Indiana Farm Bureau Awards Funding to Youths in Ag
Published: Friday, April 26, 2024
Indiana Farm Bureau recently awarded five scholarships to incoming or current college students pursuing careers in agriculture.
New this year, INFB introduced the Ag Impact Scholarship, which highlights applicants who demonstrate a lasting effect on Indiana agriculture. Three recipients each received a $2,000 scholarship.
The Ag Impact scholarship program is designed to focus on the applicant's current involvement, future commitment and potential impact in agriculture as well as academic and career potential. All applicants must have been graduating high school seniors. The scholarship funds can be applied to tuition, housing, books or other educational expenses.
The three recipients of the 2024 Ag Impact Scholarship are:
Lauryn Merritt, of Miami County, who will graduate from Maconaquah High School. She will attend Huntington University in the fall to pursue a double major in agriculture education and agriculture ministry. Merritt is a fifth-generation pig and grain farmer who serves as her chapter's FFA president and is completing her 10th year in 4-H. She also serves as co-captain of the women's basketball team, participates in cross country and track, serves as treasurer for her National Honor Society chapter and volunteers with Champions Together, a partnership between the Indiana High School Athletic Assn. and Special Olympics Indiana.
Merritt created a fundraiser in her community called "Harvest for Hunger," where she has raised over $48,000 for Miami County Helping Hands, the local food pantry. Merritt plans to continue her community service work during college, as she intends to teach others how to grow their own food and highlight how farmers give back to their communities.
Anna Minich, of LaPorte County, will graduate from South Central Jr./Sr. High School. She will attend South Dakota State University in the fall to study animal science. Minich grew up on a dairy farm, which was where her love of animals began. She is FFA chapter president and is a 10-year 4-H member, where she serves as the vice president. Minich also is a member of National Honor Society, student council, South Central Equestrian team and the Indiana Quarter Horse Youth Assn.
Minich's goal is to be a large-animal veterinarian and eventually start her own veterinary practice. She wants to prevent new viral threats and create protocols for limiting and controlling new diseases to pave the way for groundbreaking advances in animal care, while ensuring the agriculture industry can provide food for others.
Alexa Newby, of Putnam County, Ind. will graduate from South Putnam High School. She will attend Purdue University in the fall where she will pursue a degree in landscape architecture. She has served as both FFA and National Honor Society secretary and is a member of student council. She also is a member of the varsity golf team and serves as varsity basketball manager.
Newby created her own business three years ago, Alie's Annuals, where she sells flowers to the community. Her business has taught her recordkeeping, sales skills and leadership. Alie's Annuals served as her FFA chapter spring fundraiser, and Newby is a finalist for the FFA Indiana State Star Award for her work on the program. Newby's goal after graduation is to work for a major landscape architecture firm, creating beautiful spaces and incorporating healthy, sustainable areas.
"Indiana Farm Bureau congratulates our scholarship winners," said INFB President Randy Kron. "These women represent the future of agriculture and showcase the wide variety of careers available in the ag space—from farming and agribusiness to education, veterinary medicine, horticulture and landscape architecture—everyone has an important job in this industry."
Additionally, two $1,000 scholarships are offered to members of any of the Collegiate Farm Bureau chapters—Purdue, Vincennes and Huntington Universities. This year, Jayden Simpson, of Putnam County, Ind. and Camille Thopy, of Shelby County, Ind., received the scholarships. Simpson and Thopy are both Purdue University students. Simpson is majoring in agricultural economics, and Thopy is pursuing a degree in agricultural education.
Many county Farm Bureaus also offer annual scholarships for students in their area. To learn more, visit www.infb.org/scholarships
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