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Missouri co-ed says Dairy Revitalization scholarship will reduce school debt

A Missouri State University Sophomore says the dairy farm internship that qualifies her for the Dairy Revitalization Act scholarship will contribute to her education as much as classroom work.

“I help feed, I help milk,” said Hannah Estes, referring to her work on a dairy farm to fulfill her internship for the scholarship. “I help do all kinds of stuff, little odds and ends jobs that they need an extra set of hands to do, and it’s been a very fun learning experience.”

Estes tells Brownfield the $5,000 scholarship will get her a step closer to graduating debt free.  The scholarship is one of the provisions of the Dairy Revitalization Act passed by the Missouri Legislature.

“This is the part of the bill that really can be greatly utilized all across the state for young people,” said Representative Bill Reiboldt, who sponsored the House version of the bill.

Estes recommends the scholarship for students pursuing a field of study in agriculture, even if they have no background in dairy.

“For other kids who aren’t familiar with the dairy industry, like I wasn’t until now, I think it’ll be a good way to get people more involved and learn about the dairy industry and what all goes into that,” said Estes.

Reibold agrees, saying that the state as a whole benefits from young people being more aware of how food is produced.

“Not only learning where their milk comes from and the day to day challenges of a  Missouri dairy farmer, but with the hopes that maybe some of these young people might like to go back to the dairy farm and have a dairy farm of their own,” said Reiboldt, who is a former dairy farmer.

Estes majors in agriculture business preparing to one day keep the books in her family’s farm implement businesses.

AUDIO: Hannah Estes (4 min. MP3)

AUDIO: Bill Reiboldt (2 min. MP3)