Youth of the Year Award
About
The Youth of the Year Award recognizes youth who demonstrate dedication through volunteer work for a worthy cause. This award is presented annually by the NSBA Foundation to a deserving youth who has gone above and beyond to exhibit exemplary character in helping others through community service. The purpose is to promote and celebrate service work in our youth. The recipient will receive a $4,000 scholarship from the Susan Scott Memorial Fund. In addition to the scholarship, a $500 donation is made to a charity of choice in the winner’s name. Recipients will be featured in a spotlight in The Way To Go magazine and recognized at the annual NSBA Honors Banquet in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Do you know an extraordinary youth who has gone above and beyond for a cause they are passionate about? Applications will become available each spring and are due June 1, 2024.
Susan Scott Memorial Fund
The Susan Scott Memorial Fund was established to honor Susan’s memory and foster the lifelong skills learned as a youth involved with horses and horse showing. Rewarding young horsemen who give selflessly perpetuates the characteristics most often found in successful individuals, regardless of their career paths. The fund was made possible through the generous contributions garnered from the auction of Susan’s custom-made Harris saddle and memorial contributions made to the NSBA Foundation in Susan’s name. The saddle was donated by Susan’s daughter, Nancy Ditty, along with her husband Seth and son Luke.
Abby Eddy
Abigail Eddy, of Rocheport, Missouri, has spent approximately 500 hours educating her peers about agriculture through Columbia Public Schools FFA events including Agricultura Day and Hickman High School Aquaponics. “I live on a small farm, but attend high school in a large urban district. Columbia FFA Agriculture Day is a long-standing tradition that is held in three high schools in my district and gave me the opportunity to educate my peers about agriculture,” Abigail explained.
“I contacted key administrators and teachers to develop a curriculum for various core classes to have assignments related to Agriculture Day. For example, the art students sketched animals, and the psychology students learned about the psychological benefits of being around animals.” On the day of the event, Abigail brought a horse to school, gave a presentation and provided handouts about the horse industry and invited students to touch a horse, many for the first time.
In the Hickman High School Aquaponics project, Abigail rehabilitated an aquaponics system in the agricultural department’s greenhouse as a STEM service project for her math honors society, Mu Alpha Theta. The project tested different aquaponic conditions to determine the best yield, and donated all produce cultivated to the school’s food pantry. “I worked with administration for approval, got fish donated, procured the initial supplies and taught students why sustainable and innovative food sources are necessary to feed an ever-growing population.”
When asked about her service work, Abigail noted “to volunteer means not doing work for monetary rewards, but rather the reward is in the joy or help you deliver to others. Often times we disregard phrases such as ‘quality over quantity’ as cliché. However, to me, this phrase is the pinnacle of service. I have come to realize that it’s not the number of cans donated, but the reduced number of kids thinking about their next meal. It’s not the number of hours served, but rather the number of smiles created. By being able to deliver qualitative service or at least understand the quality behind the quantity, I have discovered a passion for bringing joy and comfort to others’ lives.”
Abigail will attend Auburn University in 2025 as a member of the equestrian team. She will major in agricultural economics and plans to pursue a career in the animal pharmaceutical industry.
