Ramona Junior Fair scholarships recipients face the future with hope and dreams – San Diego Union-Tribune

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One common trait of nearly all Ramona Junior Fair participants is their camaraderie, which carries across the various age groups, the different organizations involved and individual interests. 
But for older members, looking out for the newbies and youngsters, learning what needs to be done to put on the Fair and taking on leadership roles is all part of the experience — and those students who go above and beyond are often rewarded with Jr. Fair scholarships, ranging from $500 to more than a $1,000. 
This year’s winners were Kiara Konyn, Mariah Morris, Connor Nelson, Kylee Sargent, Taytum Stanley and Kelsey Weller. 
Scholarships are offered each year to graduating seniors and alumni who are pursuing an education at a 2- or 4-year college or vocational school or a career in the military, said Michelle Scott, head of the Fair’s scholarship program. 
“Students also have to be a member and good student of either 4H, FFA or the Grange, they have to have exhibited at the fair for at least two years, and they have to be involved in many aspects of the event,” Scott said. 
The process begins with students filling out an online application. From there, a panel of interviewers decides the year’s scholarship recipients. 
Scott said the panel members are kept secret from the students, and their own children are not eligible for the funds. 
“We want panel members to be familiar with the fair, with the programs and with the kids, but we don’t bring in people who are friends with the applicants,” she said.
The amounts awarded are based on a grading scale, she said, including factors such as the youth’s overall participation, their involvement with the fair and with the younger generation and length of time showing. 
The $1,250 awarded to Kiara Konyn, 18, will go toward her goal of being a large-animal veterinarian, she said. Konyn plans to attend University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she will focus on veterinary care and dairy science. 
Her parents operate Frank Konyn Dairy, the last remaining dairy farm in San Diego County.
She’s been a member of 56 Ranchers 4H, Escondido, for the past 13 years. She has shown nearly every species at past fairs, with a majority being animals she has bred and owned, and with many becoming champions.
Konyn said her future plans include continuing to grow as a leader in the industry and contributing to agriculture. 
The $500 scholarship Mariah Morris, 19, was awarded will help offset her college expenses. She plans to attend Cal State University, Channel Islands, to become an elementary school teacher. 
In addition to showing hogs, Morris, a four-year member of the Ramona High School FFA, started an agricultural farm day event for local preschoolers, which she’s held the past two years.
“It’s a learning activity for the younger kids, with sensory bins of farm items such as hay and corn and animal things, a scavenger hunt, arts and crafts activities and even pigs and sheep on site,” Morris said. 
She added that the fair is “not just about animals, but a lot about self development and leadership, and I’ve been able to teach what I’ve learned.” 
The $1,000 award given to Connor Nelson, 18, will also go toward his college career. Nelson plans to attend California State University in Chico in the fall, majoring in mechanical engineering with a minor in advanced manufacturing. 
“I joined 4H when I was 5 and entered my first show at 6,” said Nelson, who has shown chickens, turkeys, dairy goats, market lambs and pigs as a member of Ramona Stars 4H. “I’ve also entered photography for a long time and last year and this year entered items for the Industrial Arts section of the Home Economics contest.”
Nelson said his career choice was a direct result of topics he became familiar with as a member of 4H and FFA. 
Kylee Sargent, 18, plans to use part of her $500 scholarship for tuition at Bellus Academy cosmetology school, while the other half will be used to help her mother, Melissa Sargent, founder of animal-assisted therapy work at Hearts and Hooves in Ramona. 
Sargent has been a member of Ramona Wranglers for the past nine years, showing chickens and hogs. As a member of the Ramona High School FFA, she’s also shown meat goats. 
Aside from splitting the scholarship funds, she plans to continue helping her mother’s organization after graduating from the Academy. She’s worked at Hearts and Hooves for the past 10 years.
She credits 4H and FFA with her positive perspective on the future. 
“There is more good in the world than bad, and everybody involved is family, and is so positive and helpful,” she said. “The older kids helped me when I first got started and now being able to help the younger kids is just amazing.”
Taytum Stanley, 18, was awarded $1,000, which she plans to use to help with her college expenses. She is attending Palomar Community College, where she plans to become a nurse specializing in labor and delivery.
“I’ve been involved in the fair for 10 years, and showing steers and pigs for the past 9 years,” said Stanley, who was the 4H fair representative the previous year and a member of the Santa Ysabel/Julian 4H group.
Kelsey Weller was awarded $1,250, which she will use for attending the Tulsa Welding School in Oklahoma to become a professional welder or welding inspector. 
She spent a year in the Santa Ysabel 4H, and has been a member of the FFA at Ramona High where she has shown pigs and goats.
“These kids are a really well-rounded group and they really shine. All of them are going to pursue and accomplish something amazing,” Scott said. “We’re really proud of them.”
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