Every year as a way of encouraging continued involvement in the dairy industry, Dairy MAX, the local dairy council, provides scholarships to regional students who have dairy background, studying an agricultural-related field and have outstanding scholastic achievements, leadership abilities and community involvement. This year Dairy MAX is proud to award two $2,500 scholarships to Dianne DeVos, Plainview, Texas, and Justin Squire, Hagerman, New Mexico.

Growing up on a dairy farm, DeVos could always be found helping with the daily management of the operation. From feeding cows and driving a tractor to office work and managing records, she has always been very passionate about her family’s farm and looks forward to using the knowledge she has gained from these experiences to benefit her future.

Within the community, she serves on the Hale County State Bank Junior Board of Directors and she is also a board member of the Hale County Junior Literacy Council. DeVos’ name is well known in the dairy world as she is the daughter of John and Pauline DeVos, owners of Fox Dairy. Also, you might have heard her voice on the radio as she can often be heard across the panhandle promoting the industry as a Dairy MAX spokesperson.

Currently, DeVos is an incoming freshman at Texas Tech University. As a Red Raider, DeVos will study agribusiness while being involved in leadership organizations on campus. Post graduation, she plans to pursue a career as an agricultural lender and continue to support and promote the American dairy industry though communication endeavors.

Tying for first in his high school graduating class with his brother, Squire excelled in many clubs and sports. As the vice president of Hagerman FFA, he competed in dairy cattle judging and the parliamentary procedure leadership development event. In addition to FFA, Squire was on the state champion 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl team, a member of the basketball and cross-country teams.

Currently, Squire is a sophomore at Eastern New Mexico University (ENMU) in Portales, with a 4.0 GPA while majoring in animal science and dairy science. Outside of the classroom, he competes in shot put and discus events as a member of the ENMU Track Team.

When not in school, Justin works on the family operated Southwind Dairy and Secondwind Dairies, located in the Pecos Valley. After graduation, he plans to incorporate renewable energy sources like wind turbines, solar panels and methane digesters to efficiently power the operations of their dairy.

—From Dairy MAX press release