NHS freshman receives national FFA grant

KateLynn Slaamot
NLJ Correspondent
 
J.J. Lipp, freshman at Newcastle High School, was one of 200 FFA members nationally to receive a Supervised Agricultural Experience grant. Lipp, a member of the Saddle & Sirloin Newcastle FFA Chapter, was one of two in Wyoming to receive a grant, and the students were chosen out of 5,968 applicants. 
This year, there were various types of grants, with 23 sponsors making those available. Lipp received the $1,000 grant sponsored by Farm Credit.
SAE grants help FFA students “create or expand Supervised Agriculture Experience projects, a requirement that all FFA members must complete,” according to a press release. 
“An SAE requires FFA members to create and operate an agriculture-related business, work at an agriculture-related business or conduct an agricultural research experience,” the press release also stated. 
According to Jill Pischke, local FFA instructor at the high school, Lipp had to submit a plan for what he intended to do with the grant — raising show cattle — in order to apply. Lipp worked hard to contact local ranchers, research breeds, etc., and Pischke said he developed a comprehensive plan that includes financial aspects and how to “offset” expenses. 
“I was honestly super surprised that I received this grant. There were over 5,000 applicants across the country, and only 200 members received one. I was one of two members from Wyoming to receive one,” Lipp said. 
Lipp told the News Letter Journal that he plans to use his grant monies to purchase four head of cattle. 
“My project includes the artificial insemination and embryo transfer of cows,” Lipp said, explaining that these programs enable breeders to improve genetics in their cattle. 
As of now, Lipp said, he has gotten two Shorthorn Plus heifer calves, and he is planning to show them this year. 
“I will take the offspring of these cows and sell them as club calves for people to show,” Lipp said. 
Pischke said that Lipp has worked really hard on this project and that the honor was “well deserved.” 
“I am really excited about my project. I really hope to grow connections in the cattle industry and learn about the embryo transfer and AI process,” Lipp said.