GROWMARK Awards Scholarships to Future Ag Leaders

Fifty-five students receive support for agriculture and business studies

The GROWMARK Foundation has awarded scholarships to 55 students pursuing studies in agriculture and business. Each recipient received a $2,000 scholarship to help support their education during the fall 2026 semester. Nearly 700 students from across the United States and Ontario, Canada, applied for the program, showing strong interest in careers connected to agriculture and business. 

“At GROWMARK, we believe investing in students today helps shape the future of agriculture and business,” said GROWMARK CEO Mark Orr. “Our internship programs give students real-world experience and exposure to the wide range of careers within the agriculture industry, while our scholarships support them in pursuing those paths. Together, these opportunities help connect students to meaningful careers with GROWMARK and FS companies after graduation.” 

The scholarship program recognizes students in three different categories:  

The first category supports students pursuing associate degrees at community colleges and technical schools with an agriculture focus. Recipients come from institutions including:  

ILLINOIS VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE  

• Ryan Carlson  
   

LAKE LAND COLLEGE  

• Jay Bliler  

• Kaylin Arlene Nolte  
   

LINCOLN LAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE  

• Tucker Kade Beckmier  
   

HILLSBOROUGH COLLEGE  

• Emily Cason  
   

SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN TECHNICAL COLLEGE  

• Avery Drew  
   

ILLINOIS CENTRAL COLLEGE   

• Delaney Engler  
   

BLACKHAWK TECHNICAL COLLEGE  

•  Faith Traynor  
   

BLACK HAWK COLLEGE EAST  

• Clay D Jackson  
   

HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR  

• Helen Butcher - Northwestern High School (IL)   

• Garris Warren - North Duplin Jr./Sr. High School (NC)  

• Graydon Henson - Hamilton High School (IL)  

• Sydney Stirm - Colonel Crawford High School (OH)  

• Natalie Zwilling - Richland County High School (IL)  

• Ryan Jagers - Princeton High School (IL)  

• Tyler Hoeger - Maquoketa Valley High School (IA)  

• Rachel Eckert - Henry-Senachwine High School (IL)  

• Kylie Kocher - Richland County High School (IL)  

• Amanda Herrin - Moberly High School (MO)  

• Grace McCarty - Edwards County High School (IL) 

The second category focuses on students pursuing bachelor’s degrees in agriculture-related fields. Scholarship recipients represent several universities, including:  

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY  

• Madisyn Henderson  

• Elle Ruffner  

• Emma Whitaker  
   

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS – URBANA CHAMPAIGN  

• Hana Gillaspie  

• Tristin Potts  
   

PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY  

• Shalelyn Armstrong  

• Jared Pechart  
   

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY CARBONDALE  

• Isaac Luebkemann  
   

ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY  

• Kasandra Hughes  
   

OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY  

• Bennett Gordon  

• Kyia Hunter-Kanoff  

BUENA VISTA UNIVERSITY  

• Bobby Gross  
   

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY  

• Emily Robbins  

• Caleb Schmaltz  
   

THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY   

• Will Harrison   
   

HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR  

• Alyssa Benningfield - Taylor County High School (KY)  

• Kadence Leeper - Macon County R-1 High School (MO)  

• Joshua Miller - Ovid Elsie (MI)  

• Kara Theis - Osage Community Schools (IA)   

• Calum Brown - Lafayette High School (MO) 

The third category supports students pursuing bachelor’s degrees in business-related fields. Winners are enrolled at universities such as:  

MIAMI UNIVERSITY  

• Avarie Wellman  
   

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY  

• William Vlasek  
   

FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY  

• Steven Velez  
   

HUNTINGTON UNIVERSITY  

• Emily Hawkins  
   

GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY  

• Chelsa Takuebai  
   

UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA  

• Mary Hails  
   

UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN ONTARIO  

• Steven Kim  
   

NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY  

• Mya Barnes  

• Audrey Coffey  
   

ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY  

• Johnna Fulcher  
   

HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR  

• Ethan Hoang - Yuma Catholic High School (AZ)  

• Caroline Spangler - Bushnell-Prairie City High School (IL)  

• Sophia Kisler - Galesburg Junior Senior High School (IL)   

• Jonathan Hulce - Boerne-Champion High School (TX)  

• Mason DiEnna - Holy Ghost Preparatory High School (PA) 

Photo Credit: Growmark-logo