WEST DES MOINES, Iowa—April 24, 2024— The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) has granted scholarships to 109 current and future college students looking to further their post-high school education within the agricultural industry.
Twenty-seven scholarships were awarded to first-time recipients, and 78 scholarships were renewed for 2024. Scholarships are renewable up to four years, or $10,000, for students planning to obtain a two- or four-year degree at an accredited higher education institution, including community colleges and technical schools. Eligibility is based on Farm Bureau membership, academic achievement, financial need, community and extracurricular involvement and letters of recommendation. Additionally, students prepared an essay outlining their commitment to rural Iowa.
“One of Iowa Farm Bureau’s pillars is our focus on youth and education, and these scholarships support those efforts,†says Ronnette Vondrak, Iowa Farm Bureau community resources manager. “Providing the opportunity for young individuals to contribute new ideas, research and innovation is essential to bolstering the resilience of the family farm and agricultural industry. Particularly when one in five Iowa jobs is connected to agriculture, making it a vital component of Iowa’s economy and rural communities.â€
In addition, Cody Messer of New London received the Daniel Johnson Memorial Scholarship, a one-time $500 scholarship award for a student residing in southeast Iowa. Nicoa McClure of Eldon was awarded the Edward W. and Isabella M. Klodt scholarship, a one-time $500 scholarship award given to a student residing in Wapello County. Brooke Hansel of Guttenberg and Kayleese Thoma of Dubuque were named Robert H. Rewoldt scholarship recipients, a $3,000 scholarship given to a student in northeast Iowa and renewable up to two years.
