated NZ buck for our buck raffle before our annual ROUND UP sale. I am proud to say this year SEKGA raised $1108.00 for our youth. The love of agriculture is dear to my soul and knowing we are helping plant seeds for their future to carry on our way of life. We had two scholarship recipients this year, Austin Wiggins and Taylor Smith.

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   Austin Wiggins was awarded $1400.00. He is in his fifth year of college studies and is currently enrolled as a senior at the University of Georgia. He is a double major with a 3.38 gpa. He will complete his animal science bachelor degree this year and soil science bachelor degree in the spring of 2023. Austin is the son of Mark and Leigh Wiggins of Wiggins Family Farm in Forsyth, Georgia. This twenty one year old young man is so well spoken and his love of agriculture can be heard in every word he speaks about his plans for his future raising cattle and kiko goats.

 

  Taylor Smith was awarded $800.00. She is in her fourth year of college studies and is currently enrolled at Georgia Southern University for postgraduate work. She graduated in the spring of 2022 magna cum laude (3.8gpa) with her bachelor degree in Business Administration with a focus in marketing and an emphasis in sales and sale corporations. Taylor is the daughter

of Tim and Lori Hood of J&L Kikos in Clyo, Georgia.  This twenty year old young lady is so poised and focused on her academic excellence. Her favorite time on the farm is kidding season. She was seven years old when goats were brought to J&L. She has done many of a doe night check and felt baby tummies to report if they had nursed . This life has helped form her into the woman she has become today.

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   Farm life is full of success and failures but different from college studies.  Learning to accept that no matter how hard you try you cannot control all things. It can be completely heart wrenching even if you put in all your effort . Then turn around and see nothing but beauty in the next moment and to know our God is good. It is a life many do not ever see or have the privilege to experience. Our farm kids are very grounded by these life lessons they learn on the farm and with the academics they are set up for success. 

 

Lori S. Hood 

SEKGA President