Presented by Friends of the California State Fair
The Friends of the California State Fair Scholarship Program is a collaborative effort between the Friends of the California State Fair and the California Agricultural Advisory Council.
For nearly 28 years, Rex Hime has been a powerful voice on the Cal Expo Board of Directors. He was continuously re-appointed by Governors on both sides of the aisle and was our longest serving board member. While most people love the State Fair, Rex had a special affinity for the yearly event. We will miss his infectious smile, his staple Hawaiian shirts, and the hours he would spend greeting patrons and partners throughout the fairgrounds. On behalf of everyone at Cal Expo and the State Fair, we send our deepest condolences to Rex’s family and many friends.
His family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Friends of the California State Fair Scholarship Program.
Friends of the California State Fair
P.O. Box 15649
Sacramento, CA 95852
Tax ID #94-2722656
2023 Scholarship Overall Winner
In 2023, twenty students were awarded $41,500 for scholarships for the 2023-24 academic year. These students represent fifteen California counties.
The Ironstone Concours Foundation/ Friends of the California State Fair provides $5,000 to be awarded to one outstanding candidate. In 2023, we recognized the recipient of the Ironstone Concours Foundation/ Friends of the California State Fair Scholarship Molly Terpstra.
In Fall 2023, Molly started her freshman year of college at Modesto Junior College as an Agricultural Business and Management major. Molly’s passion for agricultural has been a long journey, stemming from her childhood when she began growing and selling produce at the Riverbank and Oakdale farmer’s markets, as well as breeding, selling, and showing her own sheep and cattle projects. Molly has progressed to selling her own calves, and this past year, sold a registered Angus bull to a local rancher as his new herd sire.
Community service projects are also an important focus of Molly’s time. Some of which have included working with her floral class to make breast cancer awareness bows for the entire student body and teachers, Valentines for the Escalon Care Center, Escalon High Graduation corsages, and coordinating Thanksgiving meals for those in need.
Molly’s long-term goals include transferring to Purdue University to obtain a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Agriculture Business, with an emphasis in International Agriculture Marketing. Additionally, Molly plans to obtain her PhD at Cornell University in Agriculture Economics and pursue a career as an agriculture commodities broker in international commodities trade.
History of the Gala and Scholarship Program
The Friends of the California State Fair Scholarship Program was initiated in 1993 as a collaborative effort of the Friends of the California State Fair, the California Exposition & State Fair and the California State Fair Agricultural Advisory Council.
The Gala dinner sponsors, ticket buyers, and our live and silent auction sponsors provide a majority of the funding for the scholarships.
2019 Scholarship Winner Katherine Brafford
2019 Scholarship Winners
Each year, the Friends of the California State Fair Student Scholarships help our state’s most promising students achieve their goals and realize their dreams by granting scholarships to a broad range of academic studies.
They are presented to college students and graduating high school seniors who exhibit academic excellence, leadership potential, civic accomplishments, and a strong sense of personal commitment to continuing their education.
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