Three Katy ISD Future Farmers of America students were recently awarded $20,000 Texas FFA Association scholarships, sponsored by the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Katy High School students, Camryn Wilder and Skyler Weathers, along with Taylor High School’s Chloe LaBard were awarded the scholarships after an extensive screening process, according to a KISD press release.

“These students have worked extremely hard in their four years of FFA at Katy ISD. All three of them are FFA state champions in poultry judging, which is a very challenging and unique FFA career development event contest. Camryn and Skyler are national FFA poultry judging champions and Chloe will compete at the National FFA Poultry Contest this year,” said KISD Career and Technology Education Instructional Specialist Ashlee Laird.

The three students traveled to Stephenville, Tex. to the State FFA Degree and Scholarship Event to interview for the scholarship award. In Texas, there are more than 115,000 FFA members and each year only 140 scholarships of various dollar amounts are awarded by donors from throughout the state to students who demonstrate leadership and a passion for the field of agriculture. Applicants must be active Texas FFA Association members for the current year and at least two of the three prior years. They must also be listed on the State FFA Roster in good standing and have declared their intent to attend a Texas college or university in the fall of the application year.

Wilder and Weathers will be attending Texas A&M University to study Poultry Science while LaBard will be attending Texas A&M University to study Animal Science & Agriculture Business.

Upon graduation from high school, the student must have completed at least three academic calendar years and five different semesters of instruction on agriculture, food and natural resources during their high school careers. They must also score a 1,000 or better on the SAT or at least a 19 on their ACT and be in the top 50% of their graduating class for the first three and a half years of high school.

Scholarships applicants must also perform well in the interview presentation while wearing official FFA attire whether at the district, area or state competitions.

“Receiving a Texas FFA scholarship is a huge honor, that many students strive to earn each year. This scholarship is unique in that it is buildable, they can renew it after their first year enrolled in college and get an additional $20,000. We are so proud of their accomplishments,” Laird said.