7 Dixon Youth Awarded Friends of Fair's Scholarships

DIXON, CA — A Dixon Eagle Scout who plans to become a U.S. forest ranger won the top award when the Friends of Dixon May Fair presented its annual agricultural scholarship awards. Cameron Kemper, a 2019 graduate of Dixon High School and an incoming student at California State University, Chico, received the $3,000 Ester Armstrong Memorial Award, named for a former director of the fair.

Donnie Huffman of Vacaville, president of the Friends, and Carrie Hamel of Dixon, scholarship chair, presented a total of $12,500 in scholarship awards to seven students, all of Dixon, at a recent barbecue on the fairgrounds.

Over the last 20 years, the non-profit organization, which raises funds through the sale of beverages at the fair, has presented a total of $200,750 to students majoring in an agricultural field.

“We strongly believe in supporting our youth,” Huffman said.

Active in Future Farmers of America and T.E.A.M. Dixon (Together Everyone Always Matters), which serves special needs children, Kemper plans to obtain his bachelor’s degree in agriculture business at Chico. For his Eagle Scout project, he replaced picnic tables at the Dixon Hall Park. “This was one of the most challenging tasks I have ever had to complete, but the Dixon community made my project possible,” he wrote in his application. Kemper is also active in planting native plants and trees in and around Solano County.

Maggie Swanson, a 2019 graduate of Dixon High School and an incoming student at California Polytechnic University (Cal Poly), received the JoAn Giannoni Scholarship of $2500. Giannoni, a founding member of the Friends of the Dixon May Fair and the former scholarship committee chair, was on hand to present the award. She continues to serve the Friends.

The top recipient in the two-year college category was Kylee Haight, a 2019 graduate of Dixon High School who plans to major in agribusiness at Butte Community College. She received the Jack Hopkins’ Scholarship Award of $1500. Active in the Dixon FFA and the Agriculture Academy, she learned ag leadership and how to show lambs.

In the four-year college category, the winners are Jess Bravos, Kyle Esquer, Linzie Goodsell and MacKenzie Davi, all of Dixon.

Bravos, a 2017 graduate of Dixon High School and a student at the University of San Diego, received $2000. He is majoring in biology and minoring in chemistry, and plans to become a large animal veterinarian. He was active in the Roving Clovers 4-H Club, Dixon and served as president of the Dixon FFA Chapter and raised steers.

Esquer, a 2017 graduate of Dixon High School and a student at Cal Poly, received $2000. Majoring in bioresource and agriculture engineering at Cal Poly, he hopes to become a irrigation district manager or tractor designer. He was active in the Dixon FFA Chapter and raised sheep.

Goodsell, a 2019 graduate of Dixon High School, and an incoming student at California State University, Chico, majoring in animal science, received $2000. She plans to become an ag teacher and FFA advisor. Active in FFA and T.EA.M. Dixon (Together Everyone Always Matters) to help people with disabilities. build relationships and break down the barriers for those with special needs and held down three part-time jobs.

MacKenzie Davi, a 2018 graduate of Dixon High School and majoring in agriculture science and education at California State University, Chico, received $1000. Currently an intern in the Chico State Farm’s Swine Unit, she was active in both 4-H and FFA in Dixon.

Hamel read a thank you note from previous winner Jillian Raycraft of Dixon, who received her degree in agricultural production marketing this year from Cal Poly. In her letter, the 2015 graduate of Dixon High School expressed her gratitude for the financial assistance and applauded the work that the Friends of the Fair does. A fourth generation of Raycrafts pursuing a career in agriculture, she grew up on the family farm, and learned to drive a tractor, work the crops, tend the irrigation system and rear animals.

Hamel said the judging panel scored the applicants on personal, civic and academic experience; academic standing; personal commitment and established goals; leadership potential; civic accomplishments; chosen field in the areas of agriculture. Experience in either 4-H, FFA or Grange—is desired but not mandated. All applicants must be graduates of a high school in Solano County and attend college in California.

The scholarship committee, chaired by Hamel, also includes Tootie Huffman, Kathy Keatley Garvey and Linda Molina of Vacaville, and Marty Scrivens of Dixon. Huffman serves a treasurer of the all-volunteer Friends of the Fair, and Scrivens as secretary.

The annual scholarship entry deadline closes March 1. Further information is available on the website at Friendsofthefair.org.

—By Kathy Keatley Garvey