Scholarship Winners

🎓 Celebrating Our 2025 Scholarship Winners

We are proud to highlight three exceptional students who have been awarded this year’s Nevada County Fairgrounds Foundation Scholarships. Each recipient brings unique talents, a strong work ethic, and a deep commitment to their communities.

🌿 Lindsey Alling

Future Forester & Artist
Lindsey Alling of Nevada City is heading to Sierra College this fall and plans to transfer to College of the Redwoods in the spring, with the ultimate goal of studying Forestry and Vegetation Management at Cal Poly Humboldt. Raised around livestock and rooted in Nevada County’s agricultural traditions, Lindsey has spent the past decade actively involved in 4-H and FFA. This year marks her 9th Nevada County Fair exhibition, showing a spot pig named Buttercup. Alongside her passion for natural resource management, Lindsey has explored artistic expression through ceramics and stained glass. Her creativity and commitment to sustainability make her a rising star in the field.

🌎 Rayne Rhoades

Environmental Advocate & Ag Leader
Rayne Rhodes was awarded the Nancy Garcia Memorial Scholarship which was developed by the friends and family of Nancy Garcia who was a great supporter of the Fairgrounds. Rayne, a recent graduate of Ghidotti Early College High School, will attend Sierra College this fall to pursue a degree in Environmental Science, with plans to transfer to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Rayne began raising swine as a freshman and has since become a familiar face in the local ag scene, working with breeders and mentoring others. This summer, she joins the NJUHSD Ranch as one of its first interns—an opportunity to both teach and continue learning. Rayne is dedicated to building a more sustainable future through education and hands-on leadership.

🛠 Wyatt Thompson

Future Engineer & MIT-Bound Innovator
Wyatt Thompson, a Bear River High School graduate, is preparing for a major transition—from life on a Nevada County ranch with his five siblings to the halls of MIT. This fall, he’ll begin studying engineering at one of the world’s most prestigious universities. Known for his curiosity, hard work, and love for rural life, Wyatt is ready to take on new challenges and make the most of this exciting next chapter.

These young leaders reflect the strength, spirit, and promise of Nevada County. Congratulations to Lindsey, Rayne, and Wyatt—we can’t wait to see where your journeys take you!

Nevada County Fairgrounds Foundation Awards Scholarships

Criteria for Nevada County Fairgrounds Foundation Scholarships
(2025/2026 school year)

To be eligible for the Nevada County Fairgrounds Foundation scholarships, the applicant must meet the following criteria:

• Minimum 2.5 GPA

• Must have exhibited (an agricultural still exhibit and/or livestock) in the 2024 and/or 2025 Nevada County Fair.
• Planning to enroll in a vocational/trade school; or a two- or four-year college or university; or must be enrolled fulltime with a minimum of 12 credits within one year of your graduation from high school.

The following will be included in the District Scholarship Application for the Foundations Scholarships and are due in January:

• Indicate the major you plan to pursue and if you have been notified of acceptance, the college you plan to attend.

• What did you exhibit in the 2024 and/or the 2025 Nevada County Fair?

• Personal Statement Essay:

Nevada County Fair – describe how your participation as an exhibitor at the Fair has influenced your life and how it will be beneficial to you in the future. (maximum 500 words)

Details:

• Three scholarships ($3,000, $1,500) and the Nancy Garcia Memorial ($2,500) will be awarded.
• Scholarships will be judged by the Foundation Scholarship Committee.
• An interview by the scholarship committee of the final candidates will be required.
• Scholarship check will be issued at the time that college, vocational/trade school enrollment paperwork is submitted by the scholarship winner to the Fairgrounds Foundation.
• Winners have one year after graduation to submit the paperwork.
• Winners will be asked to submit a photo and short bio to the Fairgrounds to be posted to the Foundation’s website and other media platforms.

Interviews:

We will interview 3 to 6 applicants each year, working with the application scores to determine who will be interviewed.

3 (three) interviewers: Not too many people which keeps us on point and an odd number for the final vote.

Scheduling 20 minutes per student allows us some time to discuss the interview and get ready for the next interview.

Evaluate each on their involvement with the Fairgrounds; what inspired them to pursue a higher education, specifically their field of study and their financial need will be used to help determine the final decision.

1. What is your involvement with the Fairgrounds?

2. Will you be showing at this year’s Fair? If so, what?

3. What has inspired you to pursue higher education, specifically your field

of study?

4. What will a scholarship mean to you in your pursuit of a higher

education?

5. What are your other interests?

6. What would you like to ask us?

Bumps/Add-Ons

A bump/add-on will be provided to an interview applicant’s current year Junior Livestock Auction Animal or Ag Mechanics Auction item if they do not have an auction animal.

Yearly budget up to $3000 that is flexible for the Committee to decide the amount per recipient after the interviews.