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 participation and leadership contributions within school and community organizations, a genuine passion for agriculture, and a commitment to pursuing an agriculture-related career.

“Farm Credit Illinois is proud to recognize the achievements and ambitions of these students who will become future agricultural leaders,” says Derek Weber, FCI’s vice president of strategic marketing. “We are excited to see how their passion and talent will shape the future of the agriculture industry and Rural America as they pursue continued education.”

The following students were selected to receive a 2025 Farm Credit agriculture scholarship:

Greyson Applebee of Forsyth (Macon County) will graduate from Maroa-Forsyth High School and attend Southern Illinois University Carbondale to study Crop, Soil, and Environmental Management. Greyson’s parents are Jill and Phil Applebee.

Wyatt Arnold of Galatia (Saline County) will graduate from Galatia High School and attend Southeastern Illinois College to study Mechanical or Electrical Engineering. Wyatt’s parents are Tim and Eliza Arnold.

Emma Beckman of Dieterich (Effingham County) will graduate from Dieterich Jr./Sr.High School and attend Lake Land College to study Agricultural Communications and Marketing. Emma’s parents are Hank and Shelly Beckman.

Olivia Brodbeck of Batchtown (Calhoun County) will graduate from Brussels Community High School and attend Western Illinois University to study Ag Science. Olivia’s parents are Chad and Amanda Brodbeck.

Carson Brown of Winchester (Scott County) will graduate from Winchester High School and attend Murray State University to study Seed and Soil Management. Carson’s parents are Chuck and Angie Brown.

Eli Bryant of Carmi (White County) will graduate from Carmi-White County High School and attend Lake Land College to study Diesel Technology. Eli’s parents are Brian and Sandra Bryant.

Cali Bunting of Albion (Edwards County) will graduate from Edwards County High School and attend Wabash Valley College to study Agriculture Business. Cali’s parents are Jeff and Valerie Bunting.

Cara Carrillon of Carlyle (Clinton County) will graduate from Central Community High School and attend either the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign or Kansas State University to study Animal Science. Cara’s parents are Nicole and Curt Carrillon.

Caden Crain of Mounds (Pulaski County) will graduate from Century High School and attend Shawnee Community College to study Ag Business. Caden’s parents are Collin and Hilary Crain.

Wyatt Draper of Hutsonville (Crawford County) will graduate from Hutsonville High School and attend Lake Land College to study Agricultural Production & Management. Wyatt’s parents are Matt and Jodi Draper.

Adaline Eisenmann of Mahomet (Champaign County) will graduate from Mahomet-Seymour High School and attend Vincennes University to study Animal Husbandry. Adaline’s parents are Derric and Jodi Eisenmann.

Makinzie Gaither of Sumner (Lawrence County) will graduate from Red Hill Jr./Sr. High School and attend Lake Land College to study Agriculture Education. Makinzie’s parents are Benjamin and Samantha Gaither.

Morgan Hampton of Waggoner (Montgomery County) will graduate from Lincolnwood High School and attend the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to study Animal Science. Morgan’s parents are Phil and Cassandra Hampton.

John Heelen of Paris (Edgar County) will graduate from Paris Cooperative High School and attend Lake Land College to study Agriculture Business. John’s parents are Morris and Amy Heelen.

Blake Homann of Charleston (Coles County) will graduate from Charleston High School and attend Lake Land College in the Ag Transfer Program. Blake’s parents are Brad and Ellen Homann.

Adam Huffman of Jacksonville (Morgan County) will graduate from Routt Catholic High School and attend Murray State University to study Agriculture Business. Adam’s parents are Trevor and Monica Huffman.

Kadie Hummel of Cabery (Ford County) will graduate from Tri-Point High School and attend Butler Community College to study Animal Science. Kadie’s parents are Dale and Holly Hummel.

Carleigh Kleiss of Tuscola (Douglas County) will graduate from Tuscola Community High School and attend Parkland College to study Agriculture. Carleigh’s parents are Robert M. Kleiss and Heather Salvatore.

Alissa Korsmeyer of Highland (Madison County) will graduate from Highland High School and attend Illinois State University to study Agronomy Management. Alissa’s parents are Kenneth and Janice Korsmeyer.

Jasmin Leon of Lincoln (Logan County) will graduate from Lincoln Community High School and attend Oklahoma State University to study Agricultural Education. Jasmin’s parents are Maria and Ernesto Leon.

Ryan Lowis of Piasa (Macoupin County) will graduate from Southwestern High School and attend Illinois State University to study Agribusiness. Ryan’s parents are Charles and Karen Lowis.

Reed Naughton of Atlanta (Logan County) will graduate from Olympia High School and attend Lake Land College to study Agronomy. Reed’s parents are Dan and Amy Naughton.

Abby Norris of Raymond (Montgomery County) will graduate from Lincolnwood High School and attend Illinois State University to study Animal Science and Pre-veterinary Medicine. Abby’s parents are Jeff and Emily Norris.

Issy Phillips of Du Quoin (Perry County) will graduate from Du Quoin High School and attend Purdue University to study Agronomy. Issy’s parents are Jeff and Billie Phillips.

Brock Portz of Marissa (Washington County) will graduate from Marissa High School and attend Murray State University to study Agriculture Business. Brock’s parents are Brent and Kim Portz.

Henry Ruppert of Coulterville (Perry County) will graduate from Pinckneyville Community High School and attend Rend Lake College to study Agriculture Business. Henry’s parents are Jon & Cortnie Ruppert.

Ben Sellmeyer of Maroa (Macon County) will graduate from Warrensburg-Latham High School and attend Oklahoma State University to study Animal Science/Ag Business Marketing. Ben’s parents are Clay and Katie Sellmeyer.

Lane Stine of Farina (Fayette County) will graduate from St. Elmo High School and attend Southern Illinois University Carbondale to study Agriculture Systems. Lane’s parents are Dan and Natalie Stine.

Tara Taft of Springfield (Sangamon County) will graduate from A-C Central High School and attend Purdue University to study Animal Science. Tara’s parents are Mike and Tracy Taft.

Avery Watson of Philo (Champaign County) will graduate from Unity High School and attend Iowa State University to study Agronomy. Avery’s parents are Adam and Anne Watson.