Iowa Corn Announces Future of Agriculture Scholarship Recipients

Iowa Corn announced the 16 student recipients of the Iowa Corn Future of Agriculture Scholarship program for the 2019-2020 school year. Iowa Corn awarded the sixteen (16) $1,000 one-year scholarships to deserving, qualified students enrolled at an accredited U.S. 2-year or 4-year junior college, college or university, or graduate school, in a program of study to equip them to contribute to Iowa’s agriculture industry. The program is sponsored by the Iowa Corn Growers Association® (ICGA) and the Iowa Corn Promotion Board® (ICPB).

“Iowa Corn is committed to developing future leaders in the agriculture industry,” said Larry Buss, a farmer from Logan and Iowa Corn Grassroots Network, Membership & Checkoff (GNMC) Committee Chair. “Our industry’s success depends on our ability to offer relevant programming, advocacy, and services to those new leaders entering Iowa’s agricultural sector. We are excited for the future of agriculture in Iowa with this group of recipients leading the way.”

Selection committees evaluated applications by their essays, applications, reference letters, current grades, and activities. They also must be Iowa Corn Growers Association members or be a dependent of a member. Iowa Corn will recognize these scholarship recipients at the Grassroots Summit in August.

High school scholarship winners include:

• Nathan Behrends, of Atlantic High School, will attend Iowa State University. Nathan wrote in his essay, “Through my education, I will learn safe, new practices and technology that will help me be able to create safe foods that preserve Iowa’s land and natural resources. Then I will educate consumers about safe practices and how much of a positive impact agriculture has on them.”
• Calvin Carlson, of Humboldt High School, will attend Iowa State University majoring in Agricultural Business. Calvin said in his essay, “In my major, I will learn about different farming techniques that will help continue to make our family’s farming operation successful. I look forward to learning about marketing and crop production that will help the operation grow.”
• Alli Harms, of Okoboji High School, will attend Iowa State University majoring in Agronomy. Alli stated in her essay, “As an agronomist, I will use practices to help farming grow for future generations and not compromise what we have now. I could see myself working in a lab, getting up close with the science part and developing seeds that could benefit farmers.”
• Lydia Martins, of Wapsie Valley High School, will attend Iowa State University majoring in Agriculture and Society. Lydia stated in her essay, “With my program of study giving me training on economics and policy, I will contribute to the agriculture industry in Iowa by supporting local farmers in producing their food and livestock to be marketed to all consumers.”
• Kyle Poen, of South Central Calhoun High School, will attend Iowa State University majoring in Ag Business and Ag Systems Technology. He wrote in his essay, “Whether it is working for a local business or improving legislation for our state’s producers, I will use my education to the best of my ability for our agricultural industries.”
• Gabe Shultz, of Scotland County High School, will attend Iowa State University studying Agricultural Engineering. He stated in his essay, “When I graduate from Iowa State University, I look forward to helping those involved in agriculture through the innovation of new machinery and reinventing current farm equipment to work more efficiently and effectively.”
• Hannah Spies, of Muscatine High School, will attend Iowa State University studying Agriculture Business. Hannah said in her essay, “I discovered seed and crop sales and decided I wanted to come back to my hometown area after college where I will manage my own operation of crops and cattle along with a seed dealership.”
• Ben Vos, of Pella Christian High School, will attend Dordt College studying Agribusiness. Ben stated in his essay, “It is true that agriculture is bound to change in the future, but this is not something to fear or avoid. I plan to use the skills I learn at college to help me adapt to whatever situation I’m in and prepare for those yet to come.”

College scholarship winners include:

• Megan Behrends, an Iowa State University sophomore in Agriculture and Life Science Education from Wiota, said in her essay, “Farmers only make up a small percentage of our populations as a whole, but have a much greater impact. Since they are a minority, I want to be a voice for them so their messages gets heard and people realized the way agriculture is done.”
• Brooke Beinhart, an Iowa State University freshman in Agricultural Business and Agronomy from Keota wrote in her essay, “It is important to prepare our future agriculturists. I can do this my working with the youth of Iowa because in thirty years they will be the ones in my position wanting to make a difference.”
• Kelsi Carlson, an Iowa State University junior in Agricultural Communications from Lake City, said in her essay, “When people go to the grocery store, farmers get questioned for doing what they do. I want to help be that mediator so when consumers eat, they aren’t scared that what they are putting into their bodies is harmful to them.”
• Colby Lafrenz, an Iowa State University junior studying Agricultural Engineering from Maysville. He said in his essay, “Through the mix of my electives, extra classes and agricultural engineering courses with an emphasis on power and machinery, I will have both the ‘how’ and ‘why’ to be able to provide solutions for Iowa and the rest of the world through technology.”
• Kaleb Miller, an Iowa State University sophomore in studying Agriculture Studies and Agronomy from Lacona, wrote in his essay, “I have implemented test on our own farm and by keeping records I have found different management methods, chemicals and treatments that can noticeably improve producer’s yields that minimize cost but increase their return.”
• Katelin Pagel, an Iowa State University junior studying Agriculture and Life Sciences Education from Sumner, stated in her essay, “My first study abroad experience ignited my desire for international agriculture education and broadened my perspective of how agriculture is viewed in different regions of the world.”
• Lauren Schwarck, a Purdue University graduate student pursuing a Master of Science in Agronomy from Spencer, wrote in her essay, “I want to contribute to the agriculture industry in Iowa by researching problems that farmers are experiencing in the field and communicating my findings in an easy to understand format.”
• Lillian Swanson, an Iowa State University sophomore majoring in Agricultural Business and International Agriculture from Galt, wrote in her essay, “I would love to continue the legacy of the operation my family has already started, while producing products that will benefit a growing population. I hope I can bring new skills and ideas to our operation that will help sustain the farm for another generation.”