By Jennifer Whitlock
Field Editor
Investing in the development of future leaders and advocates for agriculture is a fundamental value of Texas Farm Bureau (TFB). Recently, the organization awarded two scholarships to youth who are set to fulfill that goal.
Jack Bishop and Garrett Meier are the 2021 recipients of two $5,000 scholarships funded by TFB through the Texas 4-H Foundation.
“Texas Farm Bureau awards more than $200,000 annually in scholarships through a variety of opportunities and programs including the Texas 4-H Foundation,” Whit Weems, TFB director of Organization Division, said. “We are pleased to support youth in agriculture and glad to help them on their educational journeys as they work to become the next generation of leaders.”
Bishop, the son of Chad and Carol Bishop of Fort Bend County, graduated from Needville High School.
He was a member of Fort Bend County 4-H club, including the 4-H Youth Pork Producers, where he served as president from 2018-2021. He was also the 2018-2019 Fort Bend County Council president, 2017-2018 Blue Baron 4-H president and served on various livestock committees. He is the recipient of a 2020 Gold Star Award, the highest award a 4-H member may receive.
“I joined 4-H when I was eight years old in the third grade, and I had no idea how much it would impact my life,” Bishop wrote in his scholarship application. “The greatest things I will take from 4-H are all the valuable life lessons, work ethic and values instilled into me.”
He showed pigs in many local, state and national shows, including the World Pork Exposition in Iowa. Bishop also raised rabbits and goats and entered photography submissions in county shows for a number of years. Also active in the Needville FFA chapter, Bishop served as treasurer and vice president.
In addition to showing animals, Bishop participated in countless community improvement projects through 4-H, ranging from show animal clinics for younger club members to benefit events for local and national causes, community food drives and more.
Bishop played on the varsity golf team, was a member of the National Honor Society and is active in his church youth group. He will attend Texas A&M University in the fall, where he hopes to pursue a degree in aerospace engineering.
“I have a passion for science and math and hope this will help me pursue a career I enjoy. I plan to use all the skills I learned in 4-H to work hard and get good grades while I also continue to help my community,” he said.
Meier is the son of Kevin and Julie Meier of Bandera County. He graduated from Bandera High School.
He was a member of the Pioneer 4-H Club and was active in shooting sports. He participated in livestock judging and showed beef cattle and sheep since he became involved in 4-H 10 years ago. He was a county council delegate in 2016, 2018 and 2019 and district council delegate in 2017. He was elected vice president of his 4-H club in 2016 and 2018 and reporter in 2019 and 2020. Meier served as president of the Bandera 4-H County Council in 2020 and was president of the Bandera County 4-H Shotgun Club in 2020. In 2021, he was re-elected president of the shotgun club and elected president of the Pioneer 4-H Club.
Meier volunteered for various 4-H and community events throughout the years, including workshops and events to help younger children in their 4-H activities. Meier also helped host educational presentations for fifth grade students at Farm Bureau Ag Day events for three years.
Meier was awarded the 4-H Gold Star Award in 2019. He was also selected to be a member of the Texas 4-H Shooting Sports team in 2020 and 2021.
“When I joined 4-H in the third grade, I had no idea of the opportunities it would unlock for me,” Meier wrote in his scholarship application. “From growing my leadership experiences and eventually being selected to represent Texas on the state 4-H shooting team, all of these experiences have molded me into the person I am today. I’ve learned time management, responsibility and the value of hard work, as well as leadership skills I will use the rest of my life.”
Meier played football all four years of high school, ran track, served on the student council and was vice president of his high school’s National Honor Society chapter from 2018-2021. In addition to sports and civic activities, he was also a member of Bandera FFA, where he participated in public relations, livestock judging and shooting sports events.
He will attend Texas A&M University this fall with plans to pursue a business degree.
TFB is a longtime supporter of Texas 4-H, working with the youth organization in leadership development, service learning and agricultural advocacy and literacy. TFB provides assistance to the organization through various youth outreach and development programs throughout the year, as well as a complimentary TFB membership to each 4-H club in Texas.