By Julie Tomascik
Editor

The Texas FFA Association announced the selection of the 2021 Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) scholarship recipients during the 93rd annual Texas FFA State Convention in Fort Worth.

Blake Mills, who served as Texas FFA’s state president over the last year, received a $6,000 scholarship, and Emilee Sanderson, the Texas FFA first vice president, was awarded a $4,000 scholarship.

“We’re proud of these two young individuals and how well they represent agriculture and their communities,” TFB Director of Organization Whit Weems said. “These scholarships are an acknowledgement of their dedication to agriculture, and we wish them the best on their future endeavors.”

Mills plans to attend Texas Tech University and major in agriculture and applied economics.

He graduated from Center Point High School where he was active in his FFA chapter. He participated in several career development events and exhibited livestock at county and state stock shows.

Some of his FFA accomplishments included being a member of the state champion Senior Agricultural Quiz team and receiving high point individual. He was also on the fourth-place Entomology team and was second-place individual in the state competition. At the San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo, Mills exhibited the champion medium weight crossbred gilt in 2019 and the champion light weight crossbred gilt in 2018.

While in high school, he was also active in UIL One-Act Play, served as a PALs mentor and was president of the National Honor Society and Future Business Leaders of America.

“This scholarship award will help me attend college, but it also reminds me how important and how awesome Texas Farm Bureau is for investing in youth in agriculture and the ag industry as a whole,” Mills said. “But I also think it’s important that FFA members get the opportunity to engage with Texas Farm Bureau and county Farm Bureaus, because they’re able to learn a lot from people who have experience in the agriculture industry.”

Sanderson plans to attend Texas Tech and major in agriculture and applied economics.

She graduated from Blackwell High School where she participated in numerous FFA activities. Among her FFA accomplishments were earning fourth place in the state competition for Senior Creed Speaking, tenth place in Job Interview and fourth place in Extemporaneous Speaking. She also exhibited the reserve breed champion crossbred market lamb at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and the breed champion fine wool market lamb at the State Fair of Texas.

In addition to her FFA activities, Sanderson competed in five varsity sports and received all-state honors. She also competed in UIL speech and debate events, placing second at state in UIL Extemporaneous Persuasive Speaking and UIL Congressional Debate.

She is active in her church and enjoys studying agricultural policy. Sanderson was a part of the Congressional Youth Advisory Committee for U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway.

“I’m very grateful and excited for this opportunity and to have been selected to receive this scholarship,” Sanderson said. “I believe its important to continue learning, and it means a lot to me that this scholarship will help me continue to learn. But I’m also looking to the future in the ways that I can develop myself to then help serve and develop others. That’s what this scholarship means to me.”

As state leaders of the Texas FFA, Mills and Sanderson traveled the state to visit and inspire students. Throughout the year, they connected with students despite the challenges brought forward by the COVID-19 pandemic. Their visits helped FFA members find their passion and encouraged them to connect with others.

“FFA genuinely teaches students how to build relationships, and I think that networking is so important because building those relationships with people can open doors and opportunities and experiences,” Mills said.

Many FFA chapters have connected with local farmers and ranchers, county Farm Bureaus and TFB leaders and staff.

“I think it’s important that FFA members are informed and excited about the opportunity to work with Texas Farm Bureau and the county Farm Bureaus, as well as other organizations, and how we can continue to work with each other to prepare for the future of agriculture,” Sanderson said.

TFB, a corporate sponsor of Texas FFA, provides assistance to the organization through various youth outreach and development programs during the year, as well as a complimentary TFB membership to each FFA chapter in Texas.