Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation recently awarded $34,000 in scholarships to students across the state. The foundation annually recognizes Ohio students for their academic effort, community engagement and career interests that link agriculture to community service, education or scientific research.

Cindy Hollingshead Scholarship. This fund honors Cynthia Anne (Cindy) Hollingshead for her 39 years, service as Ohio Farm Bureau’s executive secretary, as well as a lifetime, volunteer commitment to local government and community service activities. Financial assistance goes to students who are pursuing careers focused on agriculture, community service and association leadership.

Recipients are Sarah Lehner, Delaware County; Meredith Oglesby, Highland County; Katie Frost, Fayette County; Todd Peterson, Fayette County; Louisa Pullins, Wood County; Sumedha Kappagantula, Butler County; Kady Davis, Carroll County; Kaitlyn Evans, Richland County; and Danielle Leeper, Union County. 

Darwin Bryan Scholarship. This fund was established in 1985 to honor Darwin R. Bryan, whose enthusiastic leadership during his 37 years of service to Ohio Farm Bureau has been an inspiration to rural youth throughout Ohio. The fund assists students who have been active in Farm Bureau’s youth program or whose parents are Farm Bureau members.

Recipients are Kristen Eisenhauer, Richland County; Katie Frost, Fayette County; Melanie Fuhrmann, Scioto County; Sarah Lehner, Delaware County; and Todd Peterson, Fayette County. 

Jack Fisher Scholarship. This fund is named after John C. “Jack” Fisher, Ohio Farm Bureau’s executive vice president for 20 years. His vision for this scholarship is to enable people to acquire the necessary tools for a more fulfilling life.

Recipients are Cora Dorman, Licking County; Kady Davis, Carroll County; Mary Baker, Wayne County; Garrett Stanfield, Adams County; Todd Peterson, Fayette County; Meredith Oglesby, Highland County; Savannah Ireland, Jackson County; Kayla Walls, Mercer County; Abigail Durheim, Delaware County; and Sarah Lehner, Delaware County. 

Kenny Walter Scholarship Fund. Kady Davis, Carroll County, and Cora Dorman, Licking County, received this award, which honors Kenny Walter, a longtime Farm Bureau staff member, leader and advocate for rural Ohio. The fund provides scholarships to students pursuing post-secondary education in agriculture who come from the 29 northeastern counties Walter served as a regional supervisor and organization director.

Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation Scholar Award. This award recognizes students for academic effort, community service and career interests who use agriculture to enhance the partnership between producers and consumers in rural, suburban or urban settings.

Receiving this award are Clare Sollars, Fayette County; Todd Peterson, Fayette County; Garrett Stanfield, Adams County; and Meredith Oglesby, Highland County. 

Women’s Leadership in Agriculture Scholarship. This scholarship is for students who have chosen a career path that benefits agricultural or community development, such as food production, scientific research, education and outreach, or leadership development. The program was established by an endowment from the Charlotte R. Schmidlapp Fund, FifthThird Bank.

Receiving the scholarship are Sarah Lehner, Delaware County; Melanie Fuhrmann, Scioto County; Katie Frost, Fayette County; Meredith Oglesby, Highland County; Holly Schmenk, Putnam County; Olivia Blay, Portage County; and Courtney Heiser, Seneca County.

Source: Ohio Farm Bureau