The Dane County Dairy Promotion Committee is proud to support 10 local students through its scholarship program. The program recognizes students who are residents of Dane County, Wis., and pursuing postsecondary educations in an agriculture-related field.

Here are the recipients of this year’s $1,000 scholarships:

• Emily Matzke, Sauk City, is the daughter of Diane and Daryl Matzke. She graduated from Sauk Prairie High School in 2016 and attends University of Wisconsin-Madison, majoring in animal science and life sciences communication. She is a member of the Badger Dairy Club, Association of Women in Agriculture, Collegiate Farm Bureau and National Agri-Marketing Association.

• Dylan Herbrand, Dane, is the son of Brad and Kari Herbrand. He will graduate from Sauk Prairie High School this year and plans to attend UW-Platteville to major in agricultural engineering. Herbrand is active in FFA and 4-H and shows dairy cattle at the local, state and national levels. He also volunteers as a youth wrestling coach and was awarded the Optimist Student of the Month Award in the Sauk Prairie School District.     

• Faith Majors-Culp, Oregon, is the daughter of Cynthia Majors-Culp and Steve Culp. She will graduate from Oregon High School this year and plans to attend UW-River Falls to major in animal science/dairy science with a minor in business. She was elected president of the Oregon FFA and volunteers for various community events and organizations.

• Grace Link, Deerfield, is the daughter of Jim and Linda Link. She will graduate from Stoughton High School this year and plans to attend Iowa State University to study agriculture business. She is active in FFA and 4-H, as well as the Wisconsin Junior Angus Association and National Junior Angus Association.

• Gaelan Combs, Verona, is the son of Dave and Sherry Combs. He will graduate from Verona High School this year and plans to attend UW-Madison to study dairy science. He was elected president of the Verona FFA and serves as a state officer for the Wisconsin 4-H Leadership Council.

• Emma Olstad, Stoughton, is the daughter of Eric and Angela Olstad. She graduated from Stoughton High School in 2016 and attends UW-Madison, majoring in dairy science. She is active in the Association of Women in Agriculture, Badger Dairy Club, Collegiate Farm Bureau and National Agri-Marketing Association.

• Kim Keller, Mount Horeb, is the daughter of Tim and Sandy Keller. She graduated from Mount Horeb High School in 2016 and attends Iowa State University, majoring in dairy science with a minor in exercise science. She was active in 4-H and FFA and shows dairy cattle on the local, state and national levels.

• Hailey Schulenberg, Mount Horeb, is the daughter of Jack and Julie Schulenberg. She will graduate from Mount Horeb High School this year and plans to attend Madison Area Technical College to study agriculture education and animal science. She was elected president of the Mount Horeb FFA, is active in her 4-H club and volunteers in the community.

• Devin Brown, Belleville, is the son of Douglas Brown and Lori Brown. He will graduate from Belleville High School this year and plans to attend UW-Madison Short Course to study agriculture and life science. He is involved in FFA and 4-H, as well as the Upper Sugar River Watershed project and teaching younger students about agriculture.

• Alison Kinnaird, Cambridge, is the daughter of Todd and Judy Kinnaird. She will graduate from Cambridge High School this year and plans to attend UW-River Falls to study animal science/pre-vet. She is active in 4-H, FFA and her church youth group. She has also participated in basketball, student council, school musicals, and choir and band.

“We are proud to help support these students through our scholarship program,” says Pat O’Brien, president of the Dane County Dairy Promotion Committee. “These students will become the next generation of leaders in our industry, and their talents will continue to move agriculture forward.”

Students will be recognized for their achievements June 9 at the upcoming 40th Annual Dane County Breakfast on the Farm. This year’s event will be hosted by the Hensen family at Hensen Bros. Dairy, 5116 Pheasant Branch Road, Waunakee. Breakfast will be served from 7 to 11:30 a.m. and includes pancakes, cheesy scrambled eggs, sausage, yogurt, frozen custard, milk and coffee. Admission is $8 for adults, $4 for kids ages 3 to 11, and free for kids 2 and younger. Organized by the Dane County Dairy Promotion Committee, Breakfast on the Farm will also include live music, guest speakers, horse-drawn wagon rides, and educational displays and activities.

June Dairy Month in Dane County officially kicks off June 2 at Cows on the Concourse. This free and family-friendly event takes place between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. on the Capitol Square. Meet dairy cows of various breeds and ages face to face, and learn from local Moo Experts. Also enjoy live entertainment and educational activities, and sink your teeth into melt-in-your-mouth grilled cheese sandwiches as well as other delicious dairy foods.

The Dane County Dairy Promotion Committee promotes the dairy industry and consumption of dairy products by sponsoring dairy education in school programs and local dairy education events, such as Cows on the Concourse and Breakfast on the Farm. To learn more, visit danecountydairy.com. 

Source: Dane County Dairy Promotion Committee