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I feel honored and extremely grateful for receiving this award that will certainly support my academic and professional career to, ultimately, seek solutions to constantly improve our food animal agriculture industry. Therefore, I would like to thank each one involved in the Targeting Excellence Scholarship Program. Thank you sponsors for making this award program financially viable, thank you organizers for all the effort and time dedicated throughout each year, and a special thank you to the director board and application committee for giving me this incredible opportunity as a Targeting Excellence Award winner.
I was not raised on a farm. Neither of my parents had farm land, or were involved in the agribusiness in any way. My dad was a civil engineer and musician at heart, and my mom’s major was in public communications. However, since I was eight years old, I always found myself the happiest when I had the opportunities to visit my friend’s farm and learn about the livestock they happened to have; ride their horses; or help milk their five cows at 4am. These sporadic childhood experiences helped me appreciate the importance and beauty of harvesting results through hard work. Alongside, I believe that I inherited my parents’ valuable abilities to efficiently communicate with different types of audiences, stay resilient and adaptable, face diverse circumstances, and dedicate a personal passion towards a chosen career. Through many trials and errors, I have discovered that if you are to actualize your dreams and goals, you must be resilient, adaptable and communicative to achieve that success. My goal is to use my experiences to evolve the swine industry. I will strive to adapt the industry to an era of demanding virtual connections, supported by scientific nutritional studies to meet the demands of an eager human society.
After graduation, I will strive for safe, sustainable and high-quality pork meat. I intend to initially aid the demands involving nutritional issues that pig dietary requirements may present in addition to finding opportunities of increasing productivity results. I picture myself developing into executive roles at global companies while supporting local communities of North Carolina through pro-bono consultation services. Additionally, I foresee myself as a financial supporter and advocate for programs that are focused on the next generation of leaders to our Pork Industry.
Thank you for your time and consideration in my application for this scholarship. These funds will be of considerable assistance in helping me actualize my goals.
Together, we will continue to build an industry we are proud of!
Targeting Excellence
3450 Dockside Shores Dr
Gainesville, GA 30506
For questions please call:
Rachel Virden 678-448-2368