Causey given Junior Livestock Auction Scholarship

Madison Causey was notified June 24, that she would be receiving a Junior Livestock Auction Scholarship from the San Diego County Fair, and the 2020 Fallbrook High School graduate was also notified that day that she would be one of the final four exhibitors for the market goat supreme grand champion and supreme reserve champion honors.

"It was a perfect day for a really good ending of the year for me," Causey said.

Causey, who is now 18, was 9 when she joined Fallbrook 4-H. She first showed at the San Diego County Fair in 2011 and had dairy goats that year. She began showing market goats at the county fair in 2012 and has also shown market steers and market hogs.

The 4-H and National FFA Organization students began raising their animals before the 2020 county fair was canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak. The county fair board opted to hold a virtual market livestock show so that exhibitors could earn awards.

"I think the virtual fair was really good," Causey said. "I think the fair gave us the best opportunity."

The decision also included an online auction for animals. The uncertainty about whether the fair would have an online auction or even a virtual show led many 4-H and FFA members to pre-sell their animals. So, the fair allowed pre-sold animals to participate in the virtual market livestock show.

"Once I heard that they were doing a virtual fair this year I started getting my goats ready," Causey said.

During the years Causey participated in a physical fair, the family stayed in a trailer at the fairgrounds. The elimination of a week away from home didn't make up for not being at the fair this year.

During the physical fair, Causey was able to inform the public about what showing an animal entailed. She also interacted with the 4-H and FFA exhibitors from other chapters.

"We all made friends with each other. Even though we were competitive with each other in the show ring, we all were friends outside the show ring," Causey said.

The various 4-H clubs would have potluck meals and other social events. "It was always fun staying down there," Causey said.

The awards ceremony for 4-H and FFA champions was open to the public, and the winners collected their banners. This year the announcement was made online.

"I feel like I missed out on the experience of having that big win," Causey said.

Causey showed two male Boer crosses. James was born in October 2019 and was thus eight months old during the virtual fair. Ken was born in January and was five months old when Causey showed him on a 90-second video.

"These goats are just the neatest goats I've ever raised," Causey said.

The weight classes for each species of large animal are based on the number of entrants rather than by pre-determined weights. Ken weighed 73 pounds, which put him at the high end of the class for goats from 66 to 73 pounds.

"I learned a lot about him. He just was awesome," Causey said.

Ken was chosen as the best 4-H goat in his weight class. "I think he was the perfect goat to win the lightweight," Causey said.

James weighed 89 pounds and competed against goats between 86 and 90 pounds. The Fallbrook FFA goats in that class also included an 89-pound goat raised by Alan Morris, who is also in Fallbrook 4-H. Dibbles, who was Morris' goat, won the heavyweight class.

The 4-H weight class champions and reserve champions compete against each other for 4-H grand champion and 4-H reserve champion. Dibbles was selected as the 4-H grand champion and Ken was the 4-H reserve champion.

"I was very happy with how I placed," Causey said.

"There's just really stiff competition, and you never know if it's going to go your way," Causey said. "It's just an honor being 4-H reserve champion."

Causey wasn't disappointed about placing behind Morris for 4-H grand champion. "Just seeing him win is just an awesome opportunity," she said.

"(We) are so happy to be holding the two highest goat awards for 4-H," Causey said. "It was awesome."

The virtual awards ceremony took place June 25. "Even though it was virtual it was a lot of fun," Causey said.

Both of Causey's goats were pre-sold to Reflections Farm, which is in Valley Center. "I wanted them to go to a petting zoo," Causey said.

Laura Mateo purchased Ken and James on behalf of Reflections Farm. "She's bought my brother's goats in the past, so I'm very happy with them going there," Causey said.

The Don Diego Scholarship Foundation works with the San Diego County Fair but is a separate organization with 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. Most of the money for the Junior Livestock Auction Scholarship program is from livestock auction buyers who then donate their animals back to the fair for resale with those proceeds being used for scholarships while a small amount is from direct donations. The total scholarship amount varies from year to year depending on the amount of donations.

For the Junior Livestock Auction Scholarship, scholastic grades, extracurricular activities and fair activity are among the criteria. The students are ranked and a bar chart with scores, but not names, is shown to the selection committee, which uses that chart to allocate the scholarship money for each position. This year, six students received a scholarship, including Causey.

Causey was awarded $2,500, which was the third-highest amount of the six scholarships.

"Just receiving this scholarship is such a big honor, and I cannot wait to use it to pursue further education in agriculture," Causey said.

Causey will be attending Southwestern College in Chula Vista to study ornamental horticulture and obtain a certification in floral design. She was in the Fallbrook FFA floriculture program for four years besides raising animals for three years. After she obtains her associate degree, Causey would like to attend Texas A&M University and eventually teach horticulture at the college level.

"I've always, even being in 4-H and FFA at such a young age, knew I was going to apply for this scholarship," Causey said. "I pushed myself to do the best."

Causey graduated from Fallbrook High School with a 3.5 grade-point average. She was on the school's field hockey teams and she was a National Charity League member from seventh grade through 10th grade.

A Junior Livestock Auction Scholarship recipient must have shown an animal at the San Diego County Fair and the animal must have received a blue ribbon and qualified for the fair auction. That qualification can include a previous year's fair. The 2019 auction included Causey's 88-pound goat.

The Junior Livestock Auction Scholarship also requires two letters of reference. Causey's were written by Fallbrook FFA advisory Margaret Chapman and family friend Peggy Hukill.

Causey was interviewed by Zoom teleconference and in mid-June.

Normally the students who receive scholarships are honored at a gala during the San Diego County Fair. "Unfortunately, we lost the gala that they usually hold for the scholarship recipients," Causey said.

The 2020 recipients may be honored during the 2021 county fair, although a decision has not yet been made on that possibility.

"I would just like to thank every single person who has supported me throughout my 4-H career and my high school career," Causey said.