Cattle Growers’ Present Scholarships

Cattlegrowers Present Scholarships F our New Mexico students – Kasyn Creighton, Elida; Jason Knight, Logan; Paiton Owensby, Folsom; and Ashley Selman, Hobbs; received college scholarships from the New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association (NMCGA) during the recent Joint Stockmen’s Convention held in Albuquerque.

“We are very proud of these young men and women, and wish them they best as they continue their education and careers,” said Tom Sidwell, NMCGA President, Tucumcari. “We want to congratulate them on their accomplishments thus far, and look forward to hearing about their future successes.”

Creighton received a $1000 college scholarship from Purina Mills. She grew up on her family’s cattle ranch near Elida, and is studying Agriculture Business at Eastern New Mexico University. She and her sister Kynzi operate K&K Cattle partnership, where they run about 70 head of commercial black and Charolais cross cattle. In addition, she has a full-time position at the family’s business, Creighton’s Town and Country. She is the daughter of Garland and Leslie Creighton.

Jason Knight, Logan, received a $1000 college scholarship from Purina Mills. In high school, he has been active in sports, including basketball, football and baseball, and FFA. In FFA, he shows steers, sheep and goats and judges land and homesite. Twice,

he qualified for the national land judging competition in Oklahoma, and was seventh in the nation his junior year. When he is not busy with school activities, Knight helps out on his family farm, raising hay, and on his grandparents’ cattle ranch. He is the son of Justin and Cheryl Knight.

Paiton Owensby, Folsom, received a $500 college scholarshipfrom the NMCGA’s Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Committee (YCLC). She is the fifth generation to grow up on the family’s cow/calf and yearling stocker operation. She is a senior at Des Moines High School, where she has been active in volleyball, basketball, track, FFA, FCA and the National Honor Society throughout high school. She is a nine-year member of the Folsom 4-H Club, where she is currently vice-president, as well as serving

Paiten Owensby (L) received her NMCGA scholarhip from the Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Committee. The award was presented by Kendal Wilson (R).

as FFA Chapter President. Her FFA activities include the county fair’s production steer contest which covers many aspects of cattle production, and which she won this past year. After graduation, she plans to attend a junior college to continue her livestock judging career and pursue a degree in Agricultural Communications. She is the daughter of Seth and Dawna Owensby.

Ashley Selman, Hobbs, received a $500 college scholarship from the NMCGA’s Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Committee (YCLC). She is a junior in the Honors College at Texas Tech University majoring in cellular and molecular biology. Her current interests are emergency medicine, surgery and/ or immunology. Selman graduated from high school as a member of the Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society and with distinguished honors, ranked 12th out of a class of 509. She is currently on the Dean’s list at Texas Tech and working as a research assistant to Texas Tech professor Dr. Wang, who is researching the connection between diet and chronic diseases (diabetes, cardiovascular disease) and is a pioneer in using biocompatible and biodegradable nanocarriers to enhance bioactivities of phytochemicals and nutrients to prevent and treat these diseases. She also plans to continue the family business of cattle ranching, farming, and our Purina feed dealership. In addition to a future career as a physician, she plans to continue the family’s Purina feed dealership, as well as cattle ranching and farming. She is the daughter of Jim and Susan Selman.

This year because of the help of sponsors like Purina Animal Nutrition; Purina dealers Bunks Feed Barn, Hobbs; Circle S Feed Store, Carlsbad; Cortese Feed Supply, Ft. Sumner; Creighton’s Town & Country, Portales; Dickson Implement Co., Tucumcari; Gary & Ginger Creighton, Portales; Horse N Hound Livestock & Farm Supply, Las Cruces; and the NMCGA Allied Industries Committee and Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Committee, the NMCGA was able to award four scholarships totaling $4000 to New Mexico students.

“These students all have strong roots in agriculture, understand our industry and way of life, and are planning to remain involved as they pursue their future studies and careers. We couldn’t be prouder to help them pursue their dreams,” Sidwell said. College gets a little more expensive each year while the economy seems to get a little tighter, and with this scholarship, we hope tohelp ease that burden. We truly appreciate the help of our sponsors.”

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