NCF accepting applications 

for beef industry scholarship

DENVER, Colo. — Applications for 2015-16 beef industry scholarships sponsored by the CME Group are now being accepted. Ten scholarships of $1,500 each will be awarded to outstanding students pursuing careers in the beef industry.

Students studying education, communication, production, research or other areas related to the beef industry should consider applying for the scholarship. Applicants must be a graduating high school senior or full-time undergraduate student enrolled at a two- or four-year college.

The National Cattlemen’s Foundation administers the program. Applicants for the 2015-16 scholarship will be required to write a one-page letter expressing future career goals related to the beef industry. They also must write a 750-word essay describing an issue in the beef industry and offering solutions to this problem.

Applications should be submitted by Dec. 19 and sent to National Cattlemen’s Foundation, 9110 E. Nichols Ave., Suite 300, Centennial, CO 80112. The winning recipients will be announced on Jan. 15.

For more information, visit www.nationalcattlemensfoundation.org

Indiana 4-H Foundation 

offering matching donations

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Indiana 4-H Foundation board of directors has partnered with Indiana Farm Bureau and the Estate of Barbara J. Faris to offer a $50,000 Challenge to those making contributions to the Indiana 4-H Foundation.

Between now and the end of 2014 all unrestricted gifts to the Indiana 4-H Foundation of $50 or more, up to $50,000, will be matched by a combined effort of the Indiana 4-H Foundation board of directors, Indiana Farm Bureau and the estate of Barbara J. Faris.

Donations support programs for more than 200,000 4-H youth in all 92 Indiana counties. Log on to www.in4h.org/donate-now to donate, or you can make a donation by mail with a check or credit card to: Indiana 4-H Foundation, 615 West State St., West Lafayette, IN 47907. You may also consider a recurring monthly donation. For more information, contact Executive Director Liz Ellis at liz-ellis@purdue.edu or at 317-701-6837.

Veterans, youth to work i

mproving natural resources

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As part of the observance of Veterans Day, the USDA and the Corp. for National and Community Service (CNCS) announced the partners and projects that will be funded in this fiscal year to provide job and training opportunities to veterans and youth.

“This is a great example of an innovative partnership that expands economic opportunity for young people, taps the leadership skills of veterans, improves our national forests and puts a new generation on a lifelong path of service,” said Wendy Spencer, CEO of the CNCS. “Young people and veterans bring extraordinary skill and passion to conservation service, and we are thrilled to join with USDA to expand service opportunities that strengthen our environment and build economic opportunity for those who serve.”

The projects will create opportunities for 300 youth and veterans who will serve through AmeriCorps and as part of the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps (21CSC), working to restore and conserve natural and historic resources on National Forests and grasslands in more than 10 states. The $3.7 million in joint funding for this effort was announced earlier this year.

USDA partnered with CNCS to identify and jointly fund high-quality projects. In addition, funding was allocated to partner organizations whose work helps accomplish key Forest Service priorities, including hazardous fuels management, watershed protection, trail maintenance and recreation and facilities management.

The new partnership also reflects the spirit of the Presidential Task Force on Expanding National Service, which is charged with addressing national challenges by expanding national service opportunities through interagency and public-private partnerships. The projects are diverse and will take place on public lands from Hawaii to the Gulf Coast.

Included are forests in Tennessee, North Carolina and Georgia that will field six Southeast Youth Corps (SYC) crews. In partnership with Conservation Legacy, the parent organization, the crews will perform general trail maintenance over an eight-week period.

For more information, visit www.nationalservice.gov

USPOULTRY Foundation 

boosts FFA poultry CDE 

TUCKER, Ga. — At the recent National FFA Convention & Expo in Louisville, Ky., incoming USPOULTRY Foundation Chairman Elton Maddox, Wayne Farms, Oakwood, Ga., announced an enhancement of the USPOULTRY Foundation’s support for the National FFA Poultry Evaluation Career Development Event (CDE). 

The Poultry Evaluation CDE is a competitive event that helps students develop their ability to think critically, communicate clearly and perform effectively in a competitive job market by testing their skills in the production, processing and marketing of chickens, turkeys, processed poultry products and eggs. Beginning with January 2015, the top 10 finishing teams of the Poultry Evaluation CDE will receive an all-expense paid trip to the International Poultry Expo (IPE), part of the International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) in Atlanta, Ga. 

Poultry industry leaders will participate in a program that will inform the students about the multitude of career opportunities in the industry. Additionally, students will have an opportunity to visit the vast trade show floor to see the exciting technology used by today’s modern, sustainable poultry industry.

The following teams have been invited to attend the IPPE in January. They are listed in their order of finish: Hughson FFA, California; Lincoln FFA, Arkansas; Prairie Central FFA, Illinois; Wheaton FFA, Missouri; Gilmer FFA, Texas; Texico FFA, New Mexico; East Jackson High FFA, Georgia; Louisburg FFA, Kansas; Crest FFA, North Carolina; and Adair FFA, Oklahoma.