A total of $75,000 in scholarships was awarded to high school seniors pursuing agriculture-related majors and careers. Each of the 30 recipients received a $2,500 agriculture scholarship.

Scholarship selections are based on a combination of academic achievement, participation and leadership in school and community organizations, and the applicant’s commitment to an agricultural career.

“Farm Credit Illinois celebrates the accomplishments and aspirations of these individuals who will become tomorrow’s agricultural leaders,” says Rod Stoll, FCI’s vice president of marketplace engagement.  “We are excited to see how they use their passion and skills as they continue their education to positively impact the future of agriculture and Rural America.”

The following students were selected to receive a 2023 Farm Credit agriculture scholarship:

Addison Bartlow of Monticello (Piatt County) will graduate from Monticello High School and attend Lake Land College to study agriculture business. Addison’s parents are Aaron and Brekin Bartlow.

Thad Bergschneider of Franklin (Morgan County) will graduate from Franklin High School and attend Purdue University to study agriculture economics. Thad’s parents are Paul and Janie Bergschneider.

Haley Bode of Waterloo (Monroe County) graduated from Waterloo High School and attend Southern Illinois University Carbondale to study agriculture education and crop and soil production management. Haley’s parents are Tim and Laura Bode.

Tyson Brown of Winchester (Scott County) will graduate from Winchester High School and attend Iowa State University to study agronomy. Tyson’s parents are Chuck and Angie Brown.

Evan Cooper of Mount Pulaski (Logan County) will graduate from Mount Pulaski High School and study agriculture business management in college. Evan’s parents are Scott and Tanya Cooper.

Julia Corzine of Assumption (Christian County) will graduate from Central A&M High School and attend the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and study in the College of ACES. Julia’s parents are Craig and Ashley Corzine and Jamie Corzine.

Joleen Deters of Sigel (Cumberland County) will graduate from Teutopolis High School and attend Lake Land College to study agriculture business and supply. Joleen’s parents are Joe and Carleen Deters.

Taylor Dietz of Seymour (Champaign County) will graduate from Mahomet-Seymour High School and attend Iowa State University to study animal science. Taylor’s parents are Steve and Angela Dietz.

Cambell Douglas of Karnak (Pulaski County) will graduate from Vienna High School and attend Southern Illinois University Carbondale to study agriculture business. Cambell’s parents are Chad and Jodie Douglas.

Dayten Eisenmann of Mahomet (Champaign County) will graduate from Mahomet-Seymour High School and attend Oklahoma State University to study farm and ranch management with a minor in animal science. Dayten’s parents are Derric and Jodi Eisenmann.

Jenna Grab of Mascoutah (St. Clair County) will graduate from Freeburg Community High School and attend Murray State University to study agronomy. Jenna’s parents are John and Marcia Grab.

Gustavo Juarez of Cobden (Union County) will graduate from Cobden High School and attend Shawnee Community College to become an electrician. Gustavo’s parents are Eduardo Juarez and Rosalinda Martinez.

Samantha Kaufman of Kampsville (Calhoun County) will graduate from Calhoun High School and attend Missouri State University to study agriculture. Samantha’s parents are Samuel and Courtney Kaufman.

Erik Keeton of Waverly (Sangamon County) will graduate from Waverly High School and attend Lincoln Land Community College to study agriculture and diesel mechanics. Erik’s parents are Mike and Jill Keeton.

Addi Klein of Seymour (Champaign County) will graduate from Kolbe Academy and attend the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to study political science and agriculture economics. Addi’s parents are Paul and Jackie Klein.

Brett Kocher of Claremont (Richland County) will graduate from Richland County High School and attend Olney Central College to study welding. Brett’s parents are Thomas and Kathleen Kocher.

Kierstan Lampe of Aviston (Clinton County) will graduate from Breese Central Community High School and attend Iowa State University to study animal science. Kierstan’s parents are Craig and Stacey Lampe.

Kelsey Luth of Hume (Edgar County) will graduate from Shiloh High School and attend Carthage College to study accounting. Kelsey’s parents are Brad and Stacy Luth.

Kassidi Metcalf of Albion (Edwards County) will graduate from Edwards County High School and attend Murray State University to study agronomy. Kassidi’s parents are Daniel and Amanda Metcalf.

Annika Olson of Red Bud (Monroe County) will graduate from Red Bud High School and plans to attend Murray State University to study animal technology and animal and equine science. Annika’s parents are Matt and Krista Olson.

Lilie Perry of Paris (Clark County) will graduate from Marshall High School and attend the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to study food science and human nutrition. Lilie’s parents are Justin and Angie Perry.

Avery Pope of Harvel (Montgomery County) will graduate from Lincolnwood High School and attend Lincoln Land Community College to study agriculture. Avery’s parents are Gabriel and Lindsay Pope.

Lexi Putnam of Loda (Ford County) will graduate from Paxton Buckley Loda High School and study agriculture business in college. Lexi’s parents are Craig and Pam Putnam.

Viola Stangle of Gillespie (Macoupin County) will graduate from Gillespie High School and attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville to study ecology. Viola’s parents are Kevin Stangle and Crystal Bartels.

Lexi Stevens of Allendale (Wabash County) will graduate from Mount Carmel High School and attend Murray State University to study pre-veterinary medicine. Lexi’s parents are Clayton and Lori Stevens.

Sydney Stine of Farina (Fayette County) will graduate from Saint Elmo High School and attend the University of Idaho to study natural resources management and conservation. Sydney’s parents are Jared and Krista Stine.

Blake Twenhafel of New Baden (Clinton County) will graduate from Wesclin High School and attend Kaskaskia College to study crop science. Blake’s parents are Michael and Angie Twenhafel.

Tommy Waters of Goreville (Johnson County) will graduate from Goreville High School and attend John A. Logan College to study crop science. Tommy’s parents are Cody and Nicole Waters.

Lauren Wolter of Aviston (Clinton County) will graduate from Breese Central Community High School and attend Kansas State University to study animal science. Lauren’s parents are Bradley and Kimberly Wolter.

Dylan Zwilling of Fisher (Champaign County) will graduate from Fisher Junior/Senior High School and likely attend the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign through the Parkland Pathways program to study diesel power equipment technology. Dylan’s parents are Brad and Paula Zwilling.