The Vidalia Onion Industry Announces Kaytlyn Crapps as the Courtney Wilkes Memorial Scholarship Recipient

Courtesy of the Vidalia Onion Committee

Kaytlyn Crapps is a 2024 Honor Graduate of Appling County High School. She grew up on a farm and has been active in 4-H, FBLA, FFA, and the Student Council. Kaytlyn also held the title of Teen Miss Vidalia Onion. Kaytlyn plans to earn a degree in agriculture from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, advocate for women in agriculture, perpetuate her family’s farming legacy, and educate others on sustainable farming practices. Kaytlyn stated in her essay, “Farming is not just a profession; it’s a way of life that requires patience, hard work, and a deep connection to the land. For centuries, farmers looked to the heavens for blessings of good weather, fertile soil, and bountiful crops. In the face of unpredictable conditions and challenges, our faith in God gives us strength and hope. By honoring the land and trusting in divine guidance, we cultivate not just crops but a sense of reverence for the natural world and the cycle of life. In every seed planted and every harvest reaped, we see the hand of God at work, providing for us and sustaining our livelihoods. So let us continue to till the soil with gratitude in our hearts, knowing that our efforts are part of a greater plan orchestrated by the ultimate power.” About the Scholarship

In June 2011, Toombs County lost a wonderful child, 15-year-old Courtney Wilkes. To honor the memory of Courtney, the Vidalia Onion Farmers established the Courtney Wilkes Memorial Agriculture and Veterinary Scholarship.

Courtney was a rising junior at Toombs County High School and number one in her class academically. She was an officer of FFA, a star soccer player, and a devout Christian. She was an outdoor enthusiast, and everyone who knew her described her as infectiously cheerful and offered everyone a bright smile and silly looks. She loved animals and aspired to be a veterinarian. With her enthusiasm for life and quirky sense of humor, Courtney touched the hearts and lives of many people in the Vidalia community. To them, she will always be much more than a name attached to a scholarship check.

This scholarship is awarded to a student with characteristics and interests like Courtney Wilke’s. Courtney was known for strong morals, great sense of humor, intelligence, commitment to learning, and respect for nature and animals. Applicants must plan to earn a degree in an agricultural or veterinary field of study and attend high school within the 20-county Vidalia oniongrowing region.

Shane Curry, Executive Director of the Vidalia Onion Business Council, stated, “We’re humbled and honored to offer this scholarship once again in memory of Courtney Wilkes. I know Kaytlyn will represent Courtney’s legacy and the Vidalia Onion industry well.”

Courtney Wilkes