LaSalle Co. Stockman’s Assoc. announces scholarship recipients, essay winners and other awards

Staff
Posted 12/23/20

LA SALLE COUNTY - The 2020 Annual LaSalle County Stockman’s Association Awards and Recognition Banquet was not held due to COVID-19 restrictions. However, the Stockman’s Association has continued to be active by recognizing LaSalle County youth throughout the past year.

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LaSalle Co. Stockman’s Assoc. announces scholarship recipients, essay winners and other awards

Posted

LA SALLE COUNTY - The 2020 Annual LaSalle County Stockman’s Association Awards and Recognition Banquet was not held due to COVID-19 restrictions. However, the Stockman’s Association has continued to be active by recognizing LaSalle County youth throughout the past year.

LCSA has offered their congratulations to the four 2020 recipients who were selected to receive a $1,000 scholarship. They include Jacob Wiesbrock of Lostant, who attends the University of Illinois, majoring in Ag and Biological Engineering; Emma Freebarian of Ottawa, who attends Lakeland College, majoring in Ag Education and Ag Leadership; Katie Corcoran of Ottawa, a student at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, majoring in Physical Therapy Assistant; and Alyson Utegg of Grand Ridge, who attends Kansas State University, majoring in Animal Science and Animal Nutrition.

The Win-A-Show Animal Essay Contest has been an outstanding project of the LCSA. Young people who enter the contest write an essay (up to 250 words) on, “Why I Want To Win A Show Animal.” They must choose one species of interest - beef, swine, sheep or goat. The LCSA expressed their appreciation to two former recipients of this contest, Jacob Black and Lance Moritz, who were donors this year.

Youth selected as this year’s winners in beef, swine and sheep include Mollie Thomson of Tonica, winner of a heifer donated by the Dan Lukach Family, River Bend Farm, Grand Ridge; the swine winner is Kendall Sundberg of Mendota, swine donated by Lance Moritz, Streator; and the sheep winner is Marlee Grubar of Ottawa, donated by Jacob Black, Grand Ridge. These young people will show their animals at the 2021 LaSalle County 4-H Fair.

A virtual LaSalle County 4-H Fair was held in July. The LCSA wishes to recognize and honor the 2020 Champion Breeding Animals. They include Grand Champion Heifer, Kara Freebarian of Ottawa; Reserve Grand Champion Heifer, Sophia Pyszka of LaSalle; Grand Champion & Reserve Champion Pure Bred Gilt, Carter Meyer of Earlville; Grand Champion & Reserve Champion X-Bred Gilt, Audra Marncic of Oglesby; Grand Champion Doe Goat, Brayden Wilson of Earlville; Reserve Grand Champion Doe Goat, Mollie Thomson of Tonica; Grand Champion & Reserve Champion Ewe, Nick Angus of Seneca; and Grand Champion Ram, Nick Angus of Seneca; and Reserve Grand Champion Ram, Kara Killelea of Ottawa.

The LCSA also congratulated Miriam Hoffman of Earlville on her election as the FFA’s Eastern Regional National Vice-President. Hoffman, a junior studying agri-business and economics at SIUC, is a past recipient of a Stockman’s scholarship.

During 2020, the LCSA donated a half-hog to the Streator Food Pantry, sponsored monetarily the following events and activities: LaSalle County Farm Bureau’s Ag in the Classroom, Section 7 FFA-Grand Champion Winners, LaSalle County 4-H Fair Bred & Owned Sponsorship, LaSalle County Stockman Scholarships, and Win-A-Show Animal Contest.

Serving as 2021-22 LCSA officers are President Ken Bernard, Grand Ridge; Vice-President Sarah Lukach, Streator; Secretary Melissa Bernard, Grand Ridge; and Treasurer Lisa Corcoran, Ottawa. The 2020-21 board of directors include George A. Lukach, Davis Isermann, Andy Goodbred, Chris Over, Ralph Walter and Floyd Crane.

Due to COVID-19, LCSA meetings will resume at various locations throughout the county once health guidelines allow. Follow them on Facebook at “LaSalle County Stockman’s Association” for information on upcoming announcements and activities.

The Stockman’s Association looks forward to 2021 by continuing to provide scholarships, awards and recognition to LaSalle County youth in agriculture and they appreciate everyone’s support as they look forward to many exciting and successful years.