Record number of students earn Farm Bureau scholarships

» October 9, 2008 «

More students than ever before have been granted college scholarships by the California Farm Bureau Scholarship Foundation. A total of 65 students shared $221,750 in scholarships awarded by the foundation for the 2008-09 academic year.

The scholarships benefit students who plan agricultural careers. Applicants provide information about their academic achievements, leadership skills and commitment to study agricultural topics. Following interviews with the applicants, the foundation awarded special scholarships to four students:

? Louis Nash of Redding earned the Howard P. Wackman II Perpetual Memorial Award, a scholarship of $2,750. Nash is a sophomore at California State University, Chico, where he majors in agricultural science. He plans to return to his family's farm after graduation and pursue a career in farm management. The award is named for a late California Farm Bureau vice president.

? Matthew Rolen of Williams won the Frederick J. Heringer Honorary Award, a scholarship of $2,500. Rolen entered Chico State as a freshman this fall, where he majors in agricultural science. He plans to be the fourth generation of his family to farm, and to work as a field representative for a rice mill. The scholarship is named for the late CFBF president.

? Mitchell Yerxa of Colusa earned the $2,250 Carolyn Richardson Memorial Award, named for the late CFBF environmental advocate. A sophomore at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Yerxa majors in crop science and aspires to a career researching biofuels.

? Haley Hanse of Hanford received the John H. Wiechman Memorial Award. She is a freshman at California State University, Fresno, majoring in agricultural education and planning a career as an agricultural teacher. The $2,250 scholarship is given in memory of the late CFBF Leadership Development manager.

A fifth special scholarship category, the Rustici Livestock and Rangeland Scholarship Award, benefits rangeland-management students who plan careers in beef or sheep ranching or in range management. Twenty-nine students earned Rustici scholarships totaling $5,000 each: Alina Amaral, Sonoma; Meghan Becker, Anderson; Brett Behlen, Clovis; Lauren Bowen, San Luis Obispo; Matthew Bowen, Glennville; Katherine Bradley, Calpine; Bryce Brown, Greenview; Kate Cochrane, Santa Margarita; Wayne Cockrell, Cedarville; Cristina Giacomini, Bishop; Heidi Goss, Lincoln; Spring Groteguth, Elk Creek; Taylor Hagata, Susanville; Charles Hamilton, Rio Vista; Brad Hanson, Susanville; Kirk Kimmelshue, Durham; Carissa Koopmann, Sunol; Rachel McDowell, Taylorsville; Matthew Miller, Tracy; Ryan Nelson, Wilton; Amber Reed, Chico; Ryan Rice, Whitmore; Katherine Rosser, Marysville; Jessica Sampson, Gazelle; Kirby Swickard, Susanville; Alexander Thompson, Bakersfield; Michael Tobias, Hollister; Erica Voris, Atwater; and Jasmine Westbrook, Dixon. Two students earned Rustici scholarships of $2,500 each: Kody Kester, Parkfield, and Riley York, Loyalton.

Thirty students earned California Farm Bureau Scholarship Foundation awards of $2,000 each: Joaquin (Ryan) Amaral, Denair; Mario Bandoni, Merced; Colleen Bartlett, Elk Grove; Daniel Bays, Patterson; Grace Berryhill, Tulare; Kelly Bishop, El Centro; Claire Brumley, Escalon; Mark Diener, Five Points; Michael Fagundes, Merced; Jason Ferreira, Tulare; Nicole Ghidinelli, Ferndale; Kary Griffith, Copperopolis; Caitlin Lawrence, Modesto; Kyle McCullough, Arbuckle; Aimee Meidinger, Lockeford; Kristin Mendonsa, Tulare; Danielle Oliveira, Tulare; Diana Paasch, Grass Valley; Ryan Porto, Kerman; Spencer Rietkerk, Corcoran; Katherine Robertson, Galt; William Rumsey, Woodland; Luke Schaner, Valley Center; Loren Scoto, Merced; Simmie Stayer, Palo Cedro; Kathryn Teixeira, Nipomo; Brice Titus, Ferndale; Gary Valente, Lodi; Michelle Van Ryn, Manteca; and Beau Williamson, Clovis.

Since its inception in 1955, the California Farm Bureau Scholarship Foundation has awarded more than $1.4 million in scholarships.

The California Farm Bureau Federation, the state's largest farm organization, works to protect family farms and ranches on behalf of 91,000 members statewide.

Contact: Dave Kranz
Phone: 916/561-5550
news@cfbf.com

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