“I pledge my head to clearer thinking, my heart to greater loyalty, my hands to larger service, and my health to better living for my club, my community, my country and my world.”
Zoe Prescott was seven years old when she first took that 4-H pledge, joining the group in Olivenhain to learn about the basics of farming and animal care. Now 17 years old, the San Dieguito Academy senior has cared for her own backyard chickens, bred and shown goats at the fair, started her own successful goat milk soap and company, and is headed to UC Davis this fall to study to become a livestock veterinarian.
Zoe is one of 26 exceptional students from across San Diego sharing $83,000 in 2024 Don Diego scholarships—the foundation annually awards scholarships in various categories to students who have participated in the San Diego County Fair or other activities associated with the Del Mar Fairgrounds. A top honoree, Zoe received the $5,000 Chicken Charlie 4-H Scholarship and the $1,000 Don Diego Alumni Club Scholarship.
Don Diego Foundation Chairman Stephen Shewmaker said this year’s honorees like Zoe come from diverse backgrounds with a wide array of talents and passions—they are “idealistic, altruistic, ambitious, academically accomplished and highly motivated.”
“Individually, our Class of 2024 Scholars are driven to make their community and the world a better place,” Shewmaker said in a news release. “Together, they embody the quintessential attributes of a Don Diego Scholar. We are delighted to help propel them on their amazing life journeys.”
The scholars will be celebrated at Don Diego’s “Rhinestone Roundup” gala, featuring a concert by country pop group Old Dominion at the San Diego County Fair on June 13. Tickets are limited for the exclusive extravaganza and are available at dondiegoscholarship.org
Zoe was excited to learn that she had won the scholarships—she got the news while touring a cattle barn in Colorado with her mom.
“Winning these two scholarships means so much to me, as they relieve some of the financial weight while I pursue my lifelong dream,” Zoe said. “I am extremely grateful to Don Diego for the opportunity.”
In addition to being an active San Dieguito 4-H member, Zoe is set to graduate with a 4.13 GPA. According to the Don Diego Foundation, one scholarship recommender praised Zoe as “a person with a humanitarian heart who values family, nature and hard work.”
With Zoe’s passion for animals, she started out by convincing her parents to let her have chickens in their Leucadia backyard. After learning all about how to care for chickens and other livestock in 4-H she then persuaded them into letting her have two goats of her own, all in the backyard.
“It’s been a learning curve for everyone,” she said. “My parents have been on that journey with me and learning along with me.”
A bonus is backyard farm fresh eggs: “We get a lot of eggs during the summer and the spring.”
She now has seven chickens, a black goat named Frieda and a goat named Pepper, appropriately named for his white fur with black flecks. She has showed her goats at the Del Mar Fair, bred Frieda and birthed, raised and sold two litters of kids.
“There was a lot of research that went into that, I studied for hours on how to position during kidding and all the supplies they need,” Zoe said. “It was so interesting to me and the final results are amazing. Baby goats are adorable.”
When Freida had produced a lot of goat milk she didn’t know what to do with, “one thing led to another” and she created her goat soap milk business, Star Pine Hollow Soaps. She sells soaps in fragrances like lavender and oatmeal and honey online through her website starpinehollowsoaps.weebly.com.
When it came to going to college, Zoe picked UC Davis as it has a really good agriculture program and a dairy goat barn, “which is right up my alley.” She will be sad to leave her animals behind when she goes to Davis but her parents have graciously agreed to look after them.
“It’s rewarding,” said Zoe of her care for her goats and chicken. “I’ve learned so much that I definitely think going onto Davis that will set me apart from others who might not have as much experience.”
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