PBS Scholarship Raffle Winner

Sarah Michaels

Pacific Building Systems proudly announces the winner of its $500 scholarship raffle, which was drawn on March 24 in celebration of National Ag Day: Sarah Michaels, a member of the Douglas County Farm Bureau.

PBS believes that motivated individuals should have the opportunity to further their education.

PBS offers a Referral Award Program in the sum of $250 towards the OFB Foundation for Education when an OFB member is referred to purchase a new building.

If you are an Oregon Farm Bureau member please let us know when you call to purchase a building, so we continue contributing to the OFB Foundation for Education.

Michaels’ thank you letter:

Dear Pacific Building Systems and Oregon Farm Bureau,

I would like to express my gratitude for receiving a scholarship as generous as this one. By receiving this scholarship, I will be better able to focus on my education and reach my goal of becoming a Registered Dietitian. I am about to finish my third year at the University of Idaho, and I have been loving every minute of it. While at college, I have had the opportunity to become involved in multiple organizations and hold leadership positions. Through these experiences, I have been able to meet numerous amazing individuals and gain valuable skills that I will use throughout the rest of my life. I have always held agriculture near to my heart, and it means a lot to me to receive a scholarship from an organization that supports the agriculture industry. Thank you again for your support of me and my college endeavors.

Sincerely,

Sarah Michael

 Biography by Sarah Michaels

I have been very involved with my family’s Century Ranch in Days Creek, Oregon. This Ranch has been passed down on my father’s side from his great-grandfather. My two sisters and I are the 5^th generations to live and work on this Ranch. We currently own 1250 acres and lease an additional 1250 acres. My family focuses on raising natural, grass-fed beef and lamb with no hormones or antibiotics, and then marketing them under a grass-fed label. With my background in producing natural and wholesome food for consumers, it has inspired me to become a Registered Dietitian. I have chosen to attend the University of Idaho and pursue a degree in Nutrition with an emphasis on Dietetics. Last spring, I was accepted into the Coordinated Program in Dietetics. The Dietetics program is a two-year program that involves one year on the Moscow campus taking classes and the second year I will be placed in Spokane, Washington in a professional phase as an intern for a local Hospital, University of Idaho Extension, and in Foodservice Management for a local school district. Through these placements, I will be able to gain hands-on experience which will better prepare me to start my career.

I have been able to not only participate in multiple clubs and organizations, such as the Delta Zeta Sorority, the Food and Nutrition Club, and Phi Upsilon Omicron National Honor Society but also be able to hold leadership positions within those organizations. One of my most recent endeavors is the Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Scholar Program. In this program, I am able to discuss and collaborate with different health professions about factors that may affect the quality and accessibility of healthcare in rural and underserved communities. This interdisciplinary work is extremely beneficial in understanding and using each individual’s strengths in order to provide the best care possible. This experience has really opened my eyes to the endless opportunities for collaboration so that as a healthcare team we are able to get to the root cause of a medical problem. Through this involvement, I have been able to realize my true passions and really discover what it is that I want to spend the rest of my life pursuing.