New this year to the Carbon County 4-H Livestock Sale at the Carbon County Fair was the presentation of the Floyd & Jane Smith Memorial Scholarship.

Floyd Smith and his wife, Jane, lived in Palmerton, and their passion was farming and agriculture. Floyd loved to farm and did for many years until his body would not allow him to anymore. Jane passed away in 2012 at the age of 90 and Floyd joined her in 2015 at 92.

Richard and Barbara Getz of Forest Inn Storage, longtime supporters of the 4-H Livestock Sale, were close friends to the Smiths. Knowing Floyd’s deep love for agriculture, in 2020, Richard and Barbara graciously donated all of the money that they inherited from the Smiths to the Carbon County Livestock Show and Sale Advisory Committee, and the Floyd & Jane Smith Memorial Scholarship was born.

According to Richard, Floyd always said that the best kids in terms of hard workers and well-rounded individuals were those that were involved with 4-H. Members of the Show & Sale Committee and Richard and Barbara’s granddaughter, Courtney Getz, created the scholarship application, which is open to any past or present Carbon County 4-H member between the ages of 17-20 who has/had been enrolled in 4-H for at least one full year. The scholarship focuses on the 4-H’ers future plans, their affiliation with the agricultural industry and what it has meant to them, their leadership roles in 4-H and the community, and how 4-H has influenced their future plans. A $500 scholarship is awarded to one or two recipients.

This year, Haley Fritz of Lehighton was selected as the scholarship winner. Haley is in her last year of 4-H as a member and currently serves as president in the Livestock Club. She earned the title of Grand Champion Market Swine and Reserve Champion Market Swine Fitter and Showman with her hog project. Forest Inn Storage purchased her market hog at the sale for $3,700.