CVATA/ FFA HEIFER WRANGLE GRANT PROGRAM The Heifer wrangle program is designed for Freshman and Sophomore students that have an interest in the beef industry. Successful applicants receive a $1500 grant to purchase a heifer of their choosing. The heifers are purchased in the spring, raised, cared for, and exhibited at the Colorado State Fair in August. Grant recipients write monthly letters from March when they receive their checks through September and one letter when the heifer calves. They also meet their donor at a reception at the National Western Stock Show in January, at a reception during State FFA Convention, and at the Colorado State Fair. Participants will be selected from electronic applications submitted by the due date of November 15. (There is no catch at the NWSS.) The applicant must be a first or second year member (freshman and sophomores only) in a Colorado Agriculture Education program and be an active member of that FFA chapter. Each participant must agree to exhibit their heifer at the Colorado State Fair for the same year they are selected to participate. It is agreed and understood the ownership of the heifer shall be in the name of the student. The Colorado FFA Foundation will issue a check to the student in January during the NWSS meeting. The participant, along with their FFA advisor, and parents, have until March 1 st following the selection of participants to select a heifer at least 12 months of age of their choice. The heifer is to be weighed March, May and July to monitor growth. Those weights are to be passed on to sponsors and committee members. The participants are required to write one letter by the tenth of each month beginning in February until September following State Fair and when the heifer calves to culminate the program. The participant will write a letter every month and be mailed to each of the following people: o Participant s sponsor o CVATA Fairs and Shows Committee Chairman of Heifer Wrangle o Colorado FFA Foundation o Participant s FFA Advisor o A copy for your Scrapbook o Heifer s breeder optional This letter should be in the form of a progress report on the heifer. Each participant will receive their sponsors name and address at the NWSS. The local FFA advisor and/ or Parents must be present at the Colorado State Fair to assist the participant with exhibiting the heifer. Participants will be required to provide a copy of their AET record book and personal scrapbook to be reviewed by the CVATA Fairs and Shows Committee at two State FFA Conventions and Colorado State Fair. The personal scrapbook of the heifer wrangle project should include copies of letters to sponsors from the student and advisor, photographs, ribbons and awards, health certificates, registration information, weight/ scale tickets and any other important papers or events. Failure to update the record book and/or participate fully in the program may disqualify the student from future grants and scholarships from the Colorado FFA Foundation. Revised: 9/29/2017 1
The student is expected to create a SAE Display board to be displayed at both State FFA Conventions (during the program and at the conclusion of the program). The CVATA Fairs and Shows Committee reserve the right to inspect the heifers at any time. All participants must continue to be enrolled in agriculture education after the heifer is selected and through the duration of the program. Should student not continue to be in a Colorado Ag Ed program or are not in good standings within the Colorado FFA Association or Colorado 4H program the student will be considered in violation of the program requirements and asked to return or reimburse to the Colorado FFA Foundation the Heifer Wrangle award amount of $1500. SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO WRITE LETTERS TO SPONSORS By the 10 th of each month, you will write your heifer sponsor a letter, which should be in the form of a progress report on the heifer. A copy of this letter must also be sent to: CVATA Fairs and Shows Committee designee, your FFA advisor, and The Colorado FFA Foundation. A letter to the breeder of your heifer would also be very acceptable. A few suggestions for the contents of the letters follow: In your first letter, express your thanks and appreciation for the sponsor s interest in the program and the help they are giving you in getting started in the livestock business. Send a photo of yourself and the heifer on the day you pick her up. This picture will begin the bond that will form between you and the sponsor. Explain the first few days with your heifer, including the halter breaking process. Indicate rations being fed, pasture, grain, hay, etc. Indicate growth of animal in pounds. If you have no scale, estimate weight. Describe any unusual happenings such as the sickness of the animal, etc. Describe good management practices being followed in the raising of this heifer. Include any prizes won at any fairs or shows. Include interesting activities of your FFA chapter or Agricultural Education classes Describe interesting incidents that have happened to you such as being on an FFA judging team, making the honor roll in school, any sports you are involved in, etc. Remember that the success of this program will depend a great deal on the impression you make on the sponsor through these reports. Your letter may be informal, but should always be courteous and show appreciation for the help our sponsor is giving you in getting started in a breeding program. Please have your FFA advisor read each letter before you mail it. The letters should show proper use of grammar as well as interesting to the sponsor. Revised: 9/29/2017 2
CVATA Fairs and Shows Committee Members Richard Gekeler - Fairs and Shows Chairman & Ag Mech Chairman Kit Carson High School 102 5 th Ave., PO Box 185 Kit Carson, CO 80825 rgekeler@rebeltec.net School: (719) 962-3219 Cell: (719) 529-0734 Robby Adams Valley High school 1001 Birch St., PO Box 156 Gilcrest, CO 80623 adamsr@wcsdre1.org School: (970) 737-2494 Emily Fickbohm Deer Trail High School 350 Second Ave., PO Box 129 Deer Trail, CO 80105 efickbohm@dt26j.org School: (303) 769-4421 Cell: (970) 222-0461 Rheanna Melcher FFA Heifer Wrangle Chair Walsh High School 301 N. California St. Walsh, CO 81090 r.melcher@walsheagles.com School: (719) 324-5221 Cell: (719) 353-2582 Kenton Ochsner State FFA Advisor 9101 E. Lowry Blvd. Denver, CO 80230 Kenton.ochsner@cccs.edu Office: (303) 595-1562 Cell: (303) 378-7885 Don Thorn Colorado FFA Foundation PO Box 1000 Greeley, CO 80632 Dthorn@coloradoffafoundation.org Office: (719) 829-4483 Cell: (719) 940-3321 Revised: 9/29/2017 3
Assurances Local Advisor Responsibilities (please initial beside each point indicating your understanding of responsibility) Quarterly reports and photos documenting progress and visitations. Communicate with committee Guide student in selection, breeding, calving as well as making sure it is a valid learning experience Assure delivery of record book, scrapbook, and display board to State Fair and Conventions Assure that the participant has entered the Colorado State Fair Student Responsibilities (please initial beside each point indicating your understanding of responsibility) Show heifer in their local count fair and the designated show at the Colorado State Fair Write and send monthly letters and pictures to sponsor by the 10 th of each month Arrange for the heifer to be bred with the assistance of your local FFA advisor Weigh heifers during the following months; March, May, July and send copies of scale or weigh tickets to CVATA Fairs and Shows Committee Heifer Wrangle Chair. Keep additional copies for scrapbook Keep an accurate AET record book and scrapbook of the heifer wrangle project. Create SAE display board for your heifer project to be displayed at State FFA Conventions Provide for and BE INVOLVED in the proper humane care and treatment of the heifer All 1 st and 2 nd year heifer wrangle participants will be required to attend the State FFA Conventions during their program years to be interviewed by Fairs and Shows Committee members. We have read the rules to the above selected program and agree to abide by those rules if selected. We understand that failure to abide by the rules and the intent of the program may be cause for being suspended from FFA activities. We have also initialed the responsibilities above in the Program Requirements. Student Signature: Date Parent Signature: Date Advisor Signature: Date Upload this completed assurances page with the online application. Application can be found at: Student Grant Application Revised: 9/29/2017 4
Heifer Wrangle/ SAE Grant selection rubric The following items are present and completed: ( 5 points ) Checklist (10pts) Parent Letter Budget Pictures Advisor and student Rate the following on a scale of 1-10 points based on the quality of writing and if the question was answered according to the prompt. 10 points being the best. NEED FOR SAE/ HEIFER WRANGLE: Member shows a distinct need for the program award based on financial, strong desire, or unique circumstance. Member shows a clear and concise reasoning in their answer. Member explains what they will do with award money and gives a brief description of planned SAE. Time Investment: Member is very concise and realistic in their determination of time needed to invest in the program. Also includes time needed to plan, implement, manage and care for the animals. Includes time for the clerical elements included in the program requirements. Financial Investment: Provides a brief summary of the estimated budget. Includes estimated costs to purchase the animals and estimated expenses that will incur during the program along with the source of the funds. Capital Investment: Member describes the Capital Items that they own along with describing any use of existing Capital Items that are not owned by the student but used for their program. If they are leased/ rented that arrangement is stated and explained. Learning Outcomes/ Goals: Member lists at least three learning outcomes that are related to the Program type. Member lists at least three goals that can be identified as "SMART" goals. TOTAL POINTS EARNED: Revised: 9/29/2017 5
Advisor Checklist Advisor must fill out the following check list in order for the application to be complete. Advisor Responsibilities Include: 1. Complete Checklist 2. Assuring Member is in good standings at time of application and throughout program 3. Sign the application 4. Complete quarterly letters 5. Provide Picture of Facilities to be used for student SAE 6. Additional items may be present in complete program details. Please complete the following checklist. Member is in Good standings Member is a 1 st or 2 nd year member Member has 2.0 or higher GPA Counselor Signature: Do you feel the member has adequate financing to support the Heifer Wrangle Program? Does the student have adequate facilities to support the Heifer Wrangle Program? Please include a picture of facilities Application is complete Advisor Signature: Revised: 9/29/2017 6