Illinois Agri-Women announces 2020 scholarship winners
Skye Kretzinger among recipients

 

[July 01, 2020]    Kylie Michelle Miller of Cropsy is the winner of the 2020 Illinois Agri-Women Helen Henert Agricultural Education Scholarship. This $1,500 scholarship is awarded annually to an agriculture education major finishing her degree in the upcoming year. Miller will be a senior in Agricultural Education this fall at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She attended Prairie Central High School.

The Women Changing the Face of Agriculture (WCFA) conference, a project of the Illinois Agri-Women, takes place each spring to encourage young women to interact with women in agriculture, learn more about careers in the industry, and network with agricultural leaders from across the country. This year, three WCFA Agent of Change $1,000 scholarships are awarded to college students who aspire to make a difference through their careers in the agricultural industry. The 2020 recipients are as follows:

Ashley Renee Althaus, daughter of Steve and Deb Althaus of Sublette, will receive a $1,000 scholarship. Althaus attended Amboy High School and plans to study Agriculture at Iowa State University.

Kelli M. Black of Herrick will also receive a $1,000 scholarship. She is a daughter of Ed and Becki Thompson. She attended Southern Illinois University in Ag Education and will study Ag Business at Murray State University.

Callie Jean Wildman of Clinton will receive a $1,000 scholarship. Her parents are Rodney and Stacey Wildman. Wildman is a graduate of Cerro Gordo High School and plans to study Agri-Business. Her college career began at Parkland College, followed by Murray State University.

Twenty additional $1000 Women Changing the Face of Agriculture (WCFA) Agent of Change Scholarships have been awarded to current Illinois college students who participated and assisted with the 2020 WCFA Career Development Event. Twenty companies/organizations responded to an initiative that began with a pledge from an anonymous foundation to match donations made by companies supporting Women Changing the Face of Agriculture, a project of Illinois Agri-Women.

The Illinois Agri-Women understand the impact of their efforts to reward students based on responses such as Abigayle Endress shared: "I appreciate all that you do for the young women who are interested in agriculture throughout the state. Women Changing the Face of Agriculture is a great resource for young women both sure and unsure of the career path they wish to pursue as well as a wonderful opportunity to network and build relationships with industry leaders, collegiate recruiters, and other young women. I sincerely hope that my course schedule will allow me to attend and volunteer at the Women Changing the Face of Agriculture event next year. Again, thank you!"

The 20 matching scholarships are designed to connect the recipients with the donors to strengthen the network of professional women across the State of Illinois. The recipients and their sponsoring company/organization follow:

Taylar Nicole Beal - Mauer-Stutz. Daughter of Keith and Denise Beal of Forrest, Beal attends Joliet Junior College studying animal science.

Jessica Bowgren - Nutrien. Bowgren, from Maple Park, is a daughter of Steve and Gaye Bowgren. She is studying agronomy and ag business at Illinois State University.

Madison R. Brown – McDonald’s/ Henkel. Daughter of Paige and Tom Brown of Waterloo, Brown studies animal science/pre-vet at Illinois State University.

Alexis Claire Carroll – CGB Diversified Services. Carroll is a daughter of Andy & Brenda Carroll of Carrollton, studying ag education at Lincoln Land Community College.

Karah Francis Colebank – Kubota. Studying ag education and communications at Illinois State University after attending Joliet Junior College, Colebank is a daughter of Ron & Sheri Colebank of Dwight. 

Riley Christine Donelson – Leido, Inc./Ameren Illinois. Daughter of Phil and Tanya Donelson of Quincy, Donelson studied at Illinois Central College, transferring to Illinois State University in ag communications.

Abigail Leigh Eckman – Bayer. Eckman, from Leland is a daughter of Taunya and Chad Eckman. She is studying ag business at Joliet Junior College.

Abigayle June Endress – John Deere. Daughter of Brad & Shauna Endress of Pearl City, Endress is interested in ag education and ag public policy & law. She studied at Highland Community College, transferring to Drake Law School.

Piaget Renelle Felix – Bunge. Daughter of Wakeelah Caldwell of Manteno, Felix attended Kankakee Community College, transferring to Illinois State University to study ag education.

Megan Elizabeth Finfrock - IL Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ISPFMRA). Finfrock, from Clinton is a daughter of Marvin and Shelley Finfrock, pursuing her interest in ag economics, ag business, and agronomy at University of Illinois.

Makenna Jaelynne Green – ADM. Daughter of Justin and Monica Green or Arthur, Green is pursuing crop science and agronomy at Lake Land College.

Gwen Dalin Heimerdinger – Macon County Farm Bureau. After beginning college at Highland Community College, Heimerdinger is studying ag education at University of Illinois. Her parents are James and Leann Heimerdinger of Pearl City.

Aidann Nicole Kinsella – Clarkson Grain. Daughter of Doug & April Kinsella of Yorkville, Kinsella is pursuing ag business and livestock studies beginning at Joliet Junior College and continuing at Iowa State University.

Skye Lynn Kretzinger – Tate & Lyle. Kretzinger is a daughter of Tiffany & Joseph Kretzinger of Mount Pulaski. Her interest in ag law and agriculture in society has been studied at Lincoln Land Community College and will be continued at Iowa State University.

Ava Elizabeth Marshall – Illinois Farm Bureau. Daughter of Alex & Annette Marshall of Leland, Marshall is studying ag communications at Joliet Junior College.

Callie Elizabeth McClay – Cargill. McClay, from Nashville, is a daughter of Steve and Denise McClay, pursuing her interest in ag communications, public relations, and marketing at University of Illinois.

Hunter Brianne McDermith – Busey. Daughter of Melissa McDermith and Brian McDermith from Moweaqua, McDermith is studying animal science and veterinary science at the University of Illinois.

Sydney Ann Poyner – BASF. Poyner is a daughter of Jen and Chris Poyner of Seneca, who is studying at University of Illinois after transferring from Joliet Junior College. She is pursuing her interest in ag education and communications.

Sophia Ailene Reavley – Corteva. Daughter of Harold and Catharine Reavley of Havana, Reavley’s interest at Illinois State University is in crop and soil science, research, and conservation.

Madison Wilson – Farm Credit Illinois. Studying ag communications at University of Illinois, Wilson is a daughter of Scott and Stacey Wilson of Philo.

For more information about Illinois Agri-Women scholarships and opportunities, visit illinoisagriwomen.org. To learn more about the 2020 Women Changing the Face of Agriculture conference, visit womenchangingthefaceofagriculture.com.

[Lynn Curry, Scholarship Chair
Illinois Agri-Women]