As shipping delays continue and people are becoming more conscious about their health, the demand for locally sourced-foods is rising. Many people are now beginning to look to their local farmers to provide them with fresh produce and ethically raised meats. Going into agriculture, I would be able to help meet these consumer needs. My goal is to run a sustainable and organic farm to provide my community with a variety of fruits, vegetables, and meats. By receiving the Voila Natual Lifestyle Scholarship, I would be able to put the money I receive towards learning sustainable practices that I could implement on my farm. Using these sustainable practices would ensure environmental health, which then leads to healthier animals, and in turn, results in healthier products for my customers. To complement my passion for agriculture, I am heavily involved in community service in this area. One of my favorite projects I did was refinishing a bee box that I am donating to a children's therapy farm, H.O.P.E.-Full Pastures. A few other volunteer positions that I hold include being on the Junior Fair Board (within this board I hold the community service position), being a Junior Leader (24 hr. training on gun safety) in 4-H Shooting Sports, and being a 4-H camp counselor. I am also a mentor in the Animal and Me program at the fair, which works with individuals with disabilities to have the opportunity to participate in showing animals. A few more things you might like to know about me is that I am the oldest sibling of 7 biological children, plus additional foster children that have come and gone in our family over the last 6 years. I have my own pygmy goat heard and do everything that it entails from the birthing season to daily care. I also show market turkeys and meat rabbits at the fair. In addition to swimming and 4-H, I participate in cross country, track, and the Young Theologians Society. I have an unweighted GPA of 3.84 and a weighted GPA of 4.20 and I received a 24 on my ACT. I also hold many leadership positions including being team captain for my High school swim team at Hamilton High and the team captain of my Steels competitive shooting team, Ohio Steel Stingers. In my two 4-H clubs I have held positions of President, Vice President, Treasure, Secretary, and safety officer. I would be very honored if you invested in my education through this scholarship. I am a hard worker and dedicated to succeeding in college. I have participated in the College Credit Plus program and I will graduate High school with 36 college credits. Within this course work I have received high marks, with all A’s and one B. My hope is that this will allow me to double major in Animal Science, Business and minor in Sustainable Agriculture and still graduate in a timely manner. Thank you so much for your time and consideration. I plan to be a sustainable farmer one day, helping to supply others with fresh and organic produce and healthy meats, and in turn, making my community a happy and healthier place to be.

My goal is to run a sustainable farm. I have always grown up with animals. I have a strong passion for working with them and being around them. Through my dream of a future farm, I want to be able to give the animals that I raise the best life possible. I want all my animals to be pasture-raised, fed natural foods, and die a humane death when it comes time to slaughter. Oftentimes, when you imagine the meat industry, you think of adult chickens not being able to walk under the weight of their own body or hundreds of pigs living together in close conditions with inadequate space to roam. To me this is unacceptable. I believe that animals can be used for meat to nourish our bodies but I think that they at least deserve a good life until then. Along with raising animals, I also want to grow orchards and other produce. I have a big plan that all the plants and animals will work together to create a sustainable environment. All of the things that I raise should be able to help another species grow or thrive. This is my goal to provide a better environment and provide for myself. I know that farming can be a risk and a hard job, but I am determined to make it work.