Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Foundation Awards
WATSONVILLE — Future Farmers of America member Yuritza Arciga has been awarded the 2016 Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Foundation Heritage Hog Scholarship. A graduate of Watsonville High School, Yuritza is attending Cabrillo College in preparation to enter Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo where she plans to study Animal Science.
Yuritza began raising livestock when she came to Watsonville as a freshman. She joined the Watsonville FFA even though she had never raised livestock or cultivated any type of agriculture while growing up in San Bernardino County. She has since raised four hogs and one lamb, exhibiting at Santa Cruz County Fair and the Salinas Valley Fair and has been involved in FFA activities locally and at the state level.
For the 2016 Santa Cruz County Fair Yuritza will be raising a market project hog in addition to the 2016 Heritage Hog.
The Fairgrounds Foundation applauds Yuritza’s remarkable immersion into animal agricultural after growing up in an urban environment. She demonstrates leadership by example. Proud of her success, she is willing to share her experience and encourage other youth to follow in her footsteps. The Fairgrounds Foundation will be working with Yuritza this summer as she raises the Heritage Hog for the 2016 Fair.
The Heritage Hog Program is a fundraiser for scholarships benefitting Junior Livestock exhibitors to further their education ad for fairgrounds improvements. Each year the Fairgrounds Foundation selects a local 4-H, FFA, or independent student with experience raising livestock for the Fair who is enrolling into a college or other higher education program to raise a hog provided by the Foundation. The hog is exhibited at the Fair and sold at the end of the Junior Livestock Auction.
The proceeds, combined with other donations, are used by the Fairgrounds Foundation to fund the scholarships and for needed improvements on the Fairgrounds.
Following the Fair and upon class enrollment, Yuritza will be awarded $1,000 for educational expenses. The Heritage Hog Scholarship is a great way to encourage youth involvement in Fair Livestock activities and to fund future educational development for these hard working junior exhibitors.
The Fairgrounds Foundation solicits donations for this program to raise funds for general fairgrounds improvements. The 2016 goal is to raise $30,000. Donors of $500 or more are invited to visit the new Foundation 500 Club open each evening adjacent to the Heritage Hall during the 2016 Fair.
Donations to the Heritage Hog Scholarship Program can be made at the Fairgrounds Foundation website www.fairgrounds-foundation.org or by contacting the Heritage Hog Committee at (831) 786-9698.