Farm bureau to award scholarships Sunday
The Kane County Farm Bureau Foundation Board has announced that it will award nearly $22,000 in scholarships for the 2012-13 school year.
Eighteen students have been selected to receive $1,000 KCFB Foundation General Scholarships and one high school senior was chosen to receive the $1,500 President’s Scholarship. The foundation also administers the $1,000 John Buck Memorial Scholarship award and the $1,250 Chuck Swanson Memorial Scholarship.
Scholarship recipients were selected from 29 applications submitted. The foundation board extends congratulations to these young leaders of tomorrow and best wishes as they pursue their academic studies preparing to become future leaders in America’s most essential industry, agriculture.
The foundation was established in 1986 by the Kane County Farm Bureau to carry out charitable work in the advancement of agricultural literacy and preparing students for careers in the agriculture industry. In its history, it has awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars in college scholarships and internships.
As a nonprofit entity, the foundation solicits and distributes private funding for agriculturally related scholarship, education and leadership training, Ag-in-the-Classroom programs, Ag Literacy, charitable activities and research.
Through the Foundation’s Harvest for All hunger relief effort, Farm Bureau members have donated over $60,000 to local food pantries in just the last three years.
For more information on Kane County Farm Bureau’s Foundation Scholarship programs, contact Steve Arnold, executive director at (630) 584-8660.
Ÿ Michael Long, the son of John and Nan Long of Big Rock, will be awarded its $1,500 President’s Scholarship. This honor was reserved for the high school senior among this year’s 29 applicants with the most outstanding combination of scholastics, activities, goals and ACT score. Michael attended Hinckley Big Rock High School where he participated in many activities including student council and FFA, where he served in several leadership roles including chapter president and historian. He was a member of National Honor Society and Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering. Michael has worked on his family’s corn and soybean farm from a young age and for several years has farmed 30 acres of that farm on his own — renting the land from his father and making his own decisions about planting and harvesting his crops. In the fall, he plans to pursue a degree in agribusiness at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.
Ÿ Tyler Fabrizius, a senior at Kaneland High School in Maple Park, will receive the John Buck Memorial Scholarship for the 2012-13 school year. Tyler was selected from a pool of 29 applicants in a seven-county area. This fall, he plans to attend the University of Wisconsin-Platteville to start his major in agribusiness. Tyler is the son of Peter and Jean Fabrizius of Maple Park. He has long had an interest in pursuing a degree in agricultural, having grown up on a farm and raising and showing pigs from a young age. In addition to local livestock shows, Tyler has competed in the North American International Livestock Exposition. He also attended two National Junior Swine Association Leadership Conferences to build his leadership skills. Tyler has participated in 4-H activities for 10 years, serving in leadership roles including chapter president. He served as County 4-H Ambassador and participated in the National 4-H Congress. Tyler was named to his high school’s academic high honor roll all four years. The scholarship provides $1,000 for tuition and fees for a student pursuing higher education in an agriculture-related career field. 2012 marks the 11th year this scholarship has been awarded. It was made possible by a generous gift from the family and friends of John Buck, who established the Buck Brothers Inc. John Deere dealership in Hampshire in 1977. The scholarship is available to any student in the seven-county service area around the Buck Bros./J.W. Turf John Deere dealership in Hampshire.
Ÿ Carolyn Gehrke is the recipient of the $1,250 Chuck Swanson Memorial Scholarship. Carolyn is the daughter of Robert and Beth Gehrke of Elgin. Carolyn received an associate degree from Elgin Community College and is currently pursuing a degree in agricultural economics at the University of Illinois. There she is the Ag in the Classroom chair for her sorority, serves as secretary on the ACES Student Council, as well as participating in other ag-related clubs. Carolyn spent 3 months in Germany on an International 4H Youth Exchange, learning about German culture and agriculture in Europe and traveled to Sierra Leone to research work being done there through the U of I extension. She plans for a career using her international experience and the skills she gained on her parents’ farm and operating her own fall décor business in Elgin. The Chuck Swanson Memorial Scholarship was established by the family and friends of the former Farm Bureau director and longtime volunteer to provide awards for students residing in Kane County pursuing a degree in an agriculture-related career field.
The other 2012 KCFB Foundation Scholarship recipients are: Nolan Anderson, Hampshire; Chase Bornemann, Sugar Grove; Mitchell Dienst, Maple Park; Robert Dunteman, Elburn
Grace Fabrizius, Maple Park; Olivia Fabrizius, Maple Park; Sally Gorenz, Maple Park; Buddy Hass, Elburn; Kristen Hector, West Dundee; Katherine Horton, St. Charles; Leah Horton, St. Charles; Alex Klein, Burlington; Kayla Meyer, Hinckley; Karissa Pitstick, Maple Park; Lance Richardson, Hampshire; Cynthia Roberg, Maple Park; Larisa Sica, Campton Hills; and Sarah Weirich, Hinckley.