A committee of the National Corn Growers Association grower leaders announced the finalists for the 2023 NCGA Scholarship Programs. Twelve students will be awarded scholarships for the fall 2023 semester.
“NCGA works to build a strong future for corn farmers in all programs. These scholarships provide an important investment in building tomorrow’s ag industry leaders and problem-solvers,” said NCGA Member and Consumer Engagement Action Team Chair Dan Nerud. “Given the number of quality applicants and the breadth of their talents, I am excited to see how these students will help shape the industry and find solutions that keep farms strong well into the next generation.”
Graduate Student Scholarship winners
Maxwell Harman, Michigan State University
Max Harman is a first-year Ph.D. student studying Genetics and Genome Sciences and Molecular Plant Sciences at Michigan State University and the MSU-DOE Plant Research Lab, where he works on plant metabolic engineering and the upper limits of photosynthesis in the lab of Dr. Berkley Walker. Having grown up on a farm in rural Kansas, Max is deeply committed to using biotechnology to improve the lives of both producers and consumers globally and ultimately hopes to tackle these challenges head-on as an industry R&D scientist.
Autumn Mclaughlin, University of Tennessee
Autumn McLaughlin grew up in Unicoi, Tennessee. She is a Ph.D. candidate in Plant Pathology (Sustainable IPM and Disease Management) at the University of Tennessee under the mentorship of Dr. Heather Kelly. Previously, she earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Crop and Soil Science at the University of Tennessee at Martin, and a Master’s of Science in Entomology at Auburn University. Her Ph.D. research is focused on evaluating pre-harvest management strategies for corn ear-rots and their associated mycotoxins. Autumn has devoted her academic and future career to researching multidisciplinary crop protection approaches to provide growers with sustainable solutions.
William C. Berg Academic Excellence Scholarship winners
Molly Niewoehner, Iowa State University
A junior, Molly Niewoehner, is pursuing a major in Animal Science at Iowa State University. This semester, she was accepted into Iowa State’s College of Veterinary Medicine as a member of the Class of 2027. She plans to finish her undergraduate degree in Animal Science while attending veterinary school.
Tyler Schneider, West Texas A&M University
Tyler Schneider comes from a small farm and ranch in eastern Colorado, where he grew up raising corn, wheat, and cattle with his parents and grandparents. He is a junior attending West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas, studying Plant, Soil, and Environmental. He plans to return home after college to take over off-farm jobs and possibly find some farm ground.
Kiley Holbrook, The Ohio State University
Kiley is a third-year The Ohio State University student, double majoring in Agricultural Communication and Public Management, Leadership, and Policy. She is passionate about advocating for the agriculture industry and producers around the nation. Currently, Kiley also interns for Ohio Corn & Wheat, working in advancing Ohio grains. She will continue to grow her skills in agriculture policy this summer in her internship with Congressman Glenn Thompson, Chairman of the United States House Agriculture Committee in Washington, D.C.
She looks forward to actively participating in the discussion and process of a Farm Bill as a Congressional intern. After college, Kiley will continue her impact in the agriculture industry, working as an agricultural lobbyist in government relations.
Natalie Beckendorf, University of Minnesota
Natalie Beckendorf, a freshman enrolled at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Beckendorf is studying Agriculture Communications and Marketing. She is deeply engaged in various agricultural clubs and groups on campus and currently serves as the Minnesota FFA State Vice President for the 2022-2023 term.
After completing her degree, Natalie aspires to work in the crops and soils domain, using social media and agriculture literacy to enhance public awareness and positively promote the agricultural industry.
Madison Kreifels, University of Nebraska
Madison Kreifels, a sophomore at the University of Nebraska, majors in Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Communication and minors in the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program and Broadcasting in the Media. Passionate about advocating and spreading knowledge about the agricultural industry, she plans to launch her agricultural communications business, InfoFilm. In this work, she looks forward to reversing the growing gap in knowledge and understanding between the agricultural industry and its consumers.
Delaney Nichols, Iowa State University
Technical Schools and Community College Scholarship winners
Erik Keeton, Lincoln Land Community College
Erik Keeton, a senior at Waverly High School, will graduate this spring. He will attend Lincoln Land Community College for the Agriculture and Diesel Technologies Program this fall. The son of Mike and Jill Keeton, Erik has been a member of the Talkington 4-H club for 11 years and enjoys showing livestock. His hobbies include hunting, welding, and farming.
Carli Wright, Black Hawk College
Carli Wright hails from a diversified grain and livestock operation in north central Illinois, where her passion for agriculture began to “grow.” Throughout her time on the family farm, she soon began to see how I could build a meaningful career in the agricultural industry by serving both farmers and consumers. As of spring 2023, she is a Black Hawk College – East Campus sophomore and will graduate this May with an associate degree in science.
In the fall, she will continue her education and collegiate soil judging at Iowa State University, majoring in agronomy and emphasizing crop production. She looks forward to continuing her education and one day using the skills and knowledge she acquires as an agronomist.
Riley Hudnall, Murray State University
From Warren County, Kentucky, Riley Hudnall is pursuing an agricultural business degree at Murray State University. A junior this fall, Riley plans to use this degree to assist in the success of my family’s swine and row crop farming operations and gain off-farm experience within an agribusiness career.
Aaron Kendrick, Black Hawk College
As a 2022 Shallowater High School, Texas graduate, AJ Kendrick attends Black Hawk College East Campus in Galva, Illinois. As a member of their Horse Judging Team, he still finds time to volunteer and keep up with his studies. He is a member of the Agribusiness Club, Science Club, and Honors program. The East Campus is entirely Agricultural related studies allowing for education, friendships, and networking with some of the best in the industry. He will graduate in May 2024 and transfer back to Texas to complete his undergraduate work in Agricultural Economics. His future goals work towards creating agricultural sustainability through the lens of the consumer, producer, and manufacturer.
