The North Florida Fair Association Board of Directors established the Lloyd Rhoden Agricultural Scholarship in 1985 in honor of Mr. Lloyd Rhoden, former North Florida Fair Manager and Leon County Extension Director. A $1,000 scholarship is presented annually to two (2) students majoring in agriculture at a Florida institution of higher learning and can be continued up to 4 years for each high school senior receiving the initial award.

This year two (2) Lloyd Rhoden Agricultural Scholarship were awarded.

This year’s recipients are: Ms. McKenzie Locke and Ms. Carolina Harrell.

Ms. McKenzie Locke of Washington County, is the daughter of Jeff and Sule Locke.  An A honor student, McKenzie is in her last year at Chipley High School and is a dual enrolled student at Chipola College.  Her accomplishments include completing four agriculture industry certificates, two ServSafe Certificates, being an active member of the Chipley High School BETA club, the Chipola College Student Scientist Association, Chipola College Pre-Med Society and a member of Chipola College Phi Theta Kappa Nu Chi Chapter.  After high school, McKenzie plans to attend the University of Florida to work toward her degree in Animal Science and pre-veterinarian Medicine.

To use McKenzie’s words “Being involved in FFA and 4-H has allowed me to explore, experience, gain knowledge and appreciation, and form a passion for the agriculture industry.  McKenzie has been involved with FFA as Secretary, President and Co-Chair and 4-H Livestock Club as Parliamentarian and Vice-President.  She has raised and shown beef cattle and poultry for many years competing in Livestock and Horticulture contests at the North Florida Fair.  McKenzie has been volunteering/shadowing at the Marianna Animal Hospital to gain knowledge and experiences, learning valuable skills to take with her to college. During her time at Marianna Animal Hospital, she immediately fell in love with working with the animals and knew that this was the career path for her.

Ms. Carolina Harrell from Gadsden County, is the daughter of Bamala Harrell.  Carolina grew up on a rural farm with her family.  She is in her final year at Liberty County High School and plans to attend Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in the fall. Carolina will work toward receiving a bachelor’s degree in animal science and then has plans to transfer to the University of Florida for her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.  Among her many accomplishments, Carolina has completed agriculture industry certificates, a ServSafe Certificate, is an active member of BETA club, went to State with FFA for vegetable, poultry and livestock evaluation and to National with FFA for poultry evaluation.

Carolina has been involved with FFA as Secretary, Reporter and President and 4-H Livestock Club as Treasurer, Secretary, Vice President and President.  Carolina has participated in the Junior Beef Show since she was 9 years old and has competed in Livestock judging contests.  She has served on the North Florida Fair Youth Advisory committee from 2022-2023.

Carolina has written “I have been around animals for most of my life.  My love for animals has grown more and more over the years.  When I was little, I told my parents that I wanted to become a veterinarian.”  Carolina is moving forward to make that young dream come true.

To be eligible for the scholarship:

A nominee must be a graduated high school senior from a county that annually places a county agricultural exhibit in the North Florida Fair.
A nominee must have indicated through 4-H, FFA, or related activities a sincere interest and potential ability in the field of agriculture.
A nominee must have achieved an acceptable senior placement test score and acceptable grade point average in high school and must maintain acceptable academic standing to continue receiving the stipend. The recipient must also maintain continuous enrollment in an institution of higher learning in the state of  FLORIDA with not more than one semester or summer off between two consecutive terms.

Nominations for the scholarship must be made by a County Extension faculty member or a Vocational Agriculture instructor submitted to the selection committee. Applications are due by May 4th, and recipients are selected by July 1st of each year.