Kansas Youth Receive $30,000 In Scholarships

December 7, 2022

(WICHITA) – Twenty-seven scholarship winners for the 2022-23 school year were recognized during the annual Kansas Livestock Association (KLA) Convention November 30 in Wichita. A total of $30,000 was presented by the Kansas Livestock Foundation (KLF) and its partners.             

Five Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine students each received a $1,500 Cartridges for Cash (CFC) Scholarship from Merck Animal Health and KLF. This scholarship is awarded to a K-State veterinary medicine student with a career goal of being a large animal veterinarian. Third-year vet student awardees were Tegan Bowers of Oskaloosa and Valerie Haskett of Agra. Alyssa Leslie is a first-year vet student from Manhattan. Grace Luebcke of Marysville and Rachel Miner of Manhattan are both fourth-year vet students.             

Three K-State students were awarded $1,000 CFC Scholarships. Mackenzie Birney of Bucklin is a junior majoring in animal sciences and industry with a pre-vet option. Chanae Parker of Manhattan and Jacob Schmeidler of Hays both are seniors majoring in animal sciences and industry. Merck Animal Health scholarships are funded through the “Cartridges for Cash” program in which Merck donates 25¢ for each empty Ralgro wheel or Revalor cartridge turned in to KLA.             

Two K-State seniors each received a $1,500 Douglas A. Laue Memorial Scholarship. Jacob Argabright of Olpe and Ridge Pracht of Westphalia are both seniors majoring in animal sciences and industry. Made possible by a gift in memory of Laue, who served as KLA Cattle Feeders Council chairman in 1991-92 and passed away in February 2015, this scholarship is offered to juniors and seniors at K-State or Fort Hays State University pursuing a degree in agriculture.             

Corley Becker of Seneca has been awarded the $1,000 Cattlemen’s Scholarship from GoBob Pipe & Steel and KLF. Becker is a junior majoring in agricultural education at K-State. This scholarship is awarded to a student entering or returning to a Kansas community or senior college and pursuing a degree in agriculture or a related field. Funding for the Cattlemen’s Scholarship was generated through the sale of a bale feeder donated by GoBob for the fundraising auction during the 2021 KLA Convention, and the purchase of GoBob products by KLA members. The company donates a percentage of all member purchases to KLF. GoBob is a distributor of farming supplies, such as steel pipe and gates, corral and fence materials, and heavy-duty equipment.             

Two $1,000 Hampel Oil/Mobil Delvac Scholarships have been presented to Kansas students. Chancy Johnson of White City is a junior majoring in agricultural business and accounting at K-State. Anna Westerman of Yates Center is a junior majoring in agribusiness at Fort Hays State University. This scholarship is awarded to students entering their junior or senior year at K-State or Fort Hays State University and pursuing degrees in agronomy, agribusiness or agricultural economics. Preference is given to applicants with a career goal of being actively engaged in a farming or feedyard enterprise.             

Five students from across the state received $1,000 “Youth in Agriculture” scholarships from KLF. Lauren Aust of LaCygne is a freshman majoring in agricultural communications and journalism at K-State. Korben Clawson of Meade is a freshman majoring in agricultural economics and animal sciences and industry at K-State. James DeRouchey of Wamego is a freshman majoring in agricultural business at K-State. Weston Schrader of Wells is a freshman majoring in animal sciences and industry at K-State. Aidan Yoho of Yates Center is a freshman majoring in meat science at Allen Community College. Funded by the KLF Club Calf Sale held during the Kansas Junior Livestock Show, these scholarships recognize students entering or returning to a Kansas junior or senior college and pursuing degrees in agriculture or a related field.             

KLF awarded seven Kansas CattleWomen (KCW) $1,000 scholarships. Emma Albers from Denton is a freshman majoring in veterinary nursing at Colby Community College. Three scholarship recipients are majoring in animal sciences and industry at K-State. Grace Fike of Westmoreland is a sophomore, Jordan Sylvester of Wamego is a freshman, and Katrina Turner of Derby also is a freshman. Two scholarship awardees are majoring in agricultural communications and journalism at K-State. Jessica Jensen of Courtland is a junior and Cailin Parks of Holton is a sophomore. Lily Judd is a freshman from Pomona majoring in livestock management and merchandising at Butler Community College. This scholarship, funded by the KCW silent auction held during the KLA Convention, is awarded to students entering or returning to a Kansas community or senior college and pursuing degrees in dietetics, food safety, agriculture or a related field.             

Amanda Wray of Ottawa was awarded the $500 Fred H. Woodbury Memorial Scholarship through KLF. Wray is a senior majoring in animal sciences and industry at K-State. This scholarship is presented to a student attending a Kansas junior or senior college and pursuing a degree in agriculture. Preference is given to students residing within Chase, Franklin, Lyon, Osage or Wabaunsee County.             

The $1,000 Scott Johnson and Family Scholarship was awarded to Lauren Gatz of Fairview. Gatz is a sophomore majoring in agricultural communications and journalism at K-State. This scholarship is awarded to any student attending K-State and pursuing a degree in animal sciences and industry, agricultural communications and journalism, agribusiness or agricultural economics.             

KLF was established in 1983 to operate solely and exclusively for charitable, scientific and educational purposes. For information about KLF scholarship opportunities or to receive an application, contact the foundation at 6031 S.W. 37th St., Topeka, KS 66614 or email [email protected].            

KLA is a trade organization protecting the business interests of independent ranchers, feeders and dairy farmers. Members of the association are involved in all segments of the livestock industry, including cow-calf production, backgrounding, cattle feeding, swine, dairy and sheep. The association’s work is funded by voluntary dues dollars paid by its 5,700 members. 

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Pictured (front row, L to R) Emma Albers, Chancy Johnson, Corley Becker, Lauren Gatz, Jessica Jensen, (middle row, L to R) Mackenzie Birney, Jordan Sylvester, Grace Fike, Valerie Haskett, Rachel Miner, Lauren Aust, Cailin Parks, (back row, L to R) Lily Judd, Anna Westerman, Chanae Parker, Korben Clawson, Jacob Argabright, Aiden Yoho, Grace Luebcke and Weston Schrader.