More Than a Ribbon: Peshtigo National Bank Awards $13,000 to Young Livestock Exhibitors

More Than a Ribbon: Peshtigo National Bank Awards $13,000 to Young Livestock Exhibitors

PESHTIGO, WI — Long before an animal enters the show ring, young exhibitors have already put in months of early mornings, daily chores, difficult decisions and hands-on learning.

Peshtigo National Bank is recognizing that work by awarding $13,000 through its 2026 Fair Project Scholarship Program. More than 140 applications were submitted this year, the strongest response since the program began three years ago.

The scholarships support youth livestock exhibitors participating in county fairs throughout Marinette, Oconto, Brown, Portage, Marathon, Shawano and Langlade counties.

“A livestock project isn’t something a youth exhibitor works on for one week in the summer,” said Brian Rieth, Senior Vice President and Senior Ag Lending Officer at Peshtigo National Bank. “It takes consistency, patience and responsibility every day. We saw that commitment throughout this year’s applications, and it made an impression on all of us.”

The program was created to recognize the work that happens behind every completed fair project. Exhibitors are responsible for feeding, caring for and preparing their animals while also managing expenses, overcoming setbacks and balancing their projects with school, work and other commitments.

Scholarship funds can help offset costs such as feed, veterinary care, equipment, transportation and show expenses. This year’s applicants represented a wide range of livestock projects, including beef and dairy cattle, swine, sheep, goats, poultry and rabbits.

While ribbons and auction results may be the most visible part of the fair experience, Rieth said the lasting value is found in what exhibitors learn along the way.

“These young exhibitors learn how to care for something that depends on them,” he said. “They learn to manage money, solve problems and keep going when things don’t go as planned. Those lessons will stay with them wherever life takes them.”

Peshtigo National Bank awarded more than $10,000 in scholarships during each of the program’s first two years. With another $13,000 awarded in 2026, the Bank’s total investment through the program has now exceeded $33,000.

The continued growth of the Fair Project Scholarship Program reflects the strength of youth agriculture across Wisconsin and the dedication of the families, volunteers, educators and fair organizations that help make these experiences possible.

For Peshtigo National Bank, the program is also a natural extension of its generations-long connection to Wisconsin agriculture and the farm families who sustain it.

“Supporting these exhibitors is about more than helping with the cost of a project,” Rieth said. “It is about showing young exhibitors that their effort matters—and that their communities are paying attention.”