Kara Berrey, of Carrollton, Mo., won the 2016-17 Secure Optimal Yield (SOY) Scholarship sponsored by the American Soybean Association (ASA) and BASF.

The ASA SOY Scholarship is a $5,000 award presented to an outstanding high school senior who has achieved high academic and leadership requirements, and is planning to pursue a degree in an agriculture-related field at an accredited college or university.

Berrey will pursue a degree in agricultural education at Missouri State University beginning this fall. She hopes to one day become a 4-H youth specialist.

HIGHER EDUCATION: ASA President Richard Wilkins presents Carrollton High School senior Kara Berrey with the prestigious Secure Optimal Yield Scholarship sponsored by the ASA and BASF.

Berrey has been active in 4-H and FFA from the county to the national level and has held several leadership positions. She’s also represented Missouri as a National 4-H Congress and Citizenship Washington Focus delegate, meeting with state representatives and senators to voice concerns of Americans in rural communities.

"She will be a great advocate for agriculture and help in ensuring the future youth are knowledgeable and accountable for agriculture," says Laura Owen, Berrey’s school counselor in a letter of recommendation. "There is no doubt in my mind that she has a bright future ahead of her in the ag industry."

ASA and BASF presented Berrey with awards during Commodity Classic in New Orleans.

"ASA is proud to partner with BASF to offer this opportunity and aid in the continuing education of an outstanding student and young ag advocate," said ASA President Richard Wilkins, a producer from Greenwood, Del. "We are excited by Kara’s enthusiasm for agriculture and look forward to seeing the leader she becomes."

Source: ASA