Rep. Jonathan Fritz is flanked by Jack Kowalewski (left) and Alex Empets, both recipients on Jan. 7 of scholarships from the Pennsylvania Farm Show Scholarship Foundation and the McCauley Foundation.
Story and photo by Rick Hiduk
(Originally published in the Susquehanna County Independent)
Since 1993, the Pennsylvania Farm Show Scholarship Foundation had provided funds to 653 college and college-bound students pursuing degrees in ag-related fields through 2024. That number grew by two dozen on Jan. 7, as the Foundation eclipsed the $2-million mark during a scholarship presentation ceremony just prior to the junior livestock Sale of Champions at the PA Farm Show Complex.
Among this year’s recipients were Alex Ampet and Jack Kowalewski of Susquehanna County, who had both been showing livestock in the same Small Arena for many years as 4-H members. In addition to their parents and other family members, the young men were joined on stage by Rep. Jonathan Fritz.
“It’s a great day here in Harrisburg. Alex and Jack got some big money here in terms of scholarships. These guys are a couple of aces,” Fritz said shortly after the event. “I like to focus on the fact that we are keeping agriculture and farming alive and making sure that the next generation is taking care of business in a very significant way.”
Each recipient received $6,000 this year; $5,000 from the Scholarship Foundation and an additional $1,000 from the McCauley Foundation.
Alex, the son of Rick and Dana Empet of Kingsley, is already attending SUNY Cobleskill, studying dairy production and management. When he graduates, Alex noted, “I’m hoping that I’ll go home and take over the family farm and continue making milk for the future.”
Jack, the son of Mark and Laura Kowalewski of Clifford, recently acquired an associate degree from SUNY Morrisville and is moving on to Penn State University where he will study agricultural bio-renewable systems management.