“Jasmine Hernandez Receives 2022 Heritage Hog Scholarship”
Watsonville, CA – Jasmine Hernandez, a recent Watsonville High School graduate is the recipient of the 2022 Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Foundation $3,000 Heritage Hog Scholarship. Hernandez spent four years as a high school FFA member in addition to being an active member at St. Patricks Catholic Church and playing both competitive and school volleyball while maintaining a place on the Principals honor roll list all four years of High School. She will be continuing her education at Cabrillo College in the Fall.
Hernandez never thought she would have a love for raising livestock, but over the past four years she is proud to say her love for livestock grows daily and she learns more and more each year that she is able to use her growing knowledge to boost her projects year after year. Raising animals quickly became her passion and she feels her experience raising three organic market hogs and one market steer will serve her well as she cares for the 2022 Heritage Hog.
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. Each year the Fairgrounds Foundation selects a local 4-H, FFA or independent student with experience raising livestock for the Fair and who is pursuing a higher education the ability to raise a hog provided by the Foundation. The hog will be exhibited at the Fair and sold at the end of the Jr. Livestock Auction. The proceeds from the hog sale, along with other donations will be used by the Fairgrounds Foundation to fund the scholarship and Fairgrounds improvements. This year donations to the Heritage Hog scholarship will fund the scholarship and continue the upgrades to the livestock barns.
As a result of her efforts Hernandez will be awarded $3,000 to use towards her educational expenses. The Heritage Hog Scholarship is great way to encourage youth involvement in the Fair Livestock activities and foster future educational endeavors for the hard working youth exhibitors.
Each year the Fairgrounds 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 by clicking the button below or by contacting the Heritage Hog Committee at (831) 786-9698.
2022 Recipient Jasmine Hernandez
Thank you to Country Feed for providing this years Heritage Hog and Feed for the Program
Heritage Hog
Scholarship Guidelines
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, hog feed and $3,000.00 Scholarship 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 Santa Cruz County Fair.
CRITERIA: Selection is 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 a virtual interview.
APPLICATION: Applications are available on the Fairgrounds Foundation web site here (click application button below). They are also available at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Postmarked or received at Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds or Fairgrounds Foundation Office (P.O. Box 1806 Freedom CA 95019) by dates set yearly. This includes letters of recommendation.
SELECTION: Applicants must be available to be interviewed by the scholarship selection committee at appointments set yearly.
AWARD: The recipient of this scholarship will receive their $3,000.00 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 Hall of Fame
2021 Anisa Velasco
2017 – Arielle Spotswood
2020 Chardonay Coates
2016 – Yuritza Arciga
2019 – Isabel Hanchai
2015 – Janell Moules
2018 – Jacob Dixon