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 A
total of $75,000 of scholarships were awarded to 30 high school
seniors. Each scholar receives $2,500 from FCI to pursue a degree
within the field of agriculture. Twenty-six of the students attended
the recognition program.
This marks the twentieth year of the Farm Credit agriculture
scholarship program, which has awarded nearly $800,000 to 506
students in central and southern Illinois since 2004. Scholarship
selections are based on participation and leadership contributions
within school and community organizations, a genuine passion for
farming and/or agriculture, and a commitment to pursuing an
agriculture-related career.
“Farm Credit Illinois is proud to invest in tomorrow’s agricultural
leaders,” says Rod Stoll, vice president of marketplace engagement
for FCI. “These scholars will support our mission of Helping Farm
Families Succeed by applying their passion for agriculture in
careers that shape the future of the industry and Rural America.”
2024 FCI Agriculture Scholars are:
• Megan Baker of Trilla (Cumberland County) graduated from Neoga
High School and will attend Southern Illinois University Carbondale
to study Forest Hydrology. Megan’s parents are Andy and Christine
Baker.
• Jude Beers of Thompsonville (Williamson County) graduated from
Johnston City High School and will attend Northeast Oklahoma A&M
College to study Mechanical Engineering. Jude’s parents are Jerry
and Kristy Beers.
• Taylor Beisiegel of Belleville (St. Clair County)
graduated from Freeburg Community High School and will attend the
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to study Agronomy & Plant
Biotechnology. Taylor’s parents are Kent and Tonya Beisiegel.
• Maggie Bland of Eldred (Greene County) graduated from Carrollton
High School and will attend Lincoln Land Community College to study
Agricultural Communications. Maggie’s parents are Steve and Julie
Bland.
• Jay Bliler of Taylorville (Christian County) graduated from
Taylorville High School and will attend Lake Land College to study
Agriculture. Jay’s parents are Nate and Elizabeth Bliler.
• Joseph Dahmm of Beason (Logan County)
graduated from Lincoln Community High School and will attend Lincoln
Land Community College to study Agriculture. Joseph’s parents are
Andrew and Joan Dahmm.
• Courtney Davison of Carlyle (Clinton County) graduated from
Carlyle High School and will attend Southeast Missouri State
University to study Pre-veterinary Medicine. Courtney’s parents are
Jason and Alison Davison.
• Kaylee Gerlach of Waggoner (Montgomery County) graduated from
Lincolnwood Jr./Sr. High School and will attend the University of
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to study Agricultural Communications.
Kaylee’s parents are Eric and Angie Gerlach.
• Raul Guerra of Arcola (Douglas County) graduated from Arcola High
School and will attend Parkland College to study Construction
Management. Raul’s parents are Raul and Nora Guerra.
• Khloee Hall of Kane (Greene County) graduated from
Jersey Community High School and will attend Lincoln Land College to
study Agriculture. Khloee is the daughter of Kerry Hall.
• Erica Kujawa of Ashley (Jefferson County) graduated from Nashville
Community High School and will attend Murray State University to
study Agribusiness and Management. Erica’s parents are David and
Brenda Kujawa.
• Dale Magelitz of Virden (Macoupin County) graduated from North Mac
High School and will attend WyoTech to study Diesel Technology.
Dale’s parents are JoAnna and Larry Magelitz.
• Michael Matesa of Staunton (Madison County)
graduated from Staunton High School and will attend Southern
Illinois University Carbondale to study Agribusiness Economics.
Michael’s parents are Chad and Julie Matesa.
• Will Moody of Paris (Edgar County) graduated from Paris High
School and will attend the University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign to study Ag Business. Will’s parents are Mr. and
Mrs. Jeff Moody.
• Hunter Mowrey of Milford (Iroquois County) graduated from Milford
High School and will attend Lincoln Land Community College to study
Ag Business and Marketing. Hunter’s parents are Jon and Tracy Mowrey.
• Trenton Payne of Olney (Richland County) graduated from Richland
County High School and will attend Olney Central College to study
Agricultural Engineering. Trenton’s parents are Shad and Diane
Payne.
• Emma Pistorius of Blue Mound (Macon County) graduated from
Meridian High School and will attend Northern Oklahoma College to
study Agriculture Business. Emma’s parents are Pete and Megan
Pistorius.
[to top of second column] |
Pictured above from left to right: Back row: Will
Moody, Trenton Payne, Courtney Davison, Jay Bliler, Kaylee Gerlach, Grant
Simmons, Emma Pistorius, Haiden Stocks, Taylor Beisiegel, Mara Turner, Hunter
Mowrey;
Middle row: Joseph Dahmm,
Porter Schwantz, Paris Van Dyke, Maggie Bland, Aubrey Wagner, Olivia
Shike, Khloee Hall, Caleb Seboldt, Dale Magelitz, Alejandro Zamora;
Front row: Megan Baker, Delaney Williams, Kailyn
Williams, Erica Kujawa, Aly Williams
Scholars not pictured: Jude Beers, Michael Matesa, Olivia Radke, Raul Guerra
• Olivia Radke of Paris (Edgar County) graduated from
Chrisman High School and will attend the University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign to study Animal Science. Olivia’s parents are Kim
James and Chris Radke.
• Porter
Schwantz of Lincoln (Logan County) graduated from Lincoln Community
High School and will attend Lincoln Land Community College to study
Animal Science. Porter’s parents are Herman and Sara Schwantz.
• Caleb Seboldt of Fults (Monroe County) graduated from Valmeyer
High School and will attend the University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign to study Agricultural Education. Caleb’s parents
are Mark and Brenda Seboldt.
• Olivia Shike of Sadorus (Champaign County) graduated from Unity
High School and will attend Black Hawk College East to study
Agriculture Business and Policy. Olivia’s parents are Dan and
Jennifer Shike.
• Grant Simmons of Forsyth (Macon County) graduated from Maroa
Forsyth High School and will attend the University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign to study Agricultural and Biological Engineering.
Grant’s parents are Nathan and Gia Simmons.
• Haiden Stocks of Decatur (Macon County) graduated
from Unity Christian High School and will attend Northwestern
College in Iowa to study Agriculture Business. Haiden’s parents are
Jerrold and Natalie Stocks.
• Mara Turner of Mahomet (Champaign County) graduated from
Mahomet-Seymour High School and will attend Lake Land College to
study Agricultural Communications and Livestock Production. Mara’s
parents are Andrew and Alice Turner.
• Paris Van Dyke of Louisville (Clay County) graduated from North
Clay High School and will attend Lake Land College to study
Agricultural Communications. Paris’ parents are Jon and Katrina Van
Dyke.
• Aubrey Wagner of Onarga (Iroquois County) graduated from Iroquois
West High School and will attend Iowa State University to study
Animal Science. Aubrey’s parents are Calvin and Alicia Wagner.
• Aly Williams of West Salem (Edwards County) graduated from Edwards
County High School and will attend Lake Land College to study
Agriculture Business. Aly’s parents are Cody and Derra Williams.
• Delaney Williams of Olney (Richland County) graduated from
Richland County High School and will attend Wabash Valley College to
study Agriculture Business. Delaney’s parents are Brittania Kocher
and Andrew Williams.
• Kailyn Williams of Raleigh (Saline County) graduated from Eldorado
High School and will attend Southeastern Illinois College to study
Ag Business. Kailyn’s parents are Scott Payne and Amanda Payne.
• Alejandro Zamora of Cobden (Union County) graduated from Cobden
High School and will attend John A. Logan College to study
Construction Management. Alejandro’s parents are Cipriano and
Adriana Zamora.
Farm Credit Illinois (FCI) is an agricultural
financial cooperative owned by 18,900 farmer, rural landowner, and
agribusiness voting stockholder members in the southern 60 counties
of Illinois. Dedicated to Helping Farm Families Succeed, FCI
provides competitive and flexible financing, crop insurance
expertise, and Rural 1st® country life lending. FCI manages a $6
billion loan portfolio, sells 1.5 million acres of crop insurance
coverage, and employs 280 staff in the Mahomet headquarters and 14
regional offices. The Association will return $40 million of 2023
earnings as cash patronage to member-borrowers in 2024. The U.S.
Farm Credit System is a network of locally owned cooperatives
supporting rural communities, farm families, and agriculture with
reliable, consistent credit and financial services today and
tomorrow.
[Rachel Hartman
Communication & Content Specialist] |
