Burge takes November senior honors
The Perkins County Senior of the month honor has been awarded to Tanner Burge, son of Dan and Julie Burge.
Throughout his high school career, Burge has been involved in numerous activities including basketball, band, National Honor Society, football where he was captain his junior and senior year, FFA where he served as vice president his junior year and he also served as a class officer, holding the position of secretary his freshman year.
His participation in FFA has allowed Burge honors and awards that include Greenhand FFA Degree, Star Greenhand award, chapter FFA degree, Star Chapter award, District Champion Junior Livestock evaluation and State Champion Junior Livestock Evaluation.
Other honors and awards Burge has received include honor roll, first place NPCC inter-high welding, third place at MCC inter-high welding and the Perkins County Power lifter award.
Burge lettered in football, basketball and academics and was a finalist in the Artsonia artist of the week competition.
District football champions, basketball district champions, NSAA football playoffs, and the state basketball tournament are also accomplishments achieved by Burge.
Burge was awarded the Marjorie Jackman Outstanding Community Service award his senior year for his participation and service to his community.
Outside of school, Burge is highly involved in 4-H where he also serves as a member of the junior council. Tanner shows sheep/goat, swine and beef and has earned several top showman and grand champion titles.
He also participates in the youth group program at the Zion Lutheran Church.
Burge plans to go to college after high school to pursue animal science and livestock production before he returns to Perkins County to continue his work on the family farm raising show pigs.
“Raising show pigs is what I love to do and it is what I want to continue doing, along with farming and raising cattle,” he said.
“Our community has shaped me because people have shown me what it is like to be a good neighbor. By simply driving down main street you can see what a small-town community is all about. Many people wave and you see friendly faces. People genuinely care for one another.
“I think I have helped my community by volunteering many different ways, whether it was helping with the pool committee activities, the historical museum or 4-H activities, I have tried to volunteer as much as I could. I think this makes a huge difference in building character.
“It’s been important to me to give back to my community because this is the community I plan to return to and continue as a fourth generation ag producer,” he said.
For being selected Senior of the Month, Burge’s picture will hang in the lobby of Pinnacle Bank in Grant.
He will be eligible for a scholarship awarded at the end of the school year.
The Student of the Month and scholarship program are sponsored by Pinnacle Bank of Grant and members of the community.
Photo by Chris Loeffler