WESTMINSTER, Md. — The Farm Credit Foundation for Agricultural Advancement has announced the winners of their 2017 scholarship program. This was the first year of the Foundation’s program, awarding ten students $10,000 each to pursue their careers in the agriculture industry. The recipients are:
- Shara Allman of Mount Joy, Pa., a senior at Donegal High School
- Allyson Balmer of Manheim, Pa., a junior at Penn State University
- Kenneth Fest of New Hope, Pa., a sophomore at Cornell University
- Ariana Gaston of Townsend, Del., a senior at Middletown High School
- William Horning of Denver, Pa., a senior at Garden Spot High School
- Glenn Jones of Silver Spring, Md., a senior at Paint Branch High School
- Karoline Kent of Lititz, Pa., a sophomore at Penn State University
- Jared Schrader of Earleville, Md., a senior at Bohemia Manor High School
- Hanum Wensil-Strow of Philadelphia, Pa., a junior at University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine
- Ashley Yanego of Strasburg, Va., a freshman at Virginia Tech University
“We are excited to announce the winners of the Foundation’s first annual scholarship program,” said Sandy Wieber, spokesperson for the Farm Credit Foundation for Agricultural Advancement. “Each of these incredibly talented students did a wonderful job conveying what agriculture means to them, and how they plan to make a difference in the industry after they graduate from college. We were impressed by their academics and involvement in their local communities, and look forward to seeing what lies ahead for them.”
“This was a very difficult decision for us to make,” said Ralph Robertson, a Maryland farmer and chairman of the Foundation’s board. “We received applications from 130 students, each with a unique story to tell. I’ve never felt more confident that the future of agriculture lies in very capable and passionate hands.”
The non-profit Foundation was formed in 2015, funded by participating association MidAtlantic Farm Credit. The Farm Credit Foundation for Agricultural Advancement’s scholarship program awards ten scholarships, each valued at $10,000. This program is open to high school seniors or students currently enrolled in an advanced educational program. The applicants must be planning to pursue a career in agriculture and reside in a county within MidAtlantic Farm Credit’s five-state territory.
For more information about the Foundation and scholarship program, please visit fcfoundationforag.org.
About Farm Credit Foundation for Agricultural Advancement
The Farm Credit Foundation for Agricultural Advancement is a $3M non-profit foundation formed in 2015, created to help advance the future of agriculture. This is the inaugural year of the Foundation’s scholarship program, which is open to all students residing in MidAtlantic Farm Credit’s five-state territory who fit the eligibility requirements. The scholarships were announced as part of Farm Credit’s 100th anniversary held in 2016.
— MidAtlantic Farm Credit