Making a Difference for Local Students

Most ranchers are involved in both their county and their state cattlemen’s association — working to a make a difference both locally as well as at the state level. I recently spoke with Oregon Umatilla County Cattlemen’s Association President Clint Sexson. His county association is working on something pretty special and amazing.
Sexson: “Our number one concern is the cost of education is getting increasingly higher — faster than most scholarships can support. Our goal is to some point down the road when we have four or five very qualified students that deserve scholarships that we could give that many not just narrow it down to one.”
He added that up until now — they’ve given one or two scholarships for $1,000 a piece and want to increase both the number and the amount given per student.
With a lot of support from Double M Ranch and owners Mike and Patsy Taylor — the group has a goal of raising $125,000 for scholarships for local students planning on ag careers. The Double M has generously agreed to donate the feed and the yardage for the donated heifers and have the facilities to have them bred AI. Then the bred heifers will be sold in the fall.
The Cattlemen are asking local ranchers in both Umatilla and neighboring Morrow County to donate heifers between now and March 1st.
Can you imagine if even five other counties across the West grabbed this idea and made it work for their local area? What kind of difference could be made in the life of students with future ag careers?