For the fourth consecutive year, BGSF has sponsored the State Fair of Texas Youth Agricultural Job Interview Contest as part of our commitment to workforce development and giving back to the communities we serve. This year’s event took place on Monday, October 14th at the Brisco Livestock Center, with thirty students competing for the Grand Champion title.
About the Contest
High school student members of the Texas FFA Organization, FCCLA, and 4-H, traveled across the state to compete for the $2,500 scholarship grand prize to the higher education institution of their choice, along with a Gist Silversmiths champion trophy buckle and banner. Forty-seven (47) students submitted their cover letter, resume, and job description reflecting their current skills and abilities. A group of (12) BGSF team members volunteered to review, score, and provide feedback on the contestants’ entries, using their talents to empower the future workforce. Of this initial group, thirty students advanced to the semi-finals to compete in the contest!
The day began with students completing a job application, a 10-minute preliminary interview, and then writing follow-up correspondence. The six top-scoring contestants moved to the final round to compete for the Grand Champion title.
Our Commitment to Workforce Development
BGSF had thirty volunteers representing each of our divisions at this event, serving as mock interviewers, room monitors, application and correspondence judges, registrars, and encouragers. While our roles were to mentor and provide helpful career advice, we also learned from the students as they shared their personal experiences and future career aspirations. These students’ professionalism, dedication to their work, commitment to voluntarism, and passion for the agricultural industry were inspiring!
Service: One of our Values
BGSF added SERVICE as one of our core values in January 2024. We are committed to making a positive impact by actively engaging and contributing to the communities we serve. In doing so, we offer volunteer opportunities annually and (16) hours of paid Volunteer Time Off (VTO) annually.
Grand Champion Scholarship Winner
This year’s Grand Champion was Lyliana Quintanilla from Pflugerville, TX, a high school senior and Hendrickson High School FFA member. . The other finalists were Riley Dodge, Tatum Braden (also a finalist in 2023!), Riley Rivers, Keeli Clark, and Jaclynn Danworth.
We are so incredibly proud of Lyliana and each of the young scholars we met today. We know they have bright futures ahead, and we are grateful to play a small role in helping empower them in their journey.
Volunteer Experiences
Our people are the heart of our organization, and we thought we'd share some of their favorite moments during this experience.
It’s truly inspiring to witness the passion of our BGSF team as they engage with and mentor the next generation. Huge thanks to everyone who helped make this year’s contest a success—especially when we brought the winner to tears of joy!
Emily Burroughs, VP of Communications & Culture
I enjoyed meeting the contestants and meeting other members of BGSF that I hadn't interacted with before.
Tara Hughes, Recruiter – Executive Search
Talking with the students and their parents was my favorite part of the day. We were interested in them, but they were also interested in us and had such amazing things to say about BGSF and our participation.
Halene Black, Marketing Specialist
We had great teamwork moments throughout the day! Although my team did not directly interact with the contestants, we were rooting for all of them!
Chanel Noisette, Client Services Representative
I spoke with a parent whose oldest child competed at this event a couple of years ago. They were so impressed that they made sure their next child got involved. Hearing how much they thought the process was helpful in all aspects of their life, showed me that we are making an IMPACT!
Kim Coleman, Director of Payroll & Billing Services
During an interview, I asked one student what he would do with this scholarship if he won. He said he would use it toward a 15-month welding apprenticeship. I didn’t think about vocational schools, which are also a fantastic way to further your education. I wish my senior could have been there; she would have been impressed too!
Charlotte Kozlowski, Business Development Manager
I spoke with the winner for a minute and loved how excited she was! She told me how much she practiced and how hard she worked!
Cecilia Servin, Portfolio Sales Director
I took a volunteer role to utilize skills I don’t use in my role at BGSF. Stepping outside of my comfort zone ended up being so rewarding!
Kelsey Merritt, Delivery Specialist
Speaking to the room for the contestant elevator speeches pushed me out of my comfort zone, as public speaking isn’t my strength. However, I did receive some great feedback from my peers.
Angela Gonzales, Operational Support – Strategic F&A
Making a positive impact in the communities we serve is one way we show how your future is our purpose. Thank you to the State Fair of Texas for providing this opportunity for our team members to build stronger connections and engage with these inspiring future leaders! Connect with us and learn more at BGSF.com.
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