2020 NCACAA Youth Scholarship Recipients

2020 North Carolina Association of County Agricultural

Agents Association (NCACAA) Youth Scholarship Award Winners

The North Carolina Association of County Agricultural Agents Association proudly announces Lynae Bowman, Shane Fogarty, Micaela Patterson, and Hannah Wood as the 2020 youth scholarship award winners. The scholarship award is being presented to 4 most deserving students who have exhibited excellence in leadership and community service. North Carolina Association of County Agricultural Agents established this $1000 scholarship to four member or life members’ children or grandchildren to aid them with tuition at any University of their choice.

Lynae Bowman is the daughter of April and Neil Bowman from Stokes County. Lynae will be studying Animal Science at Redlands Community College in El Reno, Oklahoma in the fall. She has been interested in animals since birth, because that is the day she received her first heifer from her grandparents. Lynae is interested in livestock judging, embryo transfer, and grazing management. She plans to transfer to a 4-year college after getting her Associate’s degree at Redlands. When asked how her Extension Agent mother, April Bowman has impacted her life, she says, “my Mother has been my 4-H Extension Agent my entire life, and since 2015 has been my Livestock and Forages Agent, as well. She taught me the value of record keeping, weather analysis, forage analysis, and goal setting. She even helped my livestock judging team and I raise money to support our travel to universities in the Midwest for even more training at livestock judging camp."

Shane Fogarty is the son of David and Christine Fogarty from Gaston County. Shane will be studying Architecture at NC State University in the fall. As a kid, he was obsessed with roller coasters, which inspired his interest to become an architect. He is passionate about using design to impact his community—whether through designing low-income housing or creating eco-friendly infrastructure. When asked how his Extension Agent father, David Fogarty has impacted his life he said, “in an increasingly digital age of smartphones and Instagram, I feel lucky to be one of the few students my age that has an easily accessible escape to the outdoors: the backyard garden. Not only did my dad teach me about the proper way to plant sweet potatoes or identify every species of tree in North Carolina, but he also showed me the importance of community. When we had more squash or tomatoes than we could even imagine eating, we gave them to our neighbors, family, and friends. When we went to the Farmer’s Market, my dad enthusiastically talked to every local farmer at the market. I discovered the importance of effective communication, friendliness, and supporting honest work. My Dad’s lessons are clear to me: act with your community in mind, go out of your way to help others, and don’t forget to stop and enjoy the trees.”

Micaela Patterson is the daughter of John (Alex) and Kathryn Patterson from Guilford County. Micaela will be studying Environmental Science and Sustainable Development at Appalachian University in the fall. She is interested in this degree to find ways in which communities can decrease their ecological footprint without drastically changing their lifestyle. For the past few years, she has been interested in the tiny house movement and has many times listed the environmental advantages to decreasing one’s living space. She believes tiny houses can be a solution to greatly decreasing homelessness and poverty rates, while also benefiting the environment. She has been a witness to the homelessness in Greensboro for the past 3 years, but she is also very much aware of the devastating poverty that wasn’t far from where she lived in Argentina for the first 15 years of her life. Having lived in two very different countries, she has seen poverty in different contexts. When asked how her Extension Agent Grandfather, Judge Pierce has impacted her life, she says, “as I have gotten older, I have come to appreciate more and more my Papaw’s heart for giving, and I believe this has been one of the many factors that has made me want to help others. He actively looks out for those in his community, whether they are sick, or need someone to look after their cattle and other livestock while they are on vacation. I have without a doubt seen him extend his generosity outside our family in countless ways and on many different occasions. Without a doubt, I want to strive to have the care and love he has for those he interacts with.”

Hannah Wood is the daughter of Chris and Christina Wood from Rockingham County. She will be studying Elementary Education at Appalachian University in the fall. Hannah says that she will probably get her Master’s Degree after her bachelor’s, so that she can be as prepared as she can be to teach kindergarten or first grade. She said that teaching small children has always been a dream and calling of hers. Her passion is to become an energetic, engaging, and encouraging educator. When asked how her Extension Agent Grandfather, Judge Pierce has impacted her life, she says, “my Papaw has had such an immense impact on my life! He uses his maximum capabilities to do what is best not only for me, but for our entire family. His agricultural experience allows him to express his knowledge on an abundance of topics and constantly intrigues me with new information. Without my Papaw, I would not be the woman I am today. He is so special to me and I love and adore him deeply.”