I was born and raised in East Texas on my family’s cattle ranch where I have had the unique opportunity to grow up in a way of life most could only imagine. While most think cattle raising is all fluffy cows and wealth, I was raised to understand differently as I witnessed firsthand the struggles and hardships associated with cattle production. At a mere three years old, I announced what I wanted to be when I grew up… a veterinarian! From a young age, I was following my family around the ranch, and as I got older I took on even more responsibility as I mastered not only daily tasks but gained valuable skills like resilience, hard work, and responsibility. Birthing calves, administering vaccinations, managing rations, placing CIDRs, and selecting replacements and sires for my herd, which to date consists of 45 cow/calf pairs, heifers, and bulls, has given me skills I would not have had the chance to learn had I not grown up the way of life I love. The knowledge I have gained through this has consistently reminded me of the many reasons why I have chosen my career path. In school, I carried that mindset with me as I progressed through my entire educational career with exemplary grades and behavior records. After discovering at an early age sports were not for me, I invested my time and energy in pursuing my interests in organizations that further tied me to the agricultural industry including 4-H and FFA. My mother, who has been an Agricultural Science teacher for 18 years, could not have been more excited about that choice. I poured myself into the exhibition of livestock, public speaking, and mentoring where I have thrived while advocating for agriculture. These experiences have further fueled my passion for the industry and pursuing my veterinary education. The agricultural industry needs extraordinary veterinarians with integrity who contribute towards keeping the industry standards high while providing the best possible care to the patients. Because I grew up on my family’s ranch, I have had the opportunity to have working relationships with several veterinarians in our area and value the work these professionals do day in and day out whether it’s birthing a complicated pregnancy or simply administering a pet’s yearly vaccinations. The agricultural producers rely heavily on their services. I have been fortunate enough to learn how to gain knowledge in various aspects of the field through the skills I have acquired and know there is still much I have to learn. I also am passionate about research for some of the problems we face as producers including genetics and reproduction within our livestock. I am determined to achieve my goal of becoming a veterinarian, but more importantly, I am excited about the opportunities that await me as I learn more about serving the agricultural industry that has poured so much into me.

Growing up on my family’s ranch, I have had the unique opportunity to gain invaluable hands-on experience that allowed me to explore the opportunities available within the industry. However, at only four years of age, I proudly proclaimed my future profession and my decision has remained unchanged. Farm chores and raising cattle opened doors for me to develop skills and peak my interest in the field of veterinary medicine. I have working relationships with several veterinarians in our area and value the work done daily, whether it is birthing a complicated pregnancy or simply administering a pet’s yearly vaccinations. The agricultural producers rely heavily on veterinarians to provide those services just as medical doctors provide services to us when we need them. The biggest difference between the two is most medical professionals' patients can tell them the problem, veterinarians have to be knowledgeable enough not just of one species but dozens and skilled to solve the problem since our patients have no voice. I have been fortunate enough to gain knowledge in various aspects of the field through working on our ranch, and the skills I have mastered will help me continue to be successful in my educational pursuits. Skills such as patience, resilience, responsibility, and dedication along with hands-on learning have benefited me in my choice to pursue this chosen path because the agricultural industry needs extraordinary veterinarians with integrity who contribute towards keeping the industry standards high while treating their patients. The impact made by veterinarians worldwide is important, and I aspire to carry that title with pride as I make my impact on the patients I treat. In addition, I have witnessed an increased number of homeless individuals who own or care for pets, as a result, I have added assisting them with the care of their animals to my service project. I have been distributing homeless blessing bags for five years, so this year I added bags for their pets.

The one interest that defines me is my passion for the agricultural industry. I grew up on my family’s cattle ranch, which solidified my passion for agriculture, primarily raising cattle and other livestock. My mother, who is an ag teacher, carted me around to livestock shows, sale barns, and hay fields. As I got older, exhibiting livestock further drew me into the industry and opened new doors for me, filled with opportunities I gladly welcomed. To prepare for my college education and career, I participated for twelve years in FFA (Future Farmers of America) and 4-H, three years in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and two years in the National Honor Society. These organizations have instilled in me a solid foundation of leadership, responsibility, and resilience. I have served in leadership roles, assisted with community service projects, and worked tirelessly to mentor younger students. I also took on leadership roles at the chapter, district, area, and state levels. This past year, I was elected to serve as one of the Area VI Vice Presidents for the 2024-2025 school year, and it has been one of the most rewarding leadership roles and experiences. Not only have I had the chance to meet and share my story with hundreds of members across the state, but I have also had the unique opportunity to advocate for the industry. I met with professionals and producers within the industry to further my knowledge of educating people about agriculture. I further developed my skills in public speaking through my pursuit of knowledge. When people see me they see an advocate, a leader, a producer, and an enthusiast. I have learned firsthand the joys and discomforts of agricultural life and had the unique opportunity to share that with others. My experiences will help me as I pursue my education and career in the agricultural industry. I am passionate about my chosen field and look forward to serving my community once I graduate. This scholarship will help me alleviate some of the monetary burden placed upon my mother and me during my educational pursuit. My mother is a single parent and a high school teacher who is solely and financially responsible for me and my little sister. By obtaining financial aid through scholarships such as this one, I can help contribute towards my education. My educational and career goals are to pursue a degree in veterinary medicine and open my practice to serve the needs of my patients and community. I understand that this pursuit will be expensive, however, my choice to become a veterinarian is credited to my direct involvement in the agricultural industry through cattle production on my family's ranch. My endeavors further fueled my career choice and allowed me to see another side of the field. My qualities of leadership, involvement in extracurricular activities, and academic excellence will help me significantly when considering my candidacy for this scholarship so that I may earn my degree and continue to grow!

Part of my leadership growth has been directly tied to learning how to serve and embody selflessness. The typical canned food drives, toy drives, and Angel Tree just to name a few of those. However, it was not until ninth grade that I found my true passion and opened my servant’s heart to the idea that I could do more. I was in Fort Worth, Texas for a convention, en route to one of the general sessions, and talking about whatever high school kids talk about when walking a mile in the Texas heat, when I noticed a lady lying alongside the path we were on. She was dirty and had a suitcase that probably contained everything she owned sitting beside her. During the sessions that day, I thought about what I had seen, asking myself how could someone let their mom, aunt, or grandmother live like that. After the convention, I tracked back to see her once more, only this time she was curled up asleep on the ground. A friend and I dashed to the van and fixed a bag full of snacks for her. We placed it beside her and left so as not to disturb her. But, that good deed sparked an interest in me. Over the next few days, I dropped a bag of goodies as I passed her, and when I returned from the convention, I started a service project known as blessing bags. These bags contained snacks, water, hygiene items, and socks which we hauled everywhere with us and distributed to hundreds over the last five years. Two years ago while passing out bags, I was overwhelmed by the people I met who were grateful to see young people trying to make a difference. These people were not asking for money, they needed someone to talk to for a minute, and I was grateful to be able to bless them.I have met homeless people across the state, some shared their stories of hardship, and some that were just thankful for the bag of hope. I plan to attend college and become a veterinarian. I want to give back even more than a blessing bag. I noticed many homeless people have pets they tend to have as well. Several had dogs and cats they fed before they ate. Pets that provided solace and comfort to their owners when despair was all they could see. A dog curled up in his owner's lap as they napped on a park bench reminded me that everyone needs someone to believe that hope still exists. Homelessness is a problem in the United States with over three hundred thousand people a part of that static. There are over five million dogs and over three million cats recorded as homeless just this year. Much like a homeless pet, some of the homeless people I have crossed paths with have no one. I myself have been abundantly blessed and never had to experience hunger or homelessness. I have taken in stray animals over my seventeen years, and personally, I can attest that they have been some of the absolute best pets I have ever owned. I hope that through my efforts I can continue to provide blessing bags to both people and their animals. And while I have no solutions to the homeless issue facing our country, I can be an active part of helping those who live it everyday.

This scholarship will help me alleviate some of the monetary burden placed upon my mother and me during my educational pursuit. My mother is a single parent and a high school teacher who is solely and financially responsible for me and my little sister. If you are familiar with the educational system, you know teachers are highly underpaid and undervalued for the work they do day in and day out. By obtaining financial aid through scholarships such as this one, I can help contribute towards my education. I understand that this pursuit of my doctorate will be expensive and earning scholarships will help me avoid taking out loans that could hurt my financial stability upon graduation. The average is around $200,000 in debt after obtaining a bachelor's degree, and I hope to greatly lessen that debt by working diligently and seeking financial assistance such as scholarships and grants. I have chosen to pursue a degree in Veterinary Medicine because I have a strong desire to help animals and value the work vets do daily. I grew up on my family’s ranch raising cattle destined to be a passionate agricultural enthusiast. Since I was four chasing my mother around as my family did chores, I have always said my dream job was to become a veterinarian and work with animals every day. The hands-on learning I gained through my experiences of being raised on a ranch and exhibiting livestock was invaluable as an aspiring veterinarian, producer, and advocate. My endeavors further fueled my career choice and allowed me to see another side of the field. Administering vaccinations and routine health management for livestock have become tasks I mastered. Through my time in 4-H and FFA, I learned how to be a leader, how to have effective time management, how to follow through on goals, establish relationships and friendships, and how to be a better version of myself, which I know will benefit me greatly as a veterinarian. My qualities of leadership, involvement in extracurricular activities, and academic excellence will help me significantly when considering my candidacy for this scholarship so that I may earn my degree and continue to grow! Through my journey, I have had the pleasure of being mentored by several veterinarians in our area, who have encouraged and motivated me to pursue my passion for medicine. I also feel that the agricultural industry needs extraordinary veterinarians with integrity who contribute towards keeping the industry standards high.

I was born and raised in East Texas on my family’s cattle ranch where I have had the unique opportunity to grow up in a way of life most could only imagine. While most think cattle raising is all fluffy cows and wealth, I was raised to understand differently as I witnessed firsthand the struggles and hardships associated with cattle production. Once in school, I carried that mindset of hard work with me as I progressed through my entire educational career with exemplary grades and behavior records. After discovering at an early age sports were not for me, I invested my time and energy in pursuing my interests in organizations that further tied me to the agricultural industry including 4-H and FFA. Through those organizations, I found my passion for service, started a project called Homeless Blessing bags, and distributed a hundred bags across Texas. My prayer is that the members who have been a part of this will continue to do this service project as they travel across the state and pass the project down throughout their years of service. As for me, I have set a new goal for my service project. I plan to attend college and become a veterinarian. I would like to give back even more than a blessing bag because as we distributed those bags, I noticed many homeless people have pets they tend to have as well. Several had dogs and cats they fed before they ate. Pets that provided solace and comfort to their owners when despair was all they could see. A dog curled up in his owner's lap as they napped on a park bench reminded me that everyone needs someone to believe that hope still exists. I would like to be able to offer free services to the pets of those in need, because to them, that dog or cat is their entire world. I feel that providing those services at no charge would greatly benefit not only the pet but the owner as well. Spaying and neutering, vaccinations, and other services needed would benefit both the pets and reduce worry for their owners. Additionally, I would also like the owner to be able to pick up donated pet food whenever they need it. Homelessness is a problem in the United States with over three hundred thousand people a part of that static. There are over five million dogs and over three million cats recorded as homeless just this year. Much like a homeless pet, some of the homeless people I have crossed paths with have no one. I have been abundantly blessed and never had to experience hunger or homelessness. I have taken in stray animals over my seventeen years, and I can attest that they have been some of the absolute best pets I have ever owned. I hope that through my efforts I can continue to provide blessing bags to both people and their animals. And while I have no solutions to the homeless issue facing our country, I can be an active part of helping those who live it every day. I also feel that the agricultural industry needs extraordinary veterinarians with integrity who contribute towards keeping the industry standards high.

Growing up I have been fortunate to have countless people who have supported me, however, the person who impacted my life the most is my mother. Being raised by a single parent has its advantages, and you learn to grow up a little faster than others. Thankfully, the relationship I have with my mother has directly impacted the person I am and developed my confidence in pursuing my dreams. From the time I was born, I was surrounded by agriculture, I grew up on my family’s cattle ranch, but I also experienced agriculture on another level. My mom is an Agricultural Science teacher so I was hauled to livestock shows, carried around the ag shop, and carted to sales of all species. My mom sparked my love for agriculture and has fueled that passion throughout my life. From spending hours perfecting record books and writing speeches to helping formulate rations and raise my livestock, my mom has been there every step. Having a parent who wants wins and success just as badly as I do has been a crucial part of my journey. Even when I faced failure, she taught me to embrace it, learn from it, and prepare for the next step. She has encouraged and pushed me to do things that I was uncomfortable with knowing they would be beneficial to me in the long run. When everyone else discouraged me from pursuing my passion, she was my biggest cheerleader. Not once was I allowed to think I could not accomplish a goal or chase a dream based on other’s opinions, instead she instilled a sense of self-awareness and responsibility in me that helped me persevere through many challenges. My mother has been my sounding board, my biggest inspiration, and my best friend for the past seventeen years. Her impact is the reason I am the strong, independent, fierce, strong-willed individual I am today, and I am confident that she will continue to be that in my life. My educational and career goals are to pursue a degree in Veterinary Medicine and open my own practice serving the needs of my patients and community. My choice to become a veterinarian is credited to my mother's impact and my direct involvement in the agricultural industry through cattle production on my family's ranch. My mother encouraged me to pursue a degree in Veterinary Medicine because of my have a strong desire to help animals. I also feel that the agricultural industry needs extraordinary veterinarians who contribute towards keeping the industry standards high.

The one interest that defines me is probably my passion for the agricultural industry, which traditionally was stereotyped as a gender-weighted field. I grew up on my family’s cattle ranch which solidified my passion for agriculture primarily raising cattle and other livestock. I was carted around by my mother, who is an ag teacher (again a predominantly male-dominated field), to livestock shows, sale barns, and hay fields. As I got older exhibiting livestock further drew me into the industry and opened new doors for me filled with opportunities I gladly welcomed. My pursuit of knowledge in the industry was driven by my passion for breaking the traditional barriers often placed on women that we are not strong, cannot do what men can do. However, as every strong woman will tell you, "we can do anything we put our minds to!" For the past eight years, I have worked diligently on developing my own cattle herd as a fifth-generation cattle producer, and I have used my growth to receive recognition and awards at the chapter, district, area, and state levels. Earning my Lonestar degree, being recognized as one of the four Star Greenhand and Star Lonestar Farmer in Production Finalists, and winning Gold on my Beef Cattle Entrepreneur Proficiency two years in a row, were just a few of the recognitions I received because of my pursuits. I also took on leadership roles at the chapter, district, area, and state levels. This past year, I was elected to serve as one of the Area VI Vice Presidents for the 2024-2025 school year, and has by far been one of the most rewarding leadership roles and experiences. Not only have I had the chance to meet and share my story with hundreds of members across the state, I have also had the unique opportunity to advocate for the industry. I met with professionals and producers within the industry to further my knowledge of educating people about agriculture. I further developed my skills in public speaking through my pursuit of knowledge. A few of my life goals and objectives are to work with integrity toward becoming a great veterinarian, a productive cattle producer and a prestigious role model. I believe I hold myself above reproach, with an even-keeled demeanor, and morals that align with the veterinarian's oath. By keeping my personal and professional goals aligned towards such, I hope to be able to further my purpose and meaning in life through service and growth in the industry I have been passionate about my entire life. When people see me they see a strong woman, but also an advocate, a leader, a producer, and an enthusiast. I have learned firsthand the joys and discomforts of agricultural life and had the unique opportunity to share that with others. My experiences will help me as I pursue my education and career in the agricultural industry, and that I can continue to contribute to empowering women in this STEM field.

My favorite concert memory is the Zach Bryan concert in Houston, Texas I got to see this past July. My boyfriend had surprised me with tickets for Christmas, which was a huge tear-jerker for me as I had wanted to see him in concert for two years. I bought a new outfit and everything for the concert months before. I remember walking into NRG Stadium to find our seats looking around in anticipation. Zach's new album had been released just days before, but already I knew the lyrics to every single one. The Quitting Time tour was said to be one of the best, so I could not wait to see what songs were going to be on the setlist. The opening bands included Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit and Levi Turner, both of which I had staked out before the concert, and they did a phenomenal job of hyping up the crowd, but let's be honest, they knew who we all were there to see. I can honestly say the crowd went wild when it was time for Zach Bryan to take the stage. His guitarist Noah Le Gros is hands down a performer when it comes to bringing the heat and putting on a show with Zach Bryan. They kicked off the set with the crowd favorite "Overtime" and instantly NRG was filled with people singing along and cheering. As the concert went on favorites continued to draw everyone to the live talent of the entire band. It was worth the wait to see them perform. The band was incredible at drawing the crowd in with the setlist and even more so when they performed songs that were not even on the list. "God's Speed," "Pink Skies," and Tourniquet had NRG on their feet and singing at the top of their lungs every single word. The atmosphere was filled with fellow Zach Bryan music lovers who had traveled from all over to see the performance. Just when we thought the concert was over, the encore performance of "Revival" again had NRG on their feet and singing along. Overall, the Quitting Time Concert was my favorite concert. My mother carted me to dozens of concerts from a very young age. She is a music lover and attended as many kid-friendly ones as possible including Cody Johnson, Usher, Luke Bryan, Nickelback and One Republic. I credit my love for all genres of music to her. My first concert memory was when I was just nine years old watching Fifth Harmony at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. I was not really sure what to expect when we got tickets, but I soon quickly learned the performers, the atmosphere, the sound and the lights were all part of making the concert a success, but the artist was who made the concert epic.

In today’s society, it is becoming more and more common to be raised by a single parent. Often a controversial topic, I feel that I am the fearless, strong individual I am today because of my single mother. Being raised by a single parent has its advantages I learned to grow up a little faster than my peers, I did not miss the so-called “family” dynamic advertised in movies because my mother taught me independence, and I had a built-in role model of what a strong, self-built woman should look like. Thankfully, the relationship I have with my mother has directly impacted the person I am and developed my confidence in pursuing my dreams. From the time I was born I was surrounded by agriculture, I grew up on my family’s cattle ranch, but also experienced agriculture on another level. My mom is an Agricultural Science teacher so I was hauled to livestock shows, carried around the ag shop, and carted to sales of all species because my mother wanted me to experience all the things. My mom sparked my love for agriculture, and she has fueled that passion throughout my entire life. From spending hours perfecting record books and writing speeches to helping formulate rations and raise my livestock, my mom has been there every step of the way. Having a parent who wants wins and success just as badly as I do has been a crucial part of my journey. Even when I faced failure, she taught me to embrace it, learn from it, and prepare for the next step. She has encouraged and pushed me to do things that I was uncomfortable with knowing they would be beneficial to me in the long run. I never had to wonder who was in my corner because she was always there to offer advice or just a hug. My mom faced lots of challenges I never knew anything about when I was younger, but as I got older I realized how strong she was for never letting anyone discourage her from being the incredible educator she is despite being a single woman in a predominantly man’s career field. When everyone else discouraged me for pursuing my passion, she was my biggest cheerleader. Not once was I allowed to think I could not accomplish a goal or chase a dream based on other’s opinions, instead she instilled a sense of self-awareness and responsibility in me that helped me persevere through many challenges. My mother has been my sounding board, my biggest inspiration, and my best friend for the past seventeen years. Her impact is the reason I am the strong, independent, fierce, strong-willed individual I am today, and I am confident that she will continue to be that in my life.

My name is Kyleigh Lock and I am currently a senior in high school. I was raised by my mother, a strong, independent woman, who has instilled countless morals and traits in me as well as encourage me to pursue my passion in the agricultural field as a Veterinarian. The one interest that defines me is probably my passion for the agricultural industry. I grew up on my family’s cattle ranch which solidified my passion for agriculture primarily raising cattle and other livestock. I was carted around by my mother, who is an ag teacher, to livestock shows, sale barns, and hay fields. As I got older exhibiting livestock further drew me into the industry and opened new doors for me filled with opportunities I gladly welcomed. For the past eight years, I have worked diligently on developing my own cattle herd as a fifth generation cattle producer, and I have used my growth to receive recognitions and awards at the chapter, district, area and state levels. Earning my Lonestar degree, being recognized as one of the four Star Greenhand and Star Lonestar Farmer in Production Finalist and winning Gold on my Beef Cattle Entrepreneur Proficiency two years in a row, were just a few of the recognitions I received because of my pursuits. I also took on leadership roles at the chapter, district, area and state levels. This past year, I was elected to serve as one of the Area VI Vice Presidents for the 2024-2025 school year and has by far been one of the most rewarding leadership roles and experiences. Not only have I had the chance to meet and share my story with hundreds of members across the state, I have also had the unique opportunity to advocate for the industry. I met with professionals and producers within the industry to further my knowledge of educating people about agriculture. I further developed my skills in public speaking through my pursuit of knowledge. Within my leadership I also learned to have a heart of service pouring my extra time into countless community service projects of a wide array. I plan to continue serving in some capacity while in college, and once I become a veterinarian, I plan to assist at shelters and non-profit organizations with their animal needs. When people see me they see an advocate, a leader, a producer, a servant, and an enthusiast. I have learned firsthand the joys and discomforts of agricultural life and had the unique opportunity to share that with others. My experiences will help me as I pursue my education and career in the agricultural industry. Because of my experiences in leadership, service and academics, I feel that I am on the path needed to help me become an extraordinary veterinarian who can make a positive impact on the world through my career.

Growing up I have been fortunate to have countless people who have supported me, however, the person who impacted my life the most is my mother. Being raised by a single-parent has its advantages, and you learn to grow up a little faster than others. She raised me to think outside the box, to overcome adversity, to develop my own opinions and to challenge myself to be the best version of myself. Thankfully, the relationship I have with my mother has directly impacted the person I am and developed my confidence in pursuing my dreams even at an early age. From the time I was born I was surrounded by agriculture, I grew up on my family’s cattle ranch, but also experienced agriculture on another level. My mom is an Agricultural Science teacher so I was hauled to livestock shows, carried around the ag shop, and carted to sales of all species. My mom sparked my love for agriculture, and she has fueled that passion throughout my entire life. From spending hours perfecting record books and writing speeches, to helping formulate rations and raise my livestock, my mom has been there every step of the way. Having a parent that wants the wins and success just as bad as I do has been a crucial part of my journey. Even when I faced failure, she taught me to embrace it, learn from it, and prepare for the next step. She has encouraged and pushed me to do things that I was uncomfortable with knowing they would be beneficial to me in the long run. When others discouraged me for pursuing my passion, she was my biggest cheerleader. Not once was I allowed to think I could not accomplish a goal or chase a dream based on other’s opinions, instead she instilled a sense of self-awareness and responsibility in me that helped me persevere through many challenges. My mother has been my sounding board, my biggest inspiration, and my best friend for the past seventeen years. She encouraged me to aim higher and do better as a student and a leader, but more importantly she instilled in me a servant's heart, which helped me see things from a entirely new perspective. Her impact and support are the reasons I am the strong, independent, fierce, strong-willed individual I am today, and I am confident that she will continue to be that in my life.

My life experiences influenced my career ambitions by solidifying my desire to become a veterinarian. I grew up on my family’s cattle ranch which solidified my passion for agriculture primarily raising cattle and other livestock. I was carted around by my mother, who is an ag teacher, to livestock shows and sale barns. Farm life gave me endless access to horses, cattle, dogs, chickens and my favorite barn cats, each with their own name. As I got older exhibiting livestock further drew me into the industry and opened new doors for me filled with opportunities I gladly welcomed. I raised commercial and registered heifers and steers, market and breeding lambs, market and breeding rabbits, chickens and this year I have my first ever pig. These project further broaden my knowledge of the livestock side of the field. For the past eight years, I have worked diligently on developing my own cattle herd as a fifth generation cattle producer, and I have used my growth to receive recognitions and awards at the chapter, district, area and state levels. Earning my Lonestar degree, being recognized as one of the four Star Greenhand and Star Lonestar Farmer in Production Finalist and winning Gold on my Beef Cattle Entrepreneur Proficiency two years in a row, were just a few of the recognitions I received because of my pursuits. My level of responsibility afforded me the opportunity to own pets from a young age. I learned the daily care required to own pets, but also the need for proper health care provided by veterinarians. I am currently the proud owner of my Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Newt, who is tri-colored and will be traveling with me to college. I hope to be able to care and advocate for my patients just as I do my own furry friend in the future as a veterinarian. Because of my opportunities, I have a strong desire to help animals and value the work vets do on a daily basis. The confidence I gained through the hands-on learning from my life experiences and exhibiting livestock were invaluable to me as a veterinarian. I also feel that the agricultural industry needs extraordinary veterinarians who contribute towards keeping the industry standards high. After high school I plan to attend Texas A&M University to earn my doctorate in Veterinary Medicine, open my private practice and continue being an proactive cattle producer and pet owner.

The most driving factor that motivates me to confront gender disparity in Texas is the long-standing mindset that stereotype women who pursue careers in a predominately male career field. Traditionally speaking, most veterinarians were males, however today more than eighty percent of the students currently enrolled in veterinary school are women. However, it is not just my chosen field that women are pursuing careers and evolving the once gender dominated fields. Women are revolutionizing the weighted male gender-based career fields, seeking jobs above the medical assistant, teacher, and nurse positions. Careers in emergency response such as firefighting and law enforcement, trades such as electrician and plumbing, and government and politics are seeing more female interest and pursuit of those titles within that field. I have witnessed first hand as my mother pursued a career in a traditionally male-dominated industry as an agricultural science teacher. She faced struciny because of her choice, and still to this day people often question her ability because of her gender, yet time and time again, she has surpassed her male counterparts. She was the first and only female to serve as an officer on our county show board, which is fifty-five years old. She was one of the first female agricultural science teachers in our area to obtain as much success within a program. Because of her drive, my mother encouraged and inspired me to not conform and to chase my own passions towards a traditionally male-dominated field in medicine. Also, I have been mentored by dozens of other strong women who are currently in roles not traditionally associated with the female gender. Mentors who are EMT fight doctors, primary care physicians, veterinarians, lawyers, livestock judges, authors, and the list goes on. These women have achieved successes within their fields that were unheard of one hundred years ago, yet here we are still breaking the barriers. I plan to attend Texas A&M University to earn my doctorate degree in Veterinary Medicine. I hope that my story impacts the younger generation of women who choose to embark on their own journey in their education. It is also my hope that one day gender dominated careers is not even a challenge those same young women will have to overcome. I want to use my career pursuit to serve as an impact on women in Texas to continue to break down the gender disparity in our state by chasing their own dreams in their chosen fields.

I’ve had two constants my entire life, first, my mom and Ag teacher being one in the same, and second, going to school five minutes down the road with the people I have known my entire life. As luck would have it, those two constants proved to be the most difficult challenge as every move I made, every success I had, and every failure I encountered was labeled as my mother’s. If I did well, it was because my mom was my teacher and gave me extra help. If I failed it was the same story. Being a teacher’s kid is hard when your dream aligns perfectly with your parent’s passion. Nevertheless, I worked tirelessly to be a cut above, pursuing leadership roles above the chapter level where I found my true passions and further developed my servant’s heart. I mentored others to help them pursue their own journeys. Yet, it seemed like the better I did, the more ridicule I faced. This struggle had weighed heavy on me for years, and I had finally accepted that if I could just push through nine more months to graduation, then I would be free of the doubts and the scrutiny. However I believe that when you’ve run out of opportunities, you have to find a way to create more for yourself. I also believe that everyone deserves to find happiness in their pursuit of greatness. People told me that moving schools would have a number of consequences, that I risked losing my chances of many scholarships awaiting and colleges that would accept me. Others argued that I was at the top of my game serving as the FFA Chapter President and graduating with only 40 kids in my class. My mother would no longer be my teacher, and I wondered how that everyday change would affect me. I wondered what challenges would face me because I was the new kid. It was a feeling like no other, yet I was completely at peace with it. As luck would have it, my fears were diminished when I arrived at school to my last Senior Sunrise with my new fellow Seniors. I was welcomed by my principal, ag teachers, and classmates throughout the day. The weight I had carried for so long of being the ag teacher’s kid who was successful and sought excellence was gone. My mother finally got to be just my mom as she asked me about my day. After only 3 weeks at my new school, I have been accepted with open arms by students, teachers and administrators, I was elected to serve as their FFA chapter First Vice President, I have been encouraged to start new projects that I hadn’t planned to do, and the support from a successful chapter that I have always so desperately wanted has been overwhelming. Through this experience, I have learned how to step out of my comfort zone even farther, take risks that others may not approve of, persevere in your own pursuits, and trust that everything happens for a reason. My story of victories and defeats, along with my mother’s endless support and guidance, has molded me into the strong individual I am today. I know that because of my story my strengths lay within my ability to overcome and persevere, lead and be teachable, as well as work hard and ask for help when it is needed. My story is unique, shaped by my grit and grace throughout my high school career, yet much of it is yet to be written as I transition from high school to college.

From a young age, we are drawn to our favorite toys whether it is tractors, leggos, dolls or in my case every animal both big and small. It was not like I had much of a choice, as growing up directly tied to animals became the norm for me. I grew up on my family’s ranch where I graduated quickly from toys to the real deal when raising my plastic baby calves on bottles became nursing live calves, driving my brother’s toy tractors in the sand box became loading hay on large tractors, and my leggos towers became barns, fence posts and barbed wire. The reality is as we grow up, we have a choice to pursue our passions in the career we so desperately wanted as a child. I grew up on my family’s ranch raising critters of all sizes including cattle, horses, dogs and the occasional barn cat. My love for animals sparked my interest in pursuing a career in Veterinary medicine and Reproductive Research at a young age. Showing livestock, primarily cattle, opened my eyes to the need for rural veterinarians who had a love for their patients and sought to give them the best possible care no matter how big or small. But I also realized the need for reproductive research that has affected the industry for centuries. This issue directly affected me in my show cattle where I have faced the difficult tasks of incurring vet bills to try to get my heifers bred. I plan to attend college to become a veterinarian, but also work on research that will innovate the livestock industry when it comes to reproduction issues. Infertility plaques the industry as a whole and continues to be an ongoing issue. But instead of investing in research to determine the root cause of the problem, many producers simply sell and it becomes someone else’s problem. It has become a cycle that needs to be broken by addressing the issue to correct it and yield a result for the livestock industry. My hope is that as a veterinarian I can give my patients the best possible care, and that I can work diligently on research that will help alleviate some of the reproductive problems our agricultural industry is facing across the board.

Throughout high school I have held several leadership roles and been actively involved in countless community service activities. Some of my leadership roles included positions as the Future Farmers of America Chapter President at the local level, Reporter at the district level and Vice President at the area level. I have also served as the Treasurer for our FCA Chapter (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) and been a member of the National Honor Society and 4-H. As part of my leadership commitments to better our community as well as my individual commitment to service, I have participated in a number of projects including drives gathering toys, food, school supplies, wildlife relief items, and supplies for animal agencies. A project that I started at our local chapter was the Blessing Bags, which are homeless bags distributed when we are traveling filled with socks, snacks, water, and hygiene items. A fellow member and myself started this project after witnessing the profound amount of homeless people at a convention. To date hundreds of bags have been distributed. Receiving this scholarship will help me to alleviate some of the monetary burden placed upon me and my mother during my educational pursuit. My mother is a single parent and a highschool teacher who is solely and financially responsible for not only me, but my little sister as well. By obtaining financial aid, I will be able to help contribute towards my education. I believe that my qualities of leadership, involvement in extracurricular activities, and academic excellence will help me significantly when considering my candidacy for these scholarships. Examples of my leadership roles that prepared me to be successful in college is my time in the FFA where I learned how to be a leader, how to have effective time-management, how to follow through on goals, establish relationships and friendships, and how to be a better version of myself day in and day out . Through my SAE(supervised agricultural experience) projects which ranged from livestock production and exhibition to serving in numerous leadership positions all while still maintaining an exceptional academic record, I learned how to manage my time effectively to succeed in my endeavors and strive for greatness. Not only did I maintain superb grades, but I also excelled in my dual credit classes and earned college credit. This has allowed me to pass my peers and contemporaries by giving me the ability to grow and develop my leadership abilities and communication skills in order to effectively engage those that I am leading and supporting. Through the mentorship and guidance of teachers, friends, mentors, and advisors, I have had the opportunities of a lifetime by being in FFA giving me firsthand experience on trials and tribulations and the victories and achievements that come with them. Whether it is the show ring in Houston or the after school chapter meetings, I have found myself and what I want to pursue in my life. I know I have stated multiple life events that I feel have prepared me for a successful time in college… However, my life experiences in FFA all tie into me being the individual I am today. I have learned that the greatest victories and defeats lie in that distance between you and the mirror and while I was wearing blue and gold, I was always a winner. I hope to pass that same wisdom on to others I mentor to make a meaningful impact in the future.

Growing up on a ranch has given me endless opportunities to witness the importance of agriculture from a young age. I learned quickly that agriculture is the provider of life and supports communities by giving us all of our needs including food, water and shelter. As an agricultural advocate, I believe that people should understand without agriculture, we would be naked, hungry and afraid. But beyond that agriculture provides us with jobs, technology, and food security for the generations to come. People need jobs to earn money to live, and the agriculture industry provides more than twenty-two million jobs in the United States alone. Jobs ranging far past the traditional farmer and ranching ones typically associated with agriculture including transportation, research, and service. In turn that puts money back into the pockets of business both local and world-wide. It has helped sustain our economy and giving us the knowledge to help other countries do the same. That relationship has built a strong industrial and agricultural trade market between even the smallest of communities to a world-wide span. Purchases of food, gas, supplies and clothing support the agricultural industry both locally and on a national level. In turn those prices play a crucial role in the economy as we have seen the two are directly intertwined. Technology is directly tied to agriculture as well not only in the job sector, but also in meeting the supply demands of an ever-growing population. Supplies that are not limited to just food and clothing, but also medicine, raw materials and efficient farming. Advances that have made raising crops more cost effective while maintaining the integrity of the product. Additionally, robotics, sensors and traceability technological advancements have increased biosecurity and efficiency. Today we grow more food including crops and livestock on half the land. Because I have grown up in the industry, I personally understand the importance of educating others and as a FFA and 4-H leader, I worked tirelessly to do just that. As a veterinarian, it is my hope to utilize my platform to educate the public on the importance of agriculture and to educate myself on the technology that will be crucial to my continued knowledge. As a producer and fifth generation rancher, it is my job to advocate for the industry as a whole from that perspective as well in order to share my knowledge with others in regards to livestock production and welfare.

Part of my leadership growth has been directly tied to learning how to serve. The typical canned food drives, toy drives, and Angel Tree just to name a few of those. However, it was not until ninth grade that I found my true passion and opened my servant’s heart to the idea that I could do more. I was in Fort Worth, Texas for a convention, in route to one of the general sessions, and talking about whatever high school kids talk about when walking a mile in the Texas heat , when I noticed a lady lying alongside the path we were on. She was dirty, had a suitcase that probably contained everything she owned sitting beside her. During the sessions that day, I thought about what I had seen, asking myself how could someone let their mom, aunt, grandmother live like that? After the convention, I tracked back to see her once more, only this time she was curled up asleep on the ground. A friend and I dashed to the vans and fixed a bag full of snacks for her. We placed it beside her and left as not to disturb her. But, that good deed sparked an interest in me. Over the next few days, I dropped a bag of goodies as I passed her, and when I returned from convention, I started a service project known as blessing bags. These bags contained snacks, water, hygiene items, and socks which we hauled everywhere with us and distributed them to hundreds over the last five years. I have met homeless people across the state, some shared their story, and some that were just thankful for the bag of hope. I plan to attend college and become a veterinarian. I would like to give back even more than a blessing bag. I noticed many homeless people have pets they tend to as well. Several had dogs and cats they fed before they themselves ate. Pets that provided solace and comfort to their owners when despair was all they could see. A dog curled up in his owner's lap as they napped on a park bench reminded me that everyone needs someone to believe that hope still exists. I would like to be able to offer free services to the pets of those in need, because to them, that dog or cat is their entire world. I feel that providing those services at no charge would greatly benefit not only the pet, but the owner as well. Spaying and neutering, vaccinations, and other services needed would benefit both the pets and reduce worry for their owners. Additionally, I would also like the owner to be able to pick up pet food whenever they needed it. Homelessness is a problem in the United States with over three hundred thousand people a part of that static. There are over five million dogs and over three million cats recorded as homeless just this year. Much like a homeless pet, some of the homeless people I have crossed paths with have no one. I myself have been abundantly blessed and never had to experience hunger or homelessness. I have taken in stray animals over my seventeen years, and personally I can attest that they have been some of the absolute best pets I have ever owned. I hope that through my efforts I can continue to provide blessing bags to both people and their animals. And while I have no solutions to the homeless issue facing our country, I can be an active part of helping those who live it everyday.

When deliberating this essay topic as to how I plan to serve others in my life, I was overwhelmed by the wide array of service projects I have been actively involved in since a very young age. Being actively involved in FFA (Future Farmers of America) and 4-H, service projects have been a steadfast part of a well-rounded and successful. So naturally, I am passionate about growing and developing new ways to serve. We had done the typical canned food drives benefiting the local food banks, the toy drives benefiting the local child advocacy center, the Angel Tree benefiting students in our very school, and the trash clean up projects to keep our school and community clean. However it was not until I was in ninth grade that I found my true passion and opened my servant’s heart to the idea that I could do more. Here is the story of how one individual opened my eyes to do more. We were in Fort Worth, Texas for a convention, in route to one of the general sessions, and talking about whatever high school kids talk about when walking a mile in the Texas heat while rocking a corduroy jacket, when I noticed a lady lying alongside the path we were on. She obviously had sat down there to rest I thought, but as we got closer I realized that was not the case at all. She was dirty, had a suitcase that probably contained everything she owned sitting on the ground beside her, as she read a grimy old book. I thought about what I had seen, distracted most of the sessions by asking myself if she was okay, had she eaten, was she getting too hot in the weather, how could someone let their mom, aunt, grandmother live like that? After the convention we headed back to the vehicles to head to our hotels, and in our path back, there sat the same lady, only this time she was curled up asleep on the ground with her hand on the book and legs resting on the suitcase. Another member and I dashed to the vans and fixed a bag full of sandwiches, chips, and water then rushed it back to her. We placed it beside her and backed away quietly as not to disturb her. We had done a good deed. But, that deed sparked an interest in me. Over the next few days, I dropped a bag of goodies as I passed her, and never disturbed her naps. When I returned from convention, I started a service project known as blessing bags. These bags contained snacks, water, hygiene items, and socks (which is one of the most requested items I learned). We hauled these bags everywhere with us and distributed them to hundreds over the last five years. I have met homeless people across the state who were grateful to see young adults with a servant’s heart, some who shared their story of how they ended up living in the streets, and some that were just thankful for the bag of hope. My prayer is that the members that have been a part of this will continue to do this service project as they travel across the state and pass the project down throughout their years of service. As for me, I have set a new goal for my service project. I plan to attend college and become a veterinarian. I would like to give back even more than a blessing bag because as we distributed those bags, I noticed many homeless people have pets they tend to as well. Several had dogs and cats they fed before they themselves ate. Pets that provided solace and comfort to their owners when despair was all they could see. A dog curled up in his owner's lap as they napped on a park bench reminded me that everyone needs someone to believe that hope still exists. I would like to be able to offer free services to the pets of those in need, because to them, that dog or cat is their entire world. I feel that providing those services at no charge would greatly benefit not only the pet, but the owner as well. Spaying and neutering, vaccinations, and other services needed would benefit both the pets and reduce worry for their owners. Additionally, I would also like the owner to be able to pick up pet food whenever they needed it. Homelessness is a problem in the United States with over three hundred thousand people a part of that static. There are over five million dogs and over three million cats recorded as homeless just this year. Much like a homeless pet, some of the homeless people I have crossed paths with have no one. I myself have been abundantly blessed and never had to experience hunger or homelessness. I have taken in stray animals over my seventeen years, and personally I can attest that they have been some of the absolute best pets I have ever owned. I hope that through my efforts I can continue to provide blessing bags to both people and their animals. And while I have no solutions to the homeless issue facing our country, I can be an active part of helping those who live it everyday.

From a young age, we are drawn to our favorite toys whether it is tractors, trucks, leggos, dolls or in my case every animal both big and small. It was not like I had much of a choice, as growing up directly tied to animals was the norm for me. I grew up on my family’s ranch where I graduated quickly from toys to the real deal when raising my plastic baby calves on bottles became nursing live calves, driving my brother’s toy tractors in the sand box became loading hay on large tractors, and my leggos towers became barns, fence posts and barbed wire. The reality is as we grow up, we have a choice to pursue our passions in the career we so desperately wanted as a child. My name is Kyleigh Lock, and I am a senior at West Rusk High School. I grew up right down the road on my family’s ranch raising critters of all sizes including cattle, horses, dogs and the occasional barn cat. My love for animals sparked my interest in pursuing a career in Veterinary medicine and Reproductive Research at a young age. Showing livestock, primarily cattle, opened my eyes to the need for rural veterinarians who had a love for their patients and sought to give them the best possible care no matter how big or small. But I also realized the need for reproductive research that has affected the industry for centuries. This issue directly affected me in my show cattle where I have faced the difficult tasks of incurring vet bills to try to get my heifers bred. I plan to attend college to become a veterinarian, but also work on research that will innovate the livestock industry when it comes to reproduction issues. Infertility plaques the industry as a whole and continues to be an ongoing issue. But instead of investing in research to determine the root cause of the problem, many producers simply sell and it becomes someone else’s problem. It has become a cycle that needs to be broken by addressing the issue to correct it and yield a result for the livestock industry. It is not a problem that will be solved overnight, and I know investing in my education is one way I can take the first step in my pursuit of obtaining my degree. For me it is my dream to be able to work daily with animals. My hope is that as a veterinarian I can give my patients the best possible care, and that I can work diligently on research that will help alleviate some of the reproductive problems our agricultural industry is facing across the board.

Growing up actively involved in agriculture, primarily in the raising of livestock, greatly influenced my decision to pursue a career in the veterinary field. From a very young age, I had my hands in everything the animal industry had to offer whether it was showing livestock, nursing sick animals or taking in strays! I developed this passion quickly, and by the age of 7 I knew I had found my calling. Following my PawPaw around with a cooler full of medications, toting the deworming bottles and tending sick calves became second nature. Watching eagerly as my family gave vaccinations, nursed weak calves or wrapped sprained legs intrigued me. I became an active participant in those activities. Progressing those skills continued as I got older and became an active producer myself raising commercial and registered cattle, horses, sheep and of course my pets. Pouring myself into learning illnesses, the affected animals, diseases that were both symptomatic and asymptomatic, treatments for even the simplest sprain and diagnosis of physical ailments became pertinent to me both from a producer standpoint and as my chosen field of study. Choosing to learn the who, what, when and why behind the medications we administer to various species was important to me. I took on the role as the primary handler of my personal livestock projects and pets to gain knowledge as I administered vaccinations, dewormings, treated cuts and problems such as foot rot and pest control. I also took an independent role in their nutrition researching feed and supplements that were and are beneficial to my goals for my livestock and pets. I started mentoring younger producers and sharing my knowledge to help them gain a clearer understanding of their role in production and pets. Through that mentoring, I realized the qualities of patience and my strong desire to help others. As a veterinarian, I knew I would need those answers and research to give my patients the best possible treatment and reassure their owners of my choices, and I would be able to utilize my personal skills obtained to ease the minds of my client's owners. Mentors have guided me in my pursuit of knowledge throughout my high school career, and upon entering college I hope to be able to learn from and expand that to gain as much knowledge as possible and assist my patients and families. My passion is to ensure optimal health for my patients, but also help their families make choices that benefit them.