The Saint Jo Riding Club is pleased to announce the winners of the 2023 Saint Jo Riding Club Agricultural Scholarships.

• Saint Jo ISD Graduating Senior: $750

o   Kathryn Sherwin

Kathryn Sherwin is a 2023 graduate of Saint Jo High School. She lives on a small farm in Montague and currently owns four Angus cows.  In the future, she hopes to grow a small herd of both breeding cows and bulls.

This fall, she will be attending Texas Tech University majoring in Animal Science and minoring in Ag

Business. After earning her Bachelor’s of Science, vet school is her next goal. While in college, she plans to

continue creating western art as a small business.  She also looks forward to participating in many internships and any other opportunities Lubbock has to offer.

•  Saint Jo ISD Graduating Senior: $750

o   Jerod “Kile” Thurman

Kile Thurman is the son of Clint and Denise Thurman of Saint Jo, and he is the grandson of longtime Riding Club members Ancil & Elsie Thurman.  Kile has attended school in Saint Jo ISD since he started in Pre-K. He has been active in FFA, football, basketball, cross country, baseball, golf, track and One Act Play. Kile has served as the President of his class every year since 7th grade. He has been on the SJHS Student Leadership Team each year and is also a member of the National Honor Society.  Kile has served as the Saint Jo FFA Chapter Treasurer for 2 years. He was a State Qualifier in CDE Cotton Judging. He has been a part of the award winning FFA Chapter Conducting team for 3 years. Kile enjoys playing sports and spending time with his family. He looks forward to attending Texas Tech University in the Fall to study Kinesiology.

• Area Graduate beyond Saint Jo:  $500

o   Casen Lynn Harris of Nocona ISD

Casen Harris is a 2023 graduate of Nocona High School.  He has lived in Montague County all of his life.  His parents are Andrea Nobile and Rusty Harris.  He has 3 brothers, Cooper, 21, Kale and Kline, both 16.  He attends Montague County Cowboy Church.  He has been active in FAA raising pigs and sheep and participating in Livestock Judging competitions.  He plans to pursue a career in GIS (Geographical Information Systems) and Land Surveying.  He will be attending North Central Texas College and then moving on to Tarleton State University.

• Area Graduate beyond Saint Jo:  $500

o   Anna Marie Becker of Sacred Heart in Muenster

Anna Marie Becker is one of five children in the Michael & Billie Becker family.  She lives between Myra and Era on a small farm where her family raises cattle, chickens and ducks.  She loves being outside and working with the farm animals, especially the ducks and cattle.  She has been very active in 4-H for many years where she has shown dairy heifers.  At Sacred Heart Catholic School she has participated in volleyball, basketball, track and cheer as well as being part of student council and the National Honor Society.  She plans to attend the University of Alabama where she will study Kinesiology and Sports Broadcasting with a minor in Spanish.  She would like to return to Muenster after college to run a Brahman farm and raise ducks.

• Saint Jo Riding Club Member / Legacy:  $500

o   Karagan Ritchie of Prairie Valley ISD

Karagan Lynn Ritchie of Nocona is the daughter of Randal and Laurie Ritchie. She is a graduate of Prairie Valley High School where she was active in FFA, FCCLA, 4-H, Texas High School Bass Fishing Association, Girl Scouts, and all available sports her school had to offer. She was a member of the National Honor Society, and recently accepted her FFA Lone Star Degree. She has had many achievements and honors in sports, Girl Scouts, and agriculture events. She loves showing her heifer in Texas major shows, and competing in High School Home Economics where she has won the Senior Sweepstakes in Montague County for four years. Karagan loves riding and competing with her horses Snicker and Twinkie, and she is wrapping up her two-year reign as Saint Jo Rodeo Queen.  She plans to go to Midwestern State University to become a radiologist.

The Saint Jo Riding Club Agricultural Scholarship Program exists to provide scholarships to a high school graduating seniors interested in or intending to pursue a course of study in a college or university related to agriculture.