DIXON--Eight Solano County-based residents, including two students at the University of California, Davis, and one accepted into UC Davis, will share $13,000 in college scholarships funded by the Friends of the Dixon May Fair.

"The competition was very tough this year," said JoAn Giannoni of Dixon, chair of the scholarship committee. "The application pool was excellent." The non-profit, volunteer group annually sponsors and awards college scholarships to Solano County youth majoring in an agricultural field.

Recipients include UC Davis students Nathan Patterson of Dixon, Katrina Castaneda of Vallejo and UC Davis-headed Melissa DiFrancesco of Vacaville.

Others are Chelsea Deusenberry of Dixon; Mario "Ricky" Lanza, Fairfield; Sarah Weimer, Rio Vista; and Emily Harris and Malynda Whitworth, both of Vacaville. Giannoni said the recipients are selected on their personal, civic and academic experience, academic standing, personal commitment and goals, leadership potential, civic accomplishments, and agricultural interests. Desired but not mandatory is 4-H, FFA or Grange experience.

The organization, formed in 2000, traditionally awards a $2000 scholarship to students attending or accepted into a four-year college; and $1,000 to students attending or accepted into a two-year community college. However, in case of a tie or other factors, the amounts can differ. The group raises funds by selling beverages at the four-day fair.

The recipients and their families were honored at a ceremony at the Dixon May Fair on Tuesday, June 3 when the Friends hosted their annual appreciation dinner.

Katrina Castaneda, scheduled to receive her bachelor of science degree in animal science next year, plans to become a public health veterinarian. A 2005 graduate of St. Patrick's/St. Vincent's High School, Vallejo, she served as a 2004 California State 4-H Ambassador and a 2003 Solano County 4-H Ambassador. She is currently a surgical assistant for the Sacramento Veterinary Referral Center Surgery Department, Rancho Cordova. She has also served as a research intern for UC Davis Medical Center and UC Davis programs. Castaneda said her experiences in research challenged her to utilize her classroom knowledge and apply it to "real life situations that were literally matters of life and death."

"My passion for the veterinary medical field is deeply rooted in my love for community," she said, adding that "as a veterinarian, I want to be able to recognize the every changing needs of my community."

Nathan Patterson, majoring in landscape architecture at the University of California, Davis, is a 2004 graduate of Dixon High School. A member of the Roving Clovers 4-H Club, Dixon for 10 years, he is currently a poultry and rabbit leader for the club. Patterson also was active in the Dixon FFA. He showed poultry, rabbits, swine and sheep at the Dixon May Fair and Solano County Fair. His goal is to "work for a landscape architecture firm and focus on redesigning and invigorating inner cities while stopping sprawl into farmland and natural habitats."

Melissa DiFrancesco, a 17-year-old senior at Vacaville Christian High School, will attend UC Davis this fall, majoring in neurobiology, physiology and behavior. She plans to become an equine surgical veterinarian. "Recently I have shadowed three different equine veterinarians and enjoy learning as much as I can from them," she said. DiFrancesco joined the 4-H program at age 7. Her work with horse project leader Linda Layton, owner of Hampton Court Horses Ranch, American Canyon, cemented her desire to become a vet. She also volunteers at a feral cat clinic

Deusenberry, a 17-year-old senior at Dixon High School, will major in agricultural business this fall at California Polytechnic Institute (Cal Poly). She is the first in her family to attend college and is the first family member in recent history to be engaged in agriculture.

Mario "Ricky" Lanza, a 17-year-old senior at Rodriguez High School, Fairfield, will study agricultural engineering at Sonoma State. He plans a career in bio-resource and agricultural engineering, specifically to become a field tester, testing new farming equipment. He is a 13-year member of the Suisun Valley 4-H Club, Fairfield. Lanza said he hopes to create and help create new products to making farming "a lot easier and better. Accomplishing something like that would give me the fulfillment of helping the farm industry."

Sarah Weimer, a 19-year-old student at Solano Community College and a 2006 graduate of Rio Vista High School, plans to become a fish and game warden. She works at Sandy Beach County Park in Rio Vista, and recently trained for the Lynch Canyon Docent Training Program in Solano County.

Emily Harris, a 17-year-old senior at Vacaville High School, will attend California State University, Chico, majoring in agricultural education, ag science or animal sciences. Her ambition is to become an agriculture teacher and cattle ranch manager.

Malynda Whitworth, 21, a 2005 graduate of Dixon High School now attending Modesto Junior College, plans to attend Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo this fall, majoring in agriculture science and minoring in ag communications. As a 4-H and FFA member, she showed three different livestock species at the Dixon May Fair, Solano County Fair and Sacramento State Fair. Her awards include raising the Supreme Grand Champion Lamb and Reserve Grand Champion Lamb.

Information on the annual scholarships, due every March, is available online at www.friendsofthefair.org; by writing to the Friends of the Fair, P. O. Box 242 , Dixon, CA 95620; or by telephoning Giannoni at (707) 678-5618 or co-chair and treasurer Claudia "Tootie" Huffman of Vacaville, (707) 448-0130.

In addition to Giannoni and Tootie Huffman, the scholarship committee includes veterinarian John Howard of Vacaville; and UC Davis employees Carrie Hamel of Dixon; and Kathy Keatley Garvey of Vacaville

Kathy Keatley Garvey