Tulare, CA – World Ag Expo® and E.M. Tharp, Inc. have teamed up again for the 15th annual “We Believe in Growing” scholarship, supporting area high school students who will be attending four-year universities to major in an agricultural field. This year’s winners, Anabelle Jobe of Bakersfield, CA, and Frank Fernandes of Tulare, CA, will each receive $2,500 scholarships to be renewed up to four years, totaling $10,000 per student.
“We are excited to partner with World Ag Expo once again for the scholarship program,” said Casey Tharp, Vice President of E.M. Tharp, Inc. “E.M. Tharp sees the potential growth in these students to become great leaders in the agriculture industry and we are honored to help them achieve their career goals.” The scholarship was established by E.M. Tharp in 2007 and has helped 28 students gain an education focused on agriculture.
Anabelle Jobe, a student at North High School, plans to study Agriculture Education at Fresno State in the fall. Her long-term goal is to become an Ag Teacher.
Jobe began participating in FFA in High School. She has served as a chapter officer, competed in multiple categories, and shown livestock at the county fair. Jobe is a member of Link Crew, is a blood donor, and is working on a sock drive to stock their high school pantry. She cites her FFA experience as the most fulfilling part of her high school experience.
“My FFA experience has been so fulfilling over the past four years. My very first FFA competition was Opening and Closing at the sectional level. That opportunity is where I found my passion for public speaking and even won my first award. Maybe it was the feeling of accomplishment after or the nerves right before, but I loved it”, stated Jobe.
Frank Fernandes, a student at Mission Oak High School, plans to major in Ag Systems Management at either Cal Poly or Fresno State in the fall. He plans to become a Crop Farmer/Business Owner.
Fernandes plans to take over the family farm and ranch and prepared for his future role by taking agriculture classes and participating in 4-H and FFA. He showed dairy cattle each year, was part of dairy judging, citrus judging, and farm power, and did community service. He also played on the Mission Oak golf team.
“I have always enjoyed the farm and have planned to stick with it as I grow up. My plan hasn’t changed since then. I have always felt a connection and interest in agriculture, specifically farming. I’ve had this passion for the farm probably since I was around four years old”, stated Fernandes.
To be considered for the scholarship, students from across the Central Valley submitted letters of recommendation, high school transcripts, ACT or SAT scores, and must expect to graduate from high school during the 2021-2022 school year. The winners were recognized at the World Ag Expo® Opening Ceremony on Tuesday, February 8, 2022.
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E.M. Tharp, Inc. is known throughout the West as the leading trucking sales, parts, and service provider – a reputation that has been earned through eight decades of pure dedication to keeping promises and getting every job done right the first time. Learn more at http://www.emtharp.com/.
The International Agri-Center® is home to World Ag Expo®, February 8-10, 2022, in Tulare, California. An estimated annual average of 100,000 individuals from 60 countries attend World Ag Expo® each year. The largest annual agricultural show of its kind, World Ag Expo® hosts 1,200 exhibitors displaying cutting-edge agricultural technology and equipment on 2.6 million square feet of exhibit space.