Last year, the Navidad Valley CattleWomen named their collegiate scholarship in honor of long time member, Elsie Farek. Elsie was one of the original members of the Navidad Valley local, which was founded in 2004 and is an affiliate of Texas CattleWomen. She was the chaplain for 20 years and a consummate CattleWoman. Elsie is proud to be a first generation college graduate. Her family raised Santa Gertrudis cattle, and she still lives on the family ranch.
Navidad Valley CattleWomen have awarded over $200,000 in scholarships since they were founded. Most of these have been for high school graduates, but in 2023, CattleWomen added collegiate scholarships to assist local youth who are studying agriculture and are juniors, seniors, or graduate students in a Texas college or university. Applicants must be graduates of a high school in Lavaca, Fayette, or Colorado County or equivalent thereof. Additionally, they must have a 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale. The NVCW Collegiate Scholarship application may be found on the Navidad Valley CattleWomen website www.nvcw.org. This application must be completed and submitted with a resume and an essay about her/himself and demonstrating their willingness to support the production and consumption of beef through their career choice and life goals. They should also submit a copy of his/her college transcript through the completion of the most recent semester of coursework. Finally, the applicants must submit one letter of recommendation from a faculty member at the college/university. The Navidad Valley Collegiate Scholarship applications are due December 31, 2026. The winner will receive a one-time award of $1,500 to be used toward tuition or other education-related expenses. Applications should be mailed to Navidad Valley CattleWomen, Attention: Collegiate Scholarship, P.O. Box 221, Schulenburg, TX 78956. Questions may be referred to Susie Shank at (979)820-8964 or weshank6@gmail.com.
The Navidad Valley CattleWomen is a non-profit organization that supports and promotes the beef industry. The Navidad Valley local works to support local youth with scholarships and provide quality information on the industry and how to incorporate beef into a healthy diet. Additionally, they work to support the community with targeted outreach projects that include a beefy twist. Funds raised for scholarships such as these and those awarded to graduating high school students are possible only due to the generous support of private donors, corporate sponsors, and events such as the NVCW Ranch Run that occurs every summer in conjunction with the Schulenburg Festival. The next meeting of Navidad Valley CattleWomen will be October 28, 2026 at Los Cabos Restaurant in Hallettsville. Lunch will be Dutch treat beginning at 11:30 AM. Prospective members are always welcome.
