WAUPUN, Wis. — CentralStar Cooperative, serving dairy and beef producers in Wisconsin, Michigan, and
Indiana, is awarding seven individuals with scholarships this summer for the upcoming school year. CentralStar is the
result of a May 1, 2019, merger between East Central/Select Sires and NorthStar Cooperative.
The $1,000 scholarships are being awarded to students pursuing education in agricultural-related fields. Scholarship
recipients include Collin Wille, Rice Lake, Wis., Northeast Iowa Community College; Brett Mullikin, Waldo, Wis.,
University of Wisconsin-Madison Farm and Industry Short Course; Jillian Tyler, Granton, Wis., University of
Wisconsin-River Falls; Bailey Larson, Alma Center, Wis., University of Wisconsin-River Falls; Emma Gwidt, Pulaski,
Wis., University of Wisconsin-Madison; Madeline Meyer, Ionia, Mich., Michigan State University (MSU); and Brandon
Biese, Chilton, Wis., University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Wille is heading into his final year at Northeast Iowa Community College majoring in dairy science. Being raised on
his family farm, Image-Point Holsteins, where his family milks 75 registered Holsteins, he had the opportunity to be
heavily involved in 4-H, FFA, and the Holstein association. He’s been highly awarded in all of these areas, including
James W. Crowley State Fair Leadership Award in 2018, FFA State Star Farmer 2019, and recently being on the
first-place team at the Iowa Professional Agricultural Student Organization Farm Business Management Contest in
2019. Wille’s long-term goal is to return to the home farm and take over as the owner. His parents are Jeff and
Debbie Wille.
Mullikin will also be headed into his last year at UW-Madison Farm and Industry Short Course with a focus on farm
and equipment operations. He stays productive by working at his home dairy Sunrise Acres, and Teunissen’s Green
Acres Custom Heifer Farm. While at Madison, he remains involved in Badger Dairy Club and the collegiate Farm
Bureau. Mullikin’s goal after his time at UW-Madison is to return to the home farm, expand it, and implement the
latest technology. He is the son of Dan and Shelly Mullikin.
Tyler will be heading into her second year at UW-River Falls this fall after serving as a FFA State Officer this past
year. After being involved in FFA for many years, it was easy for Tyler to decide on a major in agricultural education
with intentions of moving back to central Wisconsin to be an agricultural teacher. Tyler is the daughter of David and
Karen Tyler and was raised on Tyler Farms.
Larson is headed into her final year at UW-River Falls, earning a bachelors degree in dairy science with an
agricultural business minor. She currently is the dairy-nutrition intern at Purina Animal Nutrition this summer. Last
summer, Larson interned for NorthStar Cooperative, serving as a reproductive-service intern. This year, she will
serve as first vice president of the UW-River Falls Dairy Club and be a co-chair for the 2020 Falcon Premier Biannual
Sale. In the past, Larson has served as the National Milking Shorthorn Queen. After graduation, Larson has hopes of
heading into graduate school to receive a master’s degree. She is the daughter of Richard and Sara Larson from RLS
Holsteins.
Gwidt, daughter of David and Dyan Gwidt, will be going into her third year at UW-Madison majoring in dairy science
with a certificate in agricultural business management. She is heavily involved in Badger Dairy Club on campus,
which has gained her the opportunity to serve as the junior grilled-cheese stand co-chair this upcoming year at World
Dairy Expo. Some of Gwidt’s future goals include learning Spanish, pursuing more internships and a career in the
field of reproductive technology, and then eventually returning home to take over her family farm with a goal of
increasing their value through genetics.
Meyer will be going into her last year at Michigan State University completing her bachelors degree in animal science.
Meyer has past experience in the dairy industry working on many dairies including the MSU Campus Dairy. She has
also expanded her knowledge by working in the processing side at the MSU dairy plant. In addition, she served as a
nutrition intern for Purina and worked at the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Her goal is
to gain more hands-on experience in the dairy industry through managing a dairy or working in dairy consulting
before going back to school to pursue academia. Her parents are Jamie and Veronica Meyer.
Biese will being going into his third year at UW-Madison, majoring in dairy science with a certificate in agricultural
business management. He grew up on his family farm, Biese Farms, where they milk Holsteins. On campus, Biese is
involved in Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity and Badger Dairy Club. Biese also enjoys being on UW-Madison’s dairycattle-judging teams and helping youth improve their judging skills. This summer, he’s been interning for Milk Source
genetics, focusing on show-cattle care and calf management, to bring those skills back to his home dairy. Biese has
goals to work full time for a dairy company and also continue to manage his family farm’s calf program. His parents
are Ron and Kay Biese.
CentralStar’s goal of enhancing producer profitability through integrated services is fulfilled by incorporating an array of products and services critical to dairy-and-beef-farm prosperity. CentralStar’s product and service offerings include Accelerated Genetics, GenerVations and Select Sires genetics; extensive artificial-insemination (A.I.) technician service; genetic, reproduction, and dairy records consultation; DHI services; diagnostic testing; herd-management products; research and development; and more. CentralStar’s administration and warehouse facilities are located in Lansing, Mich., and Waupun, Wis., with laboratories in Grand Ledge, Mich., and Kaukauna, Wis. For more information, visit CentralStar Cooperative Inc. at www.mycentralstar.com.
— CentralStar
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