Empire State Potato Growers announces scholarship winner

The Empire State Potato Growers has announced Alexis Payne of Glenfield, New York, as the Empire State Potato Growers Scholarship winner for 2019.

The South Lewis Central School graduate will receive a $500 scholarship per academic year for up to four consecutive years of full-time undergraduate agricultural education at a college in New York State.

“The Empire State Potato Growers are pleased to recognize Alexis Payne as our 2019 scholarship winner. She exemplifies the highest standard of learning, positive attitude, goal-setting, service, and achievement we need in the next generation of agricultural leaders,” said Empire State Potato Growers Scholarship Committee Chair Cameron Ayers.

Payne graduated from South Lewis Central School as a high honor roll student, a National Honor Society member and a New York State FFA Empire Degree holder. She has earned individual and team awards in state and national FFA Milk Quality competitions. She is a Lions Club Scholar and has been a member of 4-H, the Lewis County Holstein Club, New York Junior Holstein Association, and Students Against a Vanishing Environment.

Her agricultural “career” to-date has included service as Lewis County Dairy Princess, New York State first Alternative Dairy Princess,and Chapter President and Student Advisor with the South Lewis FFA. Payne will graduate this year as a Cornell PRO-DAIRY Junior DAIRY LEADER on Thursday, Aug. 8 at Empire Farm Days in Seneca Falls

She plans to attend SUNY Cobleskill to major in animal science with a concentration in dairy science. Her goal is to become a dairy nutritionist or marketing specialist. Empire Farm Days is an annual agricultural trade show and rural living event presented by the Empire State Potato Growers.

The 2019 show will be held Aug. 6-8 at Rodman Lott and Son Farms in Seneca Falls. Admission is free; parking is $10 per vehicle. Find more details at www.empirefarmdays.com.