At South Carolina Junior Beef Round-Up, college cash is the prize

Published: September 23, 2011

CLEMSON — The South Carolina Junior Beef Round-Up is about more than cattle: It’s about college. Some 170 young contestants vied for ribbons. belt buckles and more: about $7,000 in scholarships and savings bonds. 

“The kids have an opportunity to compete for money to be applied to higher education,” said Matthew Burns, event coordinator. “The money will help cover tuition and books, as well as helping lower the amount needed from student loans. This is all about helping them up to the next level of their lives.”

The 2011 annual competition recently was held at Clemson University's T. Ed Garrison Livestock Arena. Clemson University's Cooperative Extension Service organizes and coordinates this weekend of beef cattle activities for 4-H and Future Farmers of America members and their families. Contestants came from South Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina and Alabama.

“We had a terrific group of sponsors for the event, and I am specially grateful to those people and companies that contributed to the scholarships and savings bonds,” said Burns.

The awards included:

• $1,000 scholarships: Olson Cattle Research Scholarship from Larry Olson and S.C. Autism Awareness Scholarship from the Gary Vickery Family
• $500 scholarships: Anderson County Farm Bureau Scholarship, Coca-Cola and T. Ed. Garrison Arena Scholarship, Driftwood Plantation Scholarships 1 and 2, Greenwood County Farm Bureau Scholarship and Southern States Cooperative Scholarship
• $500 savings bonds: AgSouth Farm Credit, Allflex USA, Greenwood Marketing Cooperative and Seth Morgan
• $250 savings bonds: Seth Morgan

Competition events include the Sales Talk Contest, Junior Cattlemen's Contest, Showmanship Contest, Breed Shows and the S.C. Beef Ambassador Contest.

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