The Heritage Hog Scholarship Program

The Heritage Hog Scholarship Program is a Fundraiser dedicated to Fairgrounds improvements while also providing a scholarship for a Junior Livestock exhibitor to further their education, the Heritage Hog Scholarship Program established by the Foundation is a win win for the fairgrounds and a youth exhibitor.

Each year the Fairgrounds Foundation selects a local 4-H, FFA or independent student with experience raising livestock for the Fair who is pursuing a higher education to raise a hog provided by the Foundation. The hog will be exhibited at the Virtual Junior Livestock Auction. The proceeds from the hog sale, along with other donations will be used by the Fairgrounds Foundation to fund the scholarship and the Fairgrounds improvements.

Yearly the  Foundation solicits donations for this program as a means to raise funds for the scholarship and Fairground improvements. Donations to the Heritage Hog Scholarship Program can be made at the Fairgrounds Foundation website fairgrounds-
foundation.org or by contacting the Heritage Hog Committee at (831) 786-9698.

Chardonay Coates Receives 2020 Heritage Hog Scholarship”

Chardonay Coates, a recent Watsonville High School graduate and current
Cabrillo College student, is the recipient of the 2020 Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds
Foundation Heritage Hog Scholarship. Coates spent four years as a high school FFA member
and officer in addition to an active academic, club and sports involvement. She is currently
pursuing a Horticulture/Agriculture education at Cabrillo College.
Chardonay has been in love with the Fair since she was a young girl and learned about raising
animals during her freshman year in high school. Raising animals quickly became her
passion and she feels her experience raising five lambs and three pigs will serve her well as
she cares for the 2020 Heritage Hog. In her application Coates stated “I want to support the
Fairgrounds because they have helped keep the Fair fun and exciting for me, my friends, and
my family.”

How to Apply for the Scholarship

The Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Foundation Heritage Hog Scholarship is offered to a deserving college or other higher education bound student interested in raising a hog to be brought to the Santa Cruz County Fair and sold at the Junior Livestock Auction. Proceeds from the auction, along with additional donations are used for various improvements to the Fairgrounds under the guidance of the Fairgrounds Foundation.

The Fairgrounds Foundation will provide the hog and feed and $2,000.00 to a student entering or currently attending college. This award will be allocated with verification of registration for full time classes.

ELIGIBILITY: Students and/or their legal guardian must live either in Santa Cruz County or within the Pajaro Valley Unified School District or the Aromas/San Juan Unified School District boundaries. The student must meet the eligibility requirements to exhibit in the Swine show of the Fair.

CRITERIA: Selection will be based on the student’s experience raising livestock, scholastic record, special activities, personal history, leadership skills, letters of recommendation, and ability to confidently represent their accomplishments and goals during an interview.

APPLICATION: Download Application

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Postmarked or received at Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds or Fairgrounds Foundation Office (P.O. Box 1806 Freedom CA 95019) no later than May 15, 2021.  This includes letters of recommendation.

SELECTION: Applicants must be available to be interviewed by the scholarship selection committee at the fairgrounds the week of May 18, 2021.  Selection and availability of the hog to the winner will be the first week of June.

AWARD: The recipient of this scholarship will receive their $2,000.00 award upon proof of enrollment in their college or other higher educational technical school.  The award will be issued as a one-time payment.

Heritage Hog Scholarship Recipients

2020 Chardonay Coates

2017 – Arielle Spotswood

2019 – Isabel Hanchai

2016 – Yuritza Arciga