I dream about getting my college degree while on the back of a horse, farming in the tractor, and while doctoring cattle. I will be a first-generation college student for my family, and I can't think of a better way to make my family proud and to strengthen my family's business than to walk across that graduation stage. My goal is to pursue a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a minor in Farm and Ranch Operations at the University of Montana Western. I have worked for my family ranch, Ellis-Barnes Livestock, my whole life, nearly full time during my high school years. I have a passion for the care of livestock and know that I want to focus my education on furthering the success of our ranch, just as my grandfather and family before him have done. They are my true inspiration, and I am so grateful that they have made intentional decisions to preserve our way of life and our lands. After my degree completion, my goal is to become the owner and Ranch Manager at Ellis-Barnes Livestock. By receiving my degree and learning new information I will be able to improve our ranch's livestock and operations as well as our finances and income. I find great value in keeping our rural agricultural lifestyle sustainable, and my education will be a necessary step to enriching our ranch. As I entered high school, the whole country was shut down from COVID-19, and it was very uncertain times for everyone. The daily operations of our ranch had to continue unchanged, yet we faced new challenges of product shortages, rising costs, and market fluctuations. It was during this time that my family made the decision to continue to my high school education through an outreach program to be able help our ranch operate. This was an uneasy change in the beginning, but looking back it was a pivotal change in a positive way for my future career. I may have missed out on some high school opportunities and had to "grow up" sooner than my peers, but I was able to gain responsibility, knowledge, and experience that will serve me well in college and in my future career raising quality cattle and performance horses. I am grateful for the endless hours of work that have shaped me. The most valuable life lesson I have learned from caring for my livestock is responsibility. Caring for livestock has taught me the importance of responsibility and the consistency you must have every day to provide the proper care. Responsibility is not only the act of providing care, but the quality of care as well. This is so evident in our operation of raising commercial beef cattle, raising show steers, and producing high quality performance horses. The work you put into your animals makes a tremendous difference in your end product. That is full circle responsibility. This translates into the work I'm about to embark in to obtain my bachelor's degree and I am committed to responsibly producing quality work to complete my goal. Responsibility has shaped me into a young man who is a trusted employee at Ellis-Barnes Livestock and I am grateful for the endless hours of work that have shaped me. I have worked hard to succeed in the rodeo arena, on the basketball court, and volunteering in my community. Over the last four years I have helped put on basketball camps for elementary kids. It has been a great opportunity to give back to the community and interact with families that support Tonasket athletics. Our Washington State High School Rodeo Association has a similar service activity for senior living facilities across the state of Washington. This activity has been rewarding to give back to the older generation while educating them about our western lifestyle. Being a community involved citizen is something that will always be a part of my life and I look forward to giving back to my communities who have given so much to me. I strive to be the best member and athlete for our Washington State High School Rodeo team, the best team captain on our basketball team, and a good community citizen. I look forward to bringing back my college degree to Okanogan County to promote and protect our agricultural way of life and I look forward to mentoring the younger generation to do the same. I feel that my commitment to academics, extra-curricular activities, and high school attendance aligns with your scholarship, and I would be honored to receive your award.

I dream about getting my college degree while on the back of a horse, farming in the tractor, and while doctoring cattle. I will be a first-generation college student for my family and I can't think of a better way to make my family proud and to strengthen my future business than to walk across that graduation stage. My goal is to pursue a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a minor in Farm and Ranch Operations at the University of Montana Western. I have worked for my family ranch, Ellis-Barnes Livestock, my whole life, nearly full time during my high school years. I have a passion for the care of livestock and know that I want to focus my education on furthering the success of my own future ranching operation. After my degree completion, my goal is to become the owner and Ranch Manager of my future livestock company. By receiving my degree and learning new information I will be able to improve my livestock and business operations as well as my finances and income. I find great value in keeping our rural agricultural lifestyle sustainable, and my education will be a necessary step to building and enriching my ranching business. My high school years turned out very different than how I had originally imagined them. As I entered high school, the whole country was shut down from COVID-19, and it was very uncertain times for everyone. While I wasn't able to attend high school in person and sports were modified, the daily operations of our ranch had to continue unchanged. We faced new challenges of product shortages, rising costs, and market fluctuations. It was during this time that my family made the decision to continue to my high school education through an outreach program to be able help Ellis Barnes Livestock operate. This was an uneasy change in the beginning, but looking back it was a pivotal change in a positive way for my future career. I may have missed out on some high school opportunities and had to "grow up" sooner than my peers, but I was able to gain responsibility, knowledge, and experience that will serve me well in college and in my future career raising quality cattle and performance horses. I am grateful for the endless hours of work that have shaped me, and this is what defines success for me. I strive to be the best member and athlete for our Washington State High School Rodeo team, the best team captain on our basketball team, and a good community citizen. I have made intentional decisions to mentor the younger generation at junior rodeos, at basketball camps, and within the Okanogan County Fair Beef Barn. I look forward to bringing back my college degree to Okanogan County to promote and protect our agricultural way of life and I look forward to mentoring the younger generation to do the same. I feel that my entrepreneurial spirit, my academics, and work experience align with your scholarship, and I would be honored to receive your award.

I dream about getting my college degree while on the back of a horse, farming in the tractor, and while doctoring cattle. I will be a first-generation college student for my family and I can't think of a better way to make my family proud and to strengthen my family's business than to walk across that graduation stage. My goal is to pursue a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a minor in Farm and Ranch Operations at the University of Montana Western. I have worked for my family ranch, Ellis-Barnes Livestock, my whole life, nearly full time during my high school years. I have a passion for the care of livestock and know that I want to focus my education on furthering the success of our ranch, just as my grandfather and family before him have done. They are my true inspiration, and I am so grateful that they have made intentional decisions to preserve our way of life and our lands. After my degree completion, my goal is to become the owner and Ranch Manager at Ellis-Barnes Livestock. By receiving my degree and learning new information I will be able to improve our ranch's livestock and operations as well as our finances and income. I find great value in keeping our rural agricultural lifestyle sustainable, and my education will be a necessary step to enriching our ranch. My high school years turned out very different than how I had originally imagined them. As I entered high school, the whole country was shut down from COVID-19, and it was very uncertain times for everyone. While I wasn't able to attend high school in person and sports were modified, the daily operations of our ranch had to continue unchanged. We faced new challenges of product shortages, rising costs, and market fluctuations. It was during this time that my family made the decision to continue to my high school education through an outreach program to be able help our ranch operate. This was an uneasy change in the beginning, but looking back it was a pivotal change in a positive way for my future career. I may have missed out on some high school opportunities and had to "grow up" sooner than my peers, but I was able to gain responsibility, knowledge, and experience that will serve me well in college and in my future career raising quality cattle and performance horses. I am grateful for the endless hours of work that have shaped me. I encourage anyone in a similar situation to work hard and learn as much as you can from your circumstances. Finding a healthy mentor and making decisions for your future self will always lead you to outcomes that are rewarding in the end. Who you surround yourself with will have the largest impact on who you become. You must choose your company wisely and this is something I take seriously and encourage others to be intentional about as well. While ranching and making ranch and performance horses has been my main passion, I have worked hard to succeed in the rodeo arena, on the basketball court, and volunteering in my community. Over the last four years I have helped put on basketball camps for elementary kids. It has been a great opportunity to give back to the community and interact with families that support Tonasket athletics. Helping the next generation with their athletics and the fundamentals of the sport is a great start to improve our community. Our Washington State High School Rodeo Association has a similar service activity for senior living facilities across the state of Washington. This activity has been rewarding to give back to the older generation while educating them about our western lifestyle. Being a community involved citizen is something that will always be a part of my life and I look forward to giving back to my communities who have given so much to me. I strive to be the best member and athlete for our Washington State High School Rodeo team, the best team captain on our basketball team, and a good community citizen. I have made intentional decisions to mentor the younger generation at junior rodeos, at basketball camps, and within the Okanogan County Fair Beef Barn. I look forward to bringing back my college degree to Okanogan County, the first in my family, to promote and protect our agricultural way of life and I look forward to mentoring the younger generation to do the same. I want my story of adversity and being a first-generation college graduate to inspire others who are in a similar situation. I feel that my tenacity, my love for my family and community, my academics, work experience, extracurricular activities and community service align with your scholarship, and I would be honored to receive your award.

I dream about getting my college degree while on the back of a horse, farming in the tractor, and while doctoring cattle. I will be a first-generation college student for my family and I can't think of a better way to make my family proud and to strengthen my family's business than to walk across that graduation stage. My goal is to pursue a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a minor in Farm and Ranch Operations at the University of Montana Western. I have worked for my family ranch, Ellis-Barnes Livestock, my whole life, nearly full time during my high school years. I have a passion for the care of livestock and know that I want to focus my education on furthering the success of our ranch, just as my grandfather and family before him have done. They are my true inspiration, and I am so grateful that they have made intentional decisions to preserve our way of life and our lands. After my degree completion, my goal is to become the owner and Ranch Manager at Ellis-Barnes Livestock. By receiving my degree and learning new information I will be able to improve our ranch's livestock and operations as well as our finances and income. I find great value in keeping our rural agricultural lifestyle sustainable, and my education will be a necessary step to enriching our ranch. My high school years turned out very different than how I had originally imagined them. As I entered high school, the whole country was shut down from COVID-19, and it was very uncertain times for everyone. While I wasn't able to attend high school in person and sports were modified, the daily operations of our ranch had to continue unchanged. Our cattle had to be cared for. We faced new challenges of product shortages, rising costs, and market fluctuations. It was during this time that my family made the decision to continue to my high school education through an outreach program to be able help our ranch operate. This was an uneasy change in the beginning, but looking back it was a pivotal change in a positive way for my future career. I may have missed out on some high school opportunities and had to "grow up" sooner than my peers, but I was able to gain responsibility, knowledge, and experience that will serve me well in college and in my future career raising quality cattle and performance horses. I am grateful for the endless hours of work and adversity that have shaped me. I strive to be the best member and athlete for our Washington State High School Rodeo team, the best team captain on our basketball team, and a good community citizen. I have made intentional decisions to mentor the younger generation at junior rodeos, at basketball camps, and within the Okanogan County Fair Beef Barn. I look forward to bringing back my college degree to Okanogan County, the first in my family, to promote and protect our agricultural way of life and I look forward to mentoring the younger generation to do the same. I want my story of adversity and being a first-generation college graduate to inspire others who are in a similar situation. I feel that my tenacity, my love for my family and community, my academics, work experience, extracurricular activities and community service align with your scholarship, and I would be honored to receive your award.

I dream about getting my college degree while on the back of a horse, farming in the tractor, and while doctoring cattle. I will be a first-generation college student for my family and I can't think of a better way to make my family proud and to strengthen my family's business than to walk across that graduation stage. My goal is to pursue a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a minor in Farm and Ranch Operations at the University of Montana Western. I have worked for my family ranch, Ellis-Barnes Livestock, my whole life, nearly full time during my high school years. I have a passion for the care of livestock and know that I want to focus my education on furthering the success of our ranch, just as my grandfather and family before him have done. They are my true inspiration, and I am so grateful that they have made intentional decisions to preserve our way of life and our lands. After my degree completion, my goal is to become the owner and Ranch Manager at Ellis-Barnes Livestock. By receiving my degree and learning new information I will be able to improve our ranch's livestock and operations as well as our finances and income. I find great value in keeping our rural agricultural lifestyle sustainable, and my education will be a necessary step to enriching our ranch. My high school years turned out very different than how I had originally imagined them. As I entered high school, the whole country was shut down from COVID-19, and it was very uncertain times for everyone. While I wasn't able to attend high school in person and sports were modified, the daily operations of our ranch had to continue unchanged. Our cattle had to be cared for. We faced new challenges of product shortages, rising costs, and market fluctuations. It was during this time that my family made the decision to continue to my high school education through an outreach program to be able help our ranch operate. This was an uneasy change in the beginning, but looking back it was a pivotal change in a positive way for my future career. I may have missed out on some high school opportunities and had to "grow up" sooner than my peers, but I was able to gain responsibility, knowledge, and experience that will serve me well in college and in my future career raising quality cattle and performance horses. I am grateful for the endless hours of work and adversity that have shaped me. I strive to be the best member and athlete for our Washington State High School Rodeo team, the best team captain on our basketball team, and a good community citizen. I have made intentional decisions to mentor the younger generation at junior rodeos, at basketball camps, and within the Okanogan County Fair Beef Barn. I look forward to bringing back my college degree to Okanogan County, the first in my family, to promote and protect our agricultural way of life and I look forward to mentoring the younger generation to do the same. I want my story of adversity and being a first-generation college graduate to inspire others who are in a similar situation. I feel that my tenacity, my love for my family and community, my academics, work experience, extracurricular activities and community service align with your scholarship, and I would be honored to receive your award.

I dream about getting my college degree while on the back of a horse, farming in the tractor, and while doctoring cattle. I will be a first-generation college student for my family, and I can't think of a better way to make my family proud and to strengthen my family's business than to walk across that graduation stage. My goal is to pursue a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a minor in Farm and Ranch Operations at the University of Montana Western. I have worked for my family ranch, Ellis-Barnes Livestock, my whole life, nearly full time during my high school years. I have a passion for the care of livestock and know that I want to focus my education on furthering the success of our ranch, just as my grandfather and family before him have done. They are my true inspiration, and I am so grateful that they have made intentional decisions to preserve our way of life and our lands. After my degree completion, my goal is to become the owner and Ranch Manager at Ellis-Barnes Livestock. By receiving my degree and learning new information I will be able to improve our ranch's livestock and operations as well as our finances and income. I find great value in keeping our rural agricultural lifestyle sustainable, and my education will be a necessary step to enriching our ranch. As I entered high school, the whole country was shut down from COVID-19, and it was very uncertain times for everyone. The daily operations of our ranch had to continue unchanged, yet we faced new challenges of product shortages, rising costs, and market fluctuations. It was during this time that my family made the decision to continue to my high school education through an outreach program to be able help our ranch operate. This was an uneasy change in the beginning, but looking back it was a pivotal change in a positive way for my future career. I may have missed out on some high school opportunities and had to "grow up" sooner than my peers, but I was able to gain responsibility, knowledge, and experience that will serve me well in college and in my future career raising quality cattle and performance horses. I am grateful for the endless hours of work that have shaped me. I have worked hard to succeed in the rodeo arena, on the basketball court, and volunteering in my community. Over the last four years I have helped put on basketball camps for elementary kids. It has been a great opportunity to give back to the community and interact with families that support Tonasket athletics. Our Washington State High School Rodeo Association has a similar service activity for senior living facilities across the state of Washington. This activity has been rewarding to give back to the older generation while educating them about our western lifestyle. Being a community involved citizen is something that will always be a part of my life and I look forward to giving back to my communities who have given so much to me. I strive to be the best member and athlete for our Washington State High School Rodeo team, the best team captain on our basketball team, and a good community citizen. I look forward to bringing back my college degree to Okanogan County to promote and protect our agricultural way of life and I look forward to mentoring the younger generation to do the same. I feel that my business plan and shining light align with your scholarship, and I would be honored to receive your award.

I dream about getting my college degree while on the back of a horse, farming in the tractor, and while doctoring cattle. I will be a first-generation college student for my family and I can't think of a better way to make my family proud and to strengthen my family's business than to walk across that graduation stage. My goal is to pursue a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a minor in Farm and Ranch Operations at the University of Montana Western. I have worked for my family ranch, Ellis-Barnes Livestock, my whole life, nearly full time during my high school years. I have a passion for the care of livestock and know that I want to focus my education on furthering the success of our ranch, just as my grandfather and family before him have done. They are my true inspiration, and I am so grateful that they have made intentional decisions to preserve our way of life and our lands. After my degree completion, my goal is to become the owner and Ranch Manager at Ellis-Barnes Livestock. By receiving my degree and learning new information I will be able to improve our ranch's livestock and operations as well as our finances and income. I find great value in keeping our rural agricultural lifestyle sustainable, and my education will be a necessary step to enriching our ranch. My high school years turned out very different than how I had originally imagined them. As I entered high school, the whole country was shut down from COVID-19, and it was very uncertain times for everyone. While I wasn't able to attend high school in person and sports were modified, the daily operations of our ranch had to continue unchanged. We faced new challenges of product shortages, rising costs, and market fluctuations. It was during this time that my family made the decision to continue to my high school education through an outreach program to be able help our ranch operate. This was an uneasy change in the beginning, but looking back it was a pivotal change in a positive way for my future career. I may have missed out on some high school opportunities and had to "grow up" sooner than my peers, but I was able to gain responsibility, knowledge, and experience that will serve me well in college and in my future career raising quality cattle and performance horses. I am grateful for the endless hours of work that have shaped me. I would encourage anyone in my same situation to work hard and learn as much as you can from your circumstances. Finding a healthy mentor and making decisions for your future self will always lead you to outcomes that are rewarding in the end. Who you surround yourself with will have the largest impact on who you become. You must choose your company wisely! I strive to be the best member and athlete for our Washington State High School Rodeo team, the best team captain on our basketball team, and a good community citizen. I have made intentional decisions to mentor the younger generation at junior rodeos, at basketball camps, and within the Okanogan County Fair Beef Barn. I look forward to bringing back my college degree to Okanogan County to promote and protect our agricultural way of life and I look forward to mentoring the younger generation to do the same. I feel that my love for my family and community, my academics, work experience, extracurricular activities and community service align with your scholarship, and I would be honored to receive your award.

I dream about getting my college degree while on the back of a horse, farming in the tractor, and while doctoring cattle. I will be a first-generation college student for my family and I can't think of a better way to make my family proud and to strengthen my family's business than to walk across that graduation stage. My goal is to pursue a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a minor in Farm and Ranch Operations at the University of Montana Western. I have worked for my family ranch, Ellis-Barnes Livestock, my whole life, nearly full time during my high school years. I have a passion for the care of livestock and know that I want to focus my education on furthering the success of our ranch, just as my grandfather and family before him have done. They are my true inspiration, and I am so grateful that they have made intentional decisions to preserve our way of life and our lands. After my degree completion, my goal is to become the owner and Ranch Manager at Ellis-Barnes Livestock. By receiving my degree and learning new information I will be able to improve our ranch's livestock and operations as well as our finances and income. I find great value in keeping our rural agricultural lifestyle sustainable, and my education will be a necessary step to enriching our ranch. I want my story of being a first-generation college graduate to inspire others who are in a similar situation. I feel that my tenacity, my love for my family and community, my academics, work experience, extracurricular activities and community service align with your scholarship, and I would be honored to receive your award.

I dream about getting my college degree while on the back of a horse, farming in the tractor, and while doctoring cattle. I will be a first-generation college student for my family and I can't think of a better way to make my family proud and to strengthen my family's business than to walk across that graduation stage. My goal is to pursue a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a minor in Farm and Ranch Operations at the University of Montana Western. I have worked for my family ranch, Ellis-Barnes Livestock, my whole life, nearly full time during my high school years. I have a passion for the care of livestock and know that I want to focus my education on furthering the success of our ranch, just as my grandfather and family before him have done. They are my true inspiration, and I am so grateful that they have made intentional decisions to preserve our way of life and our lands. After my degree completion, my goal is to become the owner and Ranch Manager at Ellis-Barnes Livestock. By receiving my degree and learning new information I will be able to improve our ranch's livestock and operations as well as our finances and income. I find great value in keeping our rural agricultural lifestyle sustainable, and my education will be a necessary step to enriching our ranch. My high school years turned out very different than how I had originally imagined them. As I entered high school, the whole country was shut down from COVID-19, and it was very uncertain times for everyone. While I wasn't able to attend high school in person and sports were modified, the daily operations of our ranch had to continue unchanged. Our cattle had to be cared for. We faced new challenges of product shortages, rising costs, and market fluctuations. It was during this time that my family made the decision to continue to my high school education through an outreach program to be able help our ranch operate. This was an uneasy change in the beginning, but looking back it was a pivotal change in a positive way for my future career. I may have missed out on some high school opportunities and had to "grow up" sooner than my peers, but I was able to gain responsibility, knowledge, and experience that will serve me well in college and in my future career raising quality cattle and performance horses. I am grateful for the endless hours of work and adversity that have shaped me. I strive to be the best member and athlete for our Washington State High School Rodeo team, the best team captain on our basketball team, and a good community citizen. I have made intentional decisions to mentor the younger generation at junior rodeos, at basketball camps, and within the Okanogan County Fair Beef Barn. I look forward to bringing back my college degree to Okanogan County, the first in my family, to promote and protect our agricultural way of life and I look forward to mentoring the younger generation to do the same. I want my story of adversity and being a first-generation college graduate to inspire others who are in a similar situation. I feel that my tenacity, my love for my family and community, my academics, work experience, extracurricular activities and community service align with your scholarship, and I would be honored to receive your award.

I dream about getting my college degree while on the back of a horse, farming in the tractor, and while doctoring cattle. I will be a first-generation college student for my family and I can't think of a better way to make my family proud and to strengthen my family's business than to walk across that graduation stage. My goal is to pursue a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a minor in Farm and Ranch Operations at the University of Montana Western. I have worked for my family ranch, Ellis-Barnes Livestock, my whole life, nearly full time during my high school years. I have a passion for the care of livestock and know that I want to focus my education on furthering the success of our ranch, just as my grandfather and family before him have done. They are my true inspiration, and I am so grateful that they have made intentional decisions to preserve our way of life and our lands. After my degree completion, my goal is to become the owner and Ranch Manager at Ellis-Barnes Livestock. By receiving my degree and learning new information I will be able to improve our ranch's livestock and operations as well as our finances and income. I find great value in keeping our rural agricultural lifestyle sustainable, and my education will be a necessary step to enriching our ranch. My high school years turned out very different than how I had originally imagined them. As I entered high school, the whole country was shut down from COVID-19, and it was very uncertain times for everyone. While I wasn't able to attend high school in person and sports were modified, the daily operations of our ranch had to continue unchanged. Our cattle had to be cared for. We faced new challenges of product shortages, rising costs, and market fluctuations. It was during this time that my family made the decision to continue to my high school education through an outreach program to be able help our ranch operate. This was an uneasy change in the beginning, but looking back it was a pivotal change in a positive way for my future career. I may have missed out on some high school opportunities and had to "grow up" sooner than my peers, but I was able to gain responsibility, knowledge, and experience that will serve me well in college and in my future career raising quality cattle and performance horses. I am grateful for the endless hours of work and adversity that have shaped me. I strive to be the best member and athlete for our Washington State High School Rodeo team, the best team captain on our basketball team, and a good community citizen. I have made intentional decisions to mentor the younger generation at junior rodeos, at basketball camps, and within the Okanogan County Fair Beef Barn. I look forward to bringing back my college degree to Okanogan County, the first in my family, to promote and protect our agricultural way of life and I look forward to mentoring the younger generation to do the same. I want my story of adversity and being a first-generation college graduate to inspire others who are in a similar situation. I feel that my tenacity, my love for my family and community, my academics, work experience, extracurricular activities and community service align with your scholarship, and I would be honored to receive your award.

I dream about getting my college degree while on the back of a horse, farming in the tractor, and while doctoring cattle. I will be a first-generation college student for my family and I can't think of a better way to make my family proud and to strengthen my family's business than to walk across that graduation stage. My goal is to pursue a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a minor in Farm and Ranch Operations at the University of Montana Western. I have worked for my family ranch, Ellis-Barnes Livestock, my whole life, nearly full time during my high school years. I have a passion for the care of livestock and know that I want to focus my education on furthering the success of our ranch, just as my grandfather and family before him have done. They are my true inspiration, and I am so grateful that they have made intentional decisions to preserve our way of life and our lands. After my degree completion, my goal is to become the owner and Ranch Manager at Ellis-Barnes Livestock. By receiving my degree and learning new information I will be able to improve our ranch's livestock and operations as well as our finances and income. I find great value in keeping our rural agricultural lifestyle sustainable, and my education will be a necessary step to enriching our ranch. My high school years turned out very different than how I had originally imagined them. As I entered high school, the whole country was shut down from COVID-19, and it was very uncertain times for everyone. While I wasn't able to attend high school in person and sports were modified, the daily operations of our ranch had to continue unchanged. Our cattle had to be cared for. We faced new challenges of product shortages, rising costs, and market fluctuations. It was during this time that my family made the decision to continue to my high school education through an outreach program to be able help our ranch operate. This was an uneasy change in the beginning, but looking back it was a pivotal change in a positive way for my future career. I may have missed out on some high school opportunities and had to "grow up" sooner than my peers, but I was able to gain responsibility, knowledge, and experience that will serve me well in college and in my future career raising quality cattle and performance horses. I am grateful for the endless hours of work and adversity that have shaped me. I strive to be the best member and athlete for our Washington State High School Rodeo team, the best team captain on our basketball team, and a good community citizen. I have made intentional decisions to mentor the younger generation at junior rodeos, at basketball camps, and within the Okanogan County Fair Beef Barn. I look forward to bringing back my college degree to Okanogan County, the first in my family, to promote and protect our agricultural way of life and I look forward to mentoring the younger generation to do the same. I want my story of adversity and being a first-generation college graduate to inspire others who are in a similar situation. I feel that my tenacity, my love for my family and community, my academics, work experience, extracurricular activities and community service align with your scholarship, and I would be honored to receive your award.

My name is Jade Ramon and I am graduating from Tonasket High School this year. I played basketball and football during my high school years. I also am a member of the Washington State High School Rodeo Association and rodeo for Tonasket High School. I have been competing in sports from a young age. I started playing basketball in first grade and football in fourth grade. All four years of high school I was part of the basketball program where I was elected as a team captain each year. Athletics have helped me learn how to deal with controversy and what it takes to overcome. Playing sports has also taught me how to deal with failure, how to see the positives, and how to learn from the experiences that failure provides. Academics have always been a priority for me to succeed and have helped me grow into who I am today. As I entered high school, the whole country was shut down from COVID-19, and it was very uncertain times for everyone. The daily operations of our ranch had to continue unchanged, yet we faced new challenges of product shortages, rising costs, and market fluctuations. It was during this time that my family made the decision to continue to my high school education through an outreach program to be able help our ranch operate. This was an uneasy change in the beginning, but looking back it was a pivotal change in a positive way for my future career. I missed out on some high school opportunities and had to "grow up" sooner than my peers, but I was able to gain responsibility, knowledge, and experience that will serve me well in college and in my future career. I am a first-generation college student, and I can't think of a better way to make my family proud and to strengthen my family's business than to walk across that graduation stage. My goal is to pursue a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a minor in Farm and Ranch Operations at the University of Montana Western. I have worked for my family ranch, Ellis-Barnes Livestock, my whole life, nearly full time during my high school years. I have a passion livestock care and know that I want to focus my education on furthering the success of our ranch, just as my grandfather and family before him have done. They are my inspiration, and I am grateful for their intentional decisions to preserve our way of life. After college, my goal is to become the owner and Ranch Manager at Ellis-Barnes Livestock. By receiving my degree and learning new information I will be able to improve our ranch's livestock and operations as well as our finances and income. I find great value in keeping our rural agricultural lifestyle sustainable, and my education will be a necessary step to enriching our ranch. I strive to be the best member and athlete for our Washington State High School Rodeo team, the best team captain on our basketball team, and a good community citizen. I have made intentional decisions to mentor the younger generation at junior rodeos, at basketball camps, and within the Okanogan County Fair Beef Barn. I look forward to bringing back my college degree, the first in my family, to Okanogan County to promote and protect our agricultural way of life and I look forward to mentoring the younger generation to do the same. College will be a significant financial burden for me, but I am determined to work hard, and I appreciate the opportunity to apply for your scholarship.

I dream about getting my college degree while on the back of a horse, farming in the tractor, and doctoring cattle. I am a first-generation college student, and I can't think of a better way to make my family proud and to strengthen my family's business than to walk across that graduation stage. My goal is to pursue a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a minor in Farm and Ranch Operations at the University of Montana Western. I have worked for my family ranch, Ellis-Barnes Livestock, my whole life, nearly full time during my high school years. I have a passion livestock care and know that I want to focus my education on furthering the success of our ranch, just as my grandfather and family before him have done. They are my inspiration, and I am grateful for their intentional decisions to preserve our way of life. After college, my goal is to become the owner and Ranch Manager at Ellis-Barnes Livestock. By receiving my degree and learning new information I will be able to improve our ranch's livestock and operations as well as our finances and income. I find great value in keeping our rural agricultural lifestyle sustainable, and my education will be a necessary step to enriching our ranch. As I entered high school, the whole country was shut down from COVID-19, and it was very uncertain times for everyone. The daily operations of our ranch had to continue unchanged, yet we faced new challenges of product shortages, rising costs, and market fluctuations. It was during this time that my family made the decision to continue to my high school education through an outreach program to be able help our ranch operate. This was an uneasy change in the beginning, but looking back it was a pivotal change in a positive way for my future career. I missed out on some high school opportunities and had to "grow up" sooner than my peers, but I was able to gain responsibility, knowledge, and experience that will serve me well in college and in my future career. I feel very fortunate to have grown up in a small, rural eastern Washington town. My lifestyle and passions align fully with the agricultural nature of our town, and I have learned that I want the same rural setting for my future. Living in a town without a stoplight limits the number of options that an urban lifestyle brings but allows for a multitude of other opportunities that aren't replicable outside of a rural community. My teachers are my neighbors, I see my coaches at our gas pumps, and there is a strong sense of community. When someone needs help, they are helped. When someone warrants celebration, we celebrate. I have been on the receiving and the giving end within my community and both sides bring a sense of belonging and gratefulness. I strive to be the best member and athlete for our Washington State High School Rodeo team, the best team captain on our basketball team, and a good community citizen. I have made intentional decisions to mentor the younger generation at junior rodeos, at basketball camps, and within the Okanogan County Fair Beef Barn. I look forward to bringing back my college degree, the first in my family, to Okanogan County to promote and protect our agricultural way of life and I look forward to mentoring the younger generation to do the same. College will be a significant financial burden for me, but I am determined to work hard, and I appreciate the opportunity to apply for your scholarship.

I dream about getting my college degree while on the back of a horse, farming in the tractor, and doctoring cattle. I am a first-generation college student, and I can't think of a better way to make my family proud and to strengthen my family's business than to walk across that graduation stage. My goal is to pursue a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a minor in Farm and Ranch Operations at the University of Montana Western. I have worked for my family ranch, Ellis-Barnes Livestock, my whole life, nearly full time during my high school years. I have a passion livestock care and know that I want to focus my education on furthering the success of our ranch, just as my grandfather and family before him have done. They are my inspiration, and I am grateful for their intentional decisions to preserve our way of life. After college, my goal is to become the owner and Ranch Manager at Ellis-Barnes Livestock. By receiving my degree and learning new information I will be able to improve our ranch's livestock and operations as well as our finances and income. I find great value in keeping our rural agricultural lifestyle sustainable, and my education will be a necessary step to enriching our ranch. As I entered high school, the whole country was shut down from COVID-19, and it was very uncertain times for everyone. The daily operations of our ranch had to continue unchanged, yet we faced new challenges of product shortages, rising costs, and market fluctuations. It was during this time that my family made the decision to continue to my high school education through an outreach program to be able help our ranch operate. This was an uneasy change in the beginning, but looking back it was a pivotal change in a positive way for my future career. I missed out on some high school opportunities and had to "grow up" sooner than my peers, but I was able to gain responsibility, knowledge, and experience that will serve me well in college and in my future career. I feel very fortunate to have grown up in a small, rural eastern Washington town. My lifestyle and passions align fully with the agricultural nature of our town, and I have learned that I want the same rural setting for my future. Living in a town without a stoplight limits the number of options that an urban lifestyle brings but allows for a multitude of other opportunities that aren't replicable outside of a rural community. With these positives brings limited resources and limited access to financial tools, knowledge, and ability to build a healthy business. This is what has inspired me to pursue a college degree in business to be able to bring back a knowledge base and technology that is currently scare for those of us in our industry. I strive to be the best member and athlete for our Washington State High School Rodeo team, the best team captain on our basketball team, and a good community citizen. I have made intentional decisions to mentor the younger generation at junior rodeos, at basketball camps, and within the Okanogan County Fair Beef Barn. I look forward to bringing back my college degree, the first in my family, to Okanogan County to promote and protect our agricultural way of life and I look forward to mentoring the younger generation to do the same. College will be a significant financial burden for me, but I am determined to work hard, and I appreciate the opportunity to apply for your scholarship.

I dream about getting my college degree while on the back of a horse, farming in the tractor, and doctoring cattle. I am a first-generation college student, and I can't think of a better way to make my family proud and to strengthen my family's business than to walk across that graduation stage. My goal is to pursue a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a minor in Farm and Ranch Operations at the University of Montana Western. I have worked for my family ranch, Ellis-Barnes Livestock, my whole life, nearly full time during my high school years. I have a passion livestock care and know that I want to focus my education on furthering the success of our ranch, just as my grandfather and family before him have done. They are my inspiration, and I am grateful for their intentional decisions to preserve our way of life. After college, my goal is to become the owner and Ranch Manager at Ellis-Barnes Livestock. By receiving my degree and learning new information I will be able to improve our ranch's livestock and operations as well as our finances and income. I find great value in keeping our rural agricultural lifestyle sustainable, and my education will be a necessary step to enriching our ranch. As I entered high school, the whole country was shut down from COVID-19, and it was very uncertain times for everyone. The daily operations of our ranch had to continue unchanged, yet we faced new challenges of product shortages, rising costs, and market fluctuations. It was during this time that my family made the decision to continue to my high school education through an outreach program to be able help our ranch operate. This was an uneasy change in the beginning, but looking back it was a pivotal change in a positive way for my future career. I missed out on some high school opportunities and had to "grow up" sooner than my peers, but I was able to gain responsibility, knowledge, and experience that will serve me well in college and in my future career. I feel very fortunate to have grown up in a small, rural eastern Washington town. My lifestyle and passions align fully with the agricultural nature of our town, and I have learned that I want the same rural setting for my future. Living in a town without a stoplight limits the number of options that an urban lifestyle brings but allows for a multitude of other opportunities that aren't replicable outside of a rural community. My teachers are my neighbors, I see my coaches at our gas pumps, and there is a strong sense of community. When someone needs help, they are helped. When someone warrants celebration, we celebrate. I have been on the receiving and the giving end within my community and both sides bring a sense of belonging and gratefulness. I strive to be the best member and athlete for our Washington State High School Rodeo team, the best team captain on our basketball team, and a good community citizen. I have made intentional decisions to mentor the younger generation at junior rodeos, at basketball camps, and within the Okanogan County Fair Beef Barn. I look forward to bringing back my college degree, the first in my family, to Okanogan County to promote and protect our agricultural way of life and I look forward to mentoring the younger generation to do the same. College will be a significant financial burden for me, but I am determined to work hard, and I appreciate the opportunity to apply for your scholarship.

I dream about getting my college degree while on the back of a horse, farming in the tractor, and while doctoring cattle. I will be a first-generation college student for my family and I can't think of a better way to make my family proud and to strengthen my family's business than to walk across that graduation stage. My goal is to pursue a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a minor in Farm and Ranch Operations at the University of Montana Western. I have worked for my family ranch, Ellis-Barnes Livestock, my whole life, nearly full time during my high school years. I have a passion for the care of livestock and know that I want to focus my education on furthering the success of our ranch, just as my grandfather and family before him have done. They are my true inspiration, and I am so grateful that they have made intentional decisions to preserve our way of life and our lands. After my degree completion, my goal is to become the owner and Ranch Manager at Ellis-Barnes Livestock. By receiving my degree and learning new information I will be able to improve our ranch's livestock and operations as well as our finances and income. I find great value in keeping our rural agricultural lifestyle sustainable, and my education will be a necessary step to enriching our ranch. My high school years turned out very different than how I had originally imagined them. As I entered high school, the whole country was shut down from COVID-19, and it was very uncertain times for everyone. While I wasn't able to attend high school in person and sports were modified, the daily operations of our ranch had to continue unchanged. Our cattle had to be cared for. We faced new challenges of product shortages, rising costs, and market fluctuations. It was during this time that my family made the decision to continue to my high school education through an outreach program to be able help our ranch operate. This was an uneasy change in the beginning, but looking back it was a pivotal change in a positive way for my future career. I may have missed out on some high school opportunities and had to "grow up" sooner than my peers, but I was able to gain responsibility, knowledge, and experience that will serve me well in college and in my future career raising quality cattle and performance horses. I am grateful for the endless hours of work and adversity that have shaped me. I strive to be the best member and athlete for our Washington State High School Rodeo team, the best team captain on our basketball team, and a good community citizen. I have made intentional decisions to mentor the younger generation at junior rodeos, at basketball camps, and within the Okanogan County Fair Beef Barn. I look forward to bringing back my college degree to Okanogan County to promote and protect our agricultural way of life and I look forward to mentoring the younger generation to do the same. I want my story of adversity and being a first-generation college graduate to inspire others who are in a similar situation. I feel that my tenacity, my love for my family and community, my academics, work experience, extracurricular activities and community service align with your scholarship, and I would be honored to receive your award.

I dream about getting my college degree while on the back of a horse, farming in the tractor, and while doctoring cattle. I will be a first-generation college student for my family and I can't think of a better way to make my family proud and to strengthen my family's business than to walk across that graduation stage. My goal is to pursue a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a minor in Farm and Ranch Operations at the University of Montana Western. I have worked for my family ranch, Ellis-Barnes Livestock, my whole life, nearly full time during my high school years. I have a passion for the care of livestock and know that I want to focus my education on furthering the success of our ranch, just as my grandfather and family before him have done. They are my true inspiration, and I am so grateful that they have made intentional decisions to preserve our way of life and our lands. After my degree completion, my goal is to become the owner and Ranch Manager at Ellis-Barnes Livestock. By receiving my degree and learning new information I will be able to improve our ranch's livestock and operations as well as our finances and income. I find great value in keeping our rural agricultural lifestyle sustainable, and my education will be a necessary step to enriching our ranch. My high school years turned out very different than how I had originally imagined them. As I entered high school, the whole country was shut down from COVID-19, and it was very uncertain times for everyone. While I wasn't able to attend high school in person and sports were modified, the daily operations of our ranch had to continue unchanged. We faced new challenges of product shortages, rising costs, and market fluctuations. It was during this time that my family made the decision to continue to my high school education through an outreach program to be able help our ranch operate. This was an uneasy change in the beginning, but looking back it was a pivotal change in a positive way for my future career. I may have missed out on some high school opportunities and had to "grow up" sooner than my peers, but I was able to gain responsibility, knowledge, and experience that will serve me well in college and in my future career raising quality cattle and performance horses. I am grateful for the endless hours of work that have shaped me. While ranching and making ranch and performance horses has been my main passion, I have worked hard to succeed in the rodeo arena, on the basketball court, and volunteering in my community. Over the last four years I have helped put on basketball camps for elementary kids. It has been a great opportunity to give back to the community and interact with families that support Tonasket athletics. Helping the next generation with their athletics and the fundamentals of the sport is a great start to improve our community. Our Washington State High School Rodeo Association has a similar service activity for senior living facilities across the state of Washington. This activity has been rewarding to give back to the older generation while educating them about our western lifestyle. Being a community involved citizen is something that will always be a part of my life and I look forward to giving back to my communities who have given so much to me. I strive to be the best member and athlete for our Washington State High School Rodeo team, the best team captain on our basketball team, and a good community citizen. I have made intentional decisions to mentor the younger generation at junior rodeos, at basketball camps, and within the Okanogan County Fair Beef Barn. I look forward to bringing back my college degree to Okanogan County to promote and protect our agricultural way of life and I look forward to mentoring the younger generation to do the same. I feel that my love for my family and community, my academics, work experience, extracurricular activities and community service align with your scholarship, and I would be honored to receive your award.

My goal is to pursue a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a minor in Farm and Ranch Operations at the University of Montana Western. I believe that an education in agriculture is very important to maintain our lifestyle as well as improve my future business and career. I have worked for my family ranch, Ellis-Barnes Livestock, my whole life, nearly full time during my high school years. I have a passion for the care of livestock and know that I want to focus my education on furthering the success of our ranch, just as my grandfather and family before him have done. They are my true inspiration, and I am so grateful that they have made intentional decisions to preserve our way of life and our lands. After my degree completion, my goal is to become the owner and Ranch Manager at Ellis-Barnes Livestock. By receiving my degree and learning new information I will be able to improve our ranch's livestock and operations as well as our finances and income. I find great value in keeping our rural agricultural lifestyle sustainable, and my education will be a necessary step to enriching our ranch. The most valuable life lesson I have learned from caring for my livestock is responsibility. Caring for livestock has taught me the importance of responsibility and the consistency you must have every day to provide the proper care. Responsibility is not only the act of providing care, but the quality of care as well. This is so evident in our operation of raising commercial beef cattle, raising show steers, and producing high quality performance horses. The work you put into your animals makes a tremendous difference in your end product. That is full circle responsibility. This translates into the work I'm about to embark in to obtain my bachelor's degree and I am committed to responsibly producing quality work to complete my goal. Responsibility has shaped me into a young man who is a trusted employee at Ellis-Barnes Livestock and I am grateful for the endless hours of work that have shaped me. While ranching and making ranch and performance horses has been my main passion, I have worked hard to succeed in the rodeo arena, on the basketball court, and volunteering in my community. Over the last four years I have helped put on basketball camps for elementary kids. It has been a great opportunity to give back to the community and interact with families that support Tonasket athletics. Helping the next generation with their athletics and the fundamentals of the sport is a great start to improve our community’s programs. Our Washington State High School Rodeo Association has a similar service activity for senior living facilities across the state of Washington. This activity has been rewarding to give back to the older generation and while educating them about our western lifestyle. I strive to be the best member and athlete for our Washington State High School Rodeo team, the best team captain on our basketball team, and a good community citizen. I have made intentional decisions to mentor the younger generation at junior rodeos, at basketball camps, and within the Okanogan County Fair Beef Barn. I look forward to bringing back my college degree to Okanogan County to promote and protect our agricultural way of life and I look forward to mentoring the younger generation to do the same. I feel that my love for the outdoors and agriculture, academics, work experience, extracurricular activities and community service align with your scholarship, and I would be honored to receive your award.