2025-2026 Scholarship recipients are:
Brianna De La Cruz, Valley Center
I was fortunate enough to raise a steer last year. Since then my perspective on everything has changed. From thinking I could only succeed in sports to seeing a new beginning with raising livestock. The experience I had with my last steer, I feel highly encouraged to continue my learning path by raising another beef animal. I’m truly grateful to be able to have these opportunities with animals.
With my previous market steer, I placed 3rd in market and 1st in showmanship at the 2025 San Diego Country fair. The goal for next year’s beef project is to place 1st in showmanship and raise a healthy, high quality beef animal. However that is not my only goal, one of my main goals is to treat this beef calf with the love and care it deserves.
With the raising of livestock and showing them at the fair comes great learning experiences and responsibilities. With my steer I learned that teaching him to have his feet in the right position would take lots of practice. I had to prioritize my time, even taking time off of sports to focus on him. Raising a steer taught me leadership through the responsibilities, decision making and problem solving skills.
One thing about cattle that I find memorizing is the fact that even though they can be big scary animals in a way, they have big hearts. The connection and love that could be made is amazing to me and truly rewarding in a sense of knowing that I could make a difference in one animal’s life. I love seeing the different personalities in every calf, along with learning about their different behaviors.
One thing about me is that I have an overwhelming sense of empathy for animals so I truly believe that every animal should have a great life and I feel as if it is my job to make that happen. In the future I hope to go to college and pursue a career the area of agriculture. I would like to help educate people about the agriculture industry.
I look forward to participating in jackpots, grooming seminars, and showmanship workshops as this will continue to widen my knowledge and understanding livestock raising. I would love to attend these events so I may take a leadership role in the future and extend my knowledge by teaching others. It is my pleasure to help others and maybe even open their eyes to new opportunities.
Thank you for your consideration for this Market Beef Scholarship.
Samantha Merriman, Alpine California
My name is Samantha Merriman, I’m 16 years old and I’m in El Capitan FFA. I have been showing pigs, sheep and goats for the past nine years and this will be my third year showing cattle. Cattle are my absolute favorite species to show, I enjoy having them for a long period of time, and creating that special bond!
The Curren’s Cows Scholarship Foundation means so much to me, it has helped me find my passion and my love for the sport! In the past I was given the opportunity to raise Rocket and Snoopy, these two steers had completely different personalities and challenges so I got the best of both worlds! Rocket was very sweet and easy to handle, but I had a hard time growing hair on him. Snoopy was a handful… he was aggressive and hated being worked at home but he loved going to shows and behaved so well there, as the year came to an end I truly enjoyed spending my time with him. As I got to know these steers I made a very different special connection with them, I’ve learned that they all have their own preferences! Now I want to continue to grow my knowledge with cattle, like showmanship, clipping, and fitting skills.
One of my goals in agriculture is to help others that are newer to the cattle industry now that I know what I’m doing. And not just the cattle industry, I want to help people with their swine projects. A second agricultural goal of mine is to go to as many shows as I can this year to get as much experience as possible for my steer and I! I want to make his time with me the best! Another goal of mine is to grow as much hair on the steer as possible, I want to have a lot of hair to be able to work with and to last until fair time! I’m looking forward to continuing to grow my relationship with the Curren’s Cows Scholarship Foundation!
Wyatt Powell, Jamul California
My name is Wyatt Powell, and I am 10 years old and a member of Manzanita 4H and East County Grange. I want to raise a market steer because I had a market steer last year named Bullet and I had a lot of fun. Bullet was my first ever cattle project and my first year showing large animals at fairs. It was a lot of work, but I learned how to wash and blow dry him and get him set-up in the show ring. I would practice with him at least two to three times a week and rinse one to two times a week and washed about once a week. When getting closer to any show I would rinse everyday and wash twice a week. I worked hard and took him to 7 shows. In showmanship we didn’t do as good to start but by the last few shows would place in the top 2. Bullet was very mellow and let me lay on him and rest with him. My brother also shows cattle and my parents help as much as they can, but I am applying because cattle still get very expensive, but it is my favorite animal to show. I did also show two pigs and a breeding goat this past year. I fell in love with Bullet, and it was hard to sell him, but I had so much fun I want to do it again and get better and learn more. I am planning to attend a cattle clinic again and hope to go to as many shows again this year.
The 2024-2025 Scholarship recipients are:
Kiara Konyn: From Escondido California
Hello, my name is Kiara Konyn. I am 17 years old and currently in my 14th year as a member of the 56 Ranchers 4-H group. I am also serving as the 2024-2025 club Treasure. This is my 10th year participating in the beef project. I would be honored to be selected with the opportunity to raise the Curren’s Cows steer project this year. I enjoy participating in both local and jackpot shows with quality animals. I am looking forward to showing my last year as a 4-H exhibiter and working with my animals, and continually increasing my showmanship and fitting skills. I would be honored to be given the opportunity to culminate my 4-H experience with a quality steer who could help me finish at the top and set examples for other youth exhibitors, who may just be starting their beef projects, as I am always willing to help those around me.
I am currently a senior at Classical Academy High School. I have been visiting numerous colleges and planning for my future. I would like to attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, University of Wisconsin River Falls, University of Minnesota, or Oklahoma State University, majoring in animal science with the hopes of continuing my education and ultimately becoming a large animal veterinarian. Throughout my last 4-H year and into college, I would like to participate on the judging and/or knowledge bowl teams in addition to continuing my involvement with jackpots and local shows. I would like to expand my business, Aspire Livestock, which aims to breed and raise quality livestock for local 4-H and FFA members.
Throughout my beef projects, I have had the opportunity to get involved with competitions, such as judging, breeding, market, and showmanship. Also, I have had the opportunity to attend the National Junior Angus Association LEAD Program, which was an amazing youth leadership experience that was offered through the organization. Throughout the many years that I have been an exhibitor, I have been able to expand my knowledge of nutrition and fitting. Every animal must be properly fed to reach their specific end goal. Fitting has taught me to apply techniques to enhance each animal’s individual characteristics by correcting their imperfections.
I am an extremely hard worker and dedicated individual. I enjoy working and learning hands on skills which I hope to someday apply to my future profession. I enjoy helping youth participants, as shown through my teen leadership involvement. When my sister and I first started out, we worked together on breeding and developing a commercial herd that has since grown to be competitive animals for local market shows. However, as it is my last year exhibiting, I would love to put all my efforts into my project to hopefully succeed and see myself at the top. I hope that you will consider my application for the Curren’s Cow Steer Scholarship.
Sincerely,
Kiara Konyn
Samantha Merriman: Alpine California
My name is Samantha Merriman, I’m 15 years old and have been showing pigs, sheep and goats for the past 8 years and recently started showing cattle. This past year I had the special opportunity to raise a club calf, that I named Rocket. This project has been my favorite by far, I learned so much about the cattle industry, and cattle showmanship. My year with Rocket had its ups and downs, mostly ups, like creating a special bond with him, doing good in his market classes, and improving in showmanship at each show we went to.
I had a great time showing this past year and I want to do better in showmanship, and spend more hours working hair and fitting on a steer so that when I go to shows I can hopefully win a belt buckle. I would like to go to a couple of cattle clinics so that I can learn how to fit cattle better.
My short term goal would be to receive the scholarship and work towards building a bond with the steer. My current long term goal is to try to win grand or reserve market steer at the San Diego County Fair. I have not decided on what my career path should be, but I am interested in trade school and possibly becoming an electrician.
Colby Powell: Jamul California
My name is Colby Powell. I am 12 and attend Lakeside Middle School and participate in
their FFA. Last year I received the FFA Outstanding 6th Grader Award for my hard work
and dedication to the FFA program over the year. I also got awarded a FFA jacket with
my name on it for going above and beyond throughout the year. This made me want to
run for an officer position of which I worked very hard at and was lucky enough to win
and am now the FFA Secretary this year. I did volunteer this past year and helped with
the FFA fundraiser and Buttercup was a star at Kiss the Cow, but we raised a lot of
money. I will continue to work hard and volunteer for lots of events for FFA and all ag
items and plan to stay with FFA throughout Middle School and High School.
I have been showing for 3 years and have been able to attend multiple fairs and shows
in California and Arizona. I was lucky enough to be able to add a breeding heifer
because of the amazing Curren’s Cows scholarship last year. With both my goats and
Buttercup (what I named my heifer) and a lot of support from my parents we went to
even more shows, like I said I would in my application last year. By attending even more
shows I also met other FFA kids who show cattle, and they helped me learn a lot with
both lessons in showing, daily care and grooming, and clipping and fitting. I do still really
like showing my goats, but I fell in love with my heifer and having cattle. I would wash
Buttercup everyday at least 1-2 weeks before any show and would wash about once a
week the rest of the time. I would try to work her everyday and still kept getting
showmanship lessons too. I won showmanship a number of times but keep working to
get better and Buttercup has won many shows as well. I know that I did get Buttercup
from this scholarship, and I did use all of my funds to be able to buy her because I
couldn’t let her go. I have bred Buttercup now and to make sure she is safe while
pregnant so her last show will likely be on October 5, 2024, at the Southern California
Fair. Because I used the majority of my money to buy her, I am at a struggle to be able
to get another heifer to be able to show again this year. I can promise I will work just
hard or harder this year again if I am able to get this scholarship. The thought of having
two cattle in my yard is kind of a dream.
Thank you and I really hope I am able to get this opportunity.
Wyatt Powell: Jamul California
I want to show cattle because I want to get experience showing more animals. I have shown goats a few times at jackpot fairs, but the rest has been my rabbits and chicken for small animals. I have worked hard though and won showmanship and master showmanship a few times with my rabbits. This will be my first year showing large animals at county fair and I’ve watched my older brother show and it looks very fun. I also like that cattle use a show stick instead of your hands like with goats. I will work hard because I want to win my classes and showmanship, and I have already learned a lot from watching my brother and I know he will help me too. I was afraid of cattle before because they are so big, and I am so small next to them but my brother’s Buttercup helped me to not be that way and know that if I work with my steer a lot it makes it easier. I know that my parents are also happy to help me and am really excited at the possibility of showing my first steer.
I am happy to announce the 2022-2023 Curren’s Cows Scholarship Recipients.
Karstin Wagner from Lakeside California, East County Grange, received the heifer scholarship.
Here is a little about Karstin:
My name is Karstin Wagner and I have being showing cattle, sheep, goats, and hogs for 13 years. This year was the first year I did not have a cow in my barn after having them for 3 years consecutively. I would be honored to raise this heifer because I have always loved having cattle from there goofy yet sweet personalities, working hair. The responsibility that comes with having a cow to the simple fact of loving a challenge. My love for cattle really stared when I was 8 and started to help the Bianchi’s show there cattle at my county fair and from there I fell in love with them. I have two goals, one long term and one short term. My short term goal is to attend every national show and win at least one before I graduate high school. My long term goal is to become a Children’s ER nurse because even though my passion is in livestock I also have a passion for helping people.
Zackary Branim-Palmer from Escondido California, Escondido FFA, received 1 of 2 Market Beef Scholarships. Here is a little about Zackary:
Why I want to raise a market steer? I honestly didn’t want to until one day in good spirits I walked into a steer meeting where my friends, I sat down and our FFA Chapter President Easton Hoofard said that I would be filling in the 1st pen left in the barn. I looked into it and talked to my agriculture teacher Mr. Reyburn. I later had a conversation with my mother and made the decision to raise a market steer. I walked into the classroom excited and walked up to my teacher and talked to him about ways to pay for the steer. He told me multiple ways and the one that stuck with me was Curren’s Cows. I read Curren’s story and felt like I could help fulfill his dream and passion of cattle. That’s why I decides to raise a market beef.
Wesley Gratzer from Julian California, Ramona FFA, Wesley received the other Market Beef Scholarships. Here is a little about Wesley:
With FFA being such a significant part of my high school career I plan to take what I learned and go to the next level. While I would like to focus on something like welding or large equipment repair when I graduate, I will always continue my love for animals. This year, I would like to continue growing as an individual and pushing myself even more. My first year, I started with one goat. Year two, I raised a pig. Last year, I decided to attend the San Diego County Fair. This year, I would like to finish up my FFA career by raising a steer. In my future, I want to continue what my mom and I have started with breeding animals for personal use and to possibly sell to exhibitors. However, right now the aspiration of my agriculture path is to fully dive into this future cattle project and other animal-related opportunities. I also plan on helping my younger brother start off in 4H so he can begin experiencing raising animals at a younger age. While was never able to take part in 4-H, I believe that to be a great place for him to begin and to see if he wants to pursue animals or anything else that they may have to offer.
As I was pushed by my mom to raise animals, I realize that I thank her for that, I came to love everything about it and now want to explore raising one more type of animal. I look forward to learning many new things and gaining the knowledge of the cattle raising process. I have watched many former students in my FFA program compete in the project and I look forward to the experience. I want to raise a steer because I know it is a lot and could lead to opportunities and knowledge that I cannot see right now. I know I have the encouragement of support of not only my new agriculture teacher, but also of my former agriculture teacher as they are both now at my high school. By pushing myself, and with it being my last year, I want to make the most of every opportunity handed to me. Raising a steer will push me to learn a different aspect of ranching and I look forward to learning about the breeding, raising, breaking, showing, and finishing of the cattle industry.
Announcing the 2019-2020 Scholarship Recipients: Jenna Schmidt of Visalia and Kylie Konyn of Escondido.
Jenna’s Application Essay:
A buckle isn’t won on show day, but the early mornings and late nights in the show barn. After three years of showing cattle this was probably the first lesson I learned. If I want to be successful I can’t just show up to a jackpot with expectations to win if I barely work with my animal. Getting up before school and staying up late to make sure my animal is washed, fed, and exercised is key to success.
Three years of showing cattle have taught me everything from hard work, to time management, and so much more. But sadly since my county fair is so late I am unable to show a market steer for my senior year because I will be off to college. After graduation, I plan on attending a four-year college and majoring in animal science. I plan on attending vet school after my graduate to become a large animal vet and primarily work with cattle and horses. My second career choice is pursuing a career in the beef industry.
I have a love and passion for the beef industry and meat science. During my freshman year I had a slight interest in showing cattle but quite honestly had absolutely no experience around cattle and had no clue what I was getting myself into. Yet, my ag teacher, thankfully, talked me into trying it for one year. I caught the showing fever and never was able to put the show stick down afterward. My first steer, I made a promise to myself to give my project a 100 % effort so I could look back from the experience and have no regrets. I believe that’s one of my better qualities, if I promise to do something, I’m gonna do it to the best of my abilities. I never do anything partly or half done because that’s just not my mindset. If I set my mind to it I’m gonna accomplish it. My first county fair I brought home my first buckle and banner. It wasn’t the fitting job and the hair products that won me Reserve Supreme Champion Market Steer that day it was the all hard work that started months before.
In conclusion, it would be such an honor to represent Curren’s Cows by showing a heifer for the foundation this year. I have only shown market steers, so showing a heifer would be an amazing experience to try something new and learn more about the production side of beef cattle.
Kylie’s Essay
Hello, my name is Kylie Konyn. I am a member of the 56 Ranchers 4-H beef project and this is my ninth year completing the beef project. I would be honored to be given the opportunity to raise and show a heifer for numerous reasons. I enjoy participating at both local and jackpot shows with quality animals. I also enjoy practicing and would like to increase both my showmanship and fitting skills. I would be honored to be given the opportunity to compete at more shows, therefore increasing my knowledge of the show and beef industry around me.
As I am currently in my junior year, I have started to visit different colleges and plan for my future. I would like to attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, University of Wisconsin at Madison, or Cornell University, majoring in Ruminant Biology with a minor in Animal Genetics. I would eventually like to continue my education, earning my masters or possibly a doctorate in the field of agriculture or veterinary medicine. Throughout my remaining 4-H years and into college, I would like to participate on judging and knowledge bowl teams in addition to continuing my involvement with jackpots. I would also like to expand my business, Aspire Livestock, which aims and breeding and raising quality livestock for local 4-H members and hopefully, someday beyond my local 4-H on the competitive show circuit.
Bovine, and in particular the beef, is an intriguing industry. There is numerous different competitions you can compete in from judging, to breed, to market, and showmanship. There is a particular art to raising every animal slightly differently. Probably the most intriguing part to me is nutrition and fitting. Every animal must be properly fed to reach their end goal whether it is on a dinner plate as someone’s steak or in the pasture as a replacement heifer. When it comes to fitting, it is amazing how different techniques help to enhance an animals’ physical features and correct their imperfections.
I have been told and consider myself a very hardworking, dedicated individual. I enjoy hands on work and strongly believe in the theory of learning by doing. When unable to show superior animals through my first years in 4-H, I worked on breeding and developing a commercial herd that has since been used as recipients for my genetically superior animals. I enjoy helping younger participants, as shown by my teen leadership involvement in numerous 4-H projects. I currently have limited funds which provide me enough to either purchase a quality animal or be able to jackpot and exhibit the animal at numerous fairs, but unfortunately not both. I hope that you will please consider my application for the Curren’s cow Scholarship.
Sincerely, Kylie Konyn
Our 2018 Scholarship recipient is: Danna Staberg
Danna is a freshman at Central Valley Christian High School. In December of 2014, Danna and her family attended a Cattle show just to watch and observe, that is the point that Danna decided she wanted nothing more than to be in that ring showing cattle.
Danna has had several steer projects and has become an excellent show-person. She states “beef cattle are my passion and my life”. She would like to continue her education after high school, she would like to attend Taxes A&M, Oklahoma State or Colorado State University. She plans on furthering her education in agriculture and hopes to join the livestock judging team. She would eventually like to be a livestock judge as well as a small animal vet.
Congratulations Danna.
Each year we will select a local High School student who would like to raise a steer project but can not manage the cost themselves, we will provide them the animal, feed, and any guidance they may need. In return the proceeds from that animal goes back to the foundation and they will receive a set amount agreed upon at the beginning of the project.
The 2018 Steer Sponsorship Recipient is: Jonathan Pasch
Jonathan is a senior at Escondido High school. After high school he plans on going to Feather River College in Quincy California and majoring in Ranch and Equine Management. This will lead him to a Veterinary Technician and a Farrier.
In previous years he have raised pigs, he really loved the experience and the responsibility that it gave him. This year he wanted to try a steer because he wanted to challenge himself and he wanted to try something new. Jonathan stated “It’s a true honor to raise this steer in the honor of Curren”.
Have a great year Jonathan
Curren's Cows Foundation 