By Julie Tomascik
Editor
A Texas Tech University student with a passion for agriculture received Texas Farm Bureau’s (TFB) most prestigious scholarship.
Riley Sloan of Rochester is the recipient of the 2021 S.M. True Jr. Agricultural Scholar Award. The $20,000 scholarship is presented annually to a deserving student in honor of former TFB President S.M. True Jr.
“President True lived an inspiring life and had a passion for agriculture, farmers, ranchers and rural communities. This scholarship recognizes students who share a similar dedication to agriculture and leadership,” TFB President Russell Boening said. “Each year, we are impressed with the students who apply, and this year was no exception. We wish Riley Sloan, and all the students who applied, the best in their future endeavors.”
Sloan is a junior at Texas Tech University majoring in Animal Science and Business. He grew up on his family’s small Brangus cow-calf operation in Rochester.
“I’m the fifth-generation on our land,” Sloan said. “My family and I take pride in what we do.”
Throughout his high school and college career, Sloan has devoted himself to learning more about different aspects of agriculture.
In high school, he was active in 4-H and FFA, exhibiting livestock and competing in various contests. He also participated in youth programs offered by Haskell County Farm Bureau and TFB, attended the Youth Leadership Conference and returned the following year to serve as a junior counselor.
At Texas Tech, Sloan was a member of the 2020 National Champion Meat Judging Team. He is currently on the Meat Animal Evaluation Team, striving for similar successes he had with the meat judging team.
During the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sloan worked at Raider Red Meats, which is part of Texas Tech’s Meat Science Program.
“That position built on what I learned through the meat judging team and taught me a lot about meat production and sales,” he said.
He currently works at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Lubbock. In his role with the Other Crops department, he helps plant hemp, cotton, guar and sorghum, as well as records data about the crops.
After completing his undergraduate degree, the Haskell County Farm Bureau member hopes to pursue his master’s degree in an ag-related field.
“Being selected to receive this scholarship is humbling and exciting,” he said. “Having the support of Texas Farm Bureau, Haskell County Farm Bureau and so many others helps me to know that I’m on the right path and inspires me to work harder and find more ways to contribute to the agricultural industry.”
Four other finalists for the award were:
- Emily Brite, a junior at Texas A&M University from Hood-Somervell County Farm Bureau
- Clayton Elbel, a junior at Texas A&M University from Comal County Farm Bureau
- Kristen Massingill, a sophomore at Connors State College from Hamilton County Farm Bureau
- Miles Mathis, a junior at Texas A&M University from Kleberg-Kenedy County Farm Bureau
The finalists each earned a $1,000 scholarship.
The TFB board of directors established the S.M. True Jr. Agricultural Scholar Award in 2014 to recognize True’s commitment to agriculture.
True farmed with his wife, Anna Jean, in Hale County. They raised cattle and grew cotton, wheat and feed grains. True maintained a keen interest in farm and agricultural issues until his death in 2012.
True served as TFB president from 1982 to 1993 and had a passion for improving the lives of his fellow farmers and ranchers. He believed Farm Bureau was the organization that best represented agriculture because of its grassroots orientation.
To be eligible for the scholarship, a student must have at least 60 hours of college credit and be enrolled in a four-year college or university. To receive the full amount, the recipient must continue to major in agriculture, maintain a satisfactory grade point average and maintain TFB membership for the duration of the scholarship.
A list of TFB scholarships and youth opportunities can be found at https://texasfarmbureau.org/youth/youth-opportunities.