12/20/06 Scholarship Winner

Scholarship winner. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report. Prosser, Washington Senior Robert Thonney is this years winner of the Washington State Future Farmers of America (FFA) Apple Judging Competition. Jennifer Witherbee with the Washington Apple Education Foundation explains. WITHERBEE: As the top place finisher, Mr. Thonney is receiving a $1000 scholarship from the tree fruit industry. The student does not need to be pursuing a career in the Ag industry but this is a scholarship so this is for their college education. The award is made possible by several different agencies. WITHERBEE: This is the third year that the Washington Apple Education Foundation has had the honor of being able to award the top place finisher in the competition. And that is thanks to support we are receiving from the Yakima Pomological Club and the North Central Washington Fieldmen's Association. The event was attended by approximately 100 FFA students who spend several hours judging fruit. Witherbee says a new scholarship has just been set up. WITHERBEE: We recently had the honor of having a new scholarship started with the Washington Apple Education Foundation and this is a scholarship honoring Bill Dewitt who recently passed away. The scholarship is initiated by the Wenatchee Traffic Association and anyone that would like to make contributions to this scholarship honoring Bill Dewitt can do so by sending their donation to the Washington Apple Education Foundation. That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.