The Agricultural Institute of Nebraska, Grand Island Area Chamber of Commerce and Farm Progress are proud to announce the recipients of the 2018 Husker Harvest Days Agricultural Scholarship.

The scholarship recipients are pursuing advanced degrees in agriculture, agribusiness or other ag-related fields from an accredited university, college or technical school in Nebraska. These recent high school graduates were selected because they were active in school and extracurricular activities, engaged in their respective communities, and maintained a high academic standing.

The scholarship will pay $1,200 per school year, with $600 paid for the first semester or quarter upon proof of registration, and $600 for the second semester or quarter upon proof of maintenance of a 2.5 grade point average during the first semester or quarter.

Here are the recipients:

Grant Bonifas, Aurora. Grant is the son of Greg and Barb Bonifas. He is a graduate of Aurora High School and plans to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to major in agricultural education and minor in mechanized systems. Grant wants to share his passion for agriculture with students someday. He adds that nothing would motivate him more than to help others be the best they can be and have a positive impact on the future of agriculture.

Jenna Czaplewski, Grand Island. Jenna graduated from Grand Island Central Catholic High School and this fall will study animal science at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Jenna has been fascinated by animals all of her life and wants to work with them in her career. She is the daughter of Rob and Amy Czaplewski.

Abby Hadenfeldt, Cairo. Abby is heading to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to study agribusiness and agricultural economics. She is the fifth generation to farm on her family’s land, and says she chose her field of study because FFA is a big part of her life. The daughter of Jamie and Heather Hadenfeldt, Abby is a graduate of Centura High School.

Grant Moody, Aurora. Grant is the son of Gary and Shauna Moody and a graduate of Aurora High School. He will study agribusiness at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Grant’s family owns and operates a small farm, and he says a degree in agribusiness will help solidify a good background for managing a farm.

Garrett Ortgiesen, Wilcox. Garrett is the son of Chad and Cara Ortgiesen. A graduate of Wilcox-Hildreth High School, Garrett will pursue a degree in agricultural engineering at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He took a great interest in mechanics after completing a restoration project on his great-grandfather’s tractor. Garrett says he’s always been intrigued with building and designing things.

Brady Papineau, Marquette. Brady is the son of Randy and Tonya Papineau. He is the third scholarship recipient of the group to have graduated from Aurora High School. He plans to further his education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and study animal science — specifically animal nutrition and cattle management. Brady says he enjoys working with beef cattle, and helps his family manage a cow-calf operation.

Dalton Quandt, Grand Island. Dalton is the son of Karl and Kim Quandt and a graduate of Grand Island Northwest High School. Dalton will study agribusiness and agricultural economics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He says his love for Nebraska agriculture is what persuaded him to pursue that degree. He wants to be a better advocate for ag.

Holden Stengel, Shickley. Holden, a Shickley High School graduate, is enrolling at Doane University this fall, majoring in environmental studies and minoring in agriculture and natural resources. Holden says he was blessed to grow up and work every day on a farm and wants to continue that family legacy. He is the son of Corey and Brenda Stengel.

Cooper Wright, Republican City. Cooper is the son of Brandon and Karen Wright. He is a graduate of Alma High School. Cooper says he will pursue his love for agriculture by enrolling at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to study agribusiness. Someday he hopes to be a seeds salesman or to work in the agriculture insurance industry.

Editor’s note: Photos of Holden Stengel and Cooper Wright were not available.