Farm Credit East Awards $88,000 in Higher Education Scholarships 

Farm Credit East, the Northeast’s largest agricultural lender, recently awarded $88,000 in higher education scholarships to 40 student recipients. Farm Credit East’s scholarship program supports students with diverse career aspirations in agriculture, commercial fishing, forest products and related fields from across the association’s eight-state territory.

“This year’s scholarship recipients aspire to make a difference in their communities and are well on their way to becoming future industry leaders and entrepreneurs,” said Farm Credit East CEO Mike Reynolds.

Farm Credit East Board Chair John Knopf commented, “The Farm Credit East Board of Directors congratulates these deserving students and wishes them the best for a successful educational experience.”

The following students each received a $2,000 Farm Credit East scholarship. Additionally, four individuals who plan to pursue a career in production agriculture received a Farm Credit East “Futures” Scholarship. Futures recipients receive an additional $2,000 scholarship.

FUTURES SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

• Royal W. Smith Jr. Scholarship Recipient: Hailee Allen, of New Haven, Vt., will attend SUNY Cobleskill to major in dairy management. Hailee plans to manage and eventually own a dairy operation.
• Allison Dunning, of Jackman, Maine, will major in agricultural business at SUNY Cobleskill. Allison aims to become a member of her family’s maple and livestock operations.
• Nina Dejnak, of Deerfield, Mass., will study animal science and wildlife management at SUNY Cobleskill. Nina plans to diversify and improve the environmental impact of her family’s farm.
• Peter Mueller, of Clifton Springs, N.Y., attends Cornell University where he majors in agricultural science. Peter plans to contribute to his family’s multigenerational dairy farm.

NEW YORK RECIPIENTS

• Jillian Brewer, of Oakfield, N.Y., will study agricultural science at Cornell University.
• Elsie Donlick, of Cortland, N.Y., majors in animal science at SUNY Cobleskill.
• Aaron Finn, of Holland Patent, N.Y., will major in agricultural business at SUNY Cobleskill.
• Vanessa Grant, of Middleport, N.Y., studies agricultural business at SUNY Cobleskill.
• Hannah Holmes, of East Concord, N.Y., will major in agricultural business at Alfred State College.
• Lauren King, of Schuylerville, N.Y., attends Cornell University to study animal science.
• Madelyn King, of North Java, N.Y., will attend Kansas State University to major in agricultural business.
• Adam Li, of Valley Stream, N.Y., majors in sustainable food and farming at the University of Massachusetts – Amherst.
• Amelia Mastalerz, of Hicksville, N.Y., studies animal science at Cornell University.
• Alexander McCarthy, of Hornell, N.Y., will attend SUNY ESF to study Natural Resources Management.
• Laura Mills, of Greenwood, N.Y., attends Alfred State College to study agricultural business.
• Garrett Phelps, of Copenhagen, N.Y., majors in agricultural business at SUNY Morrisville.
• Kaitlyn Putman, of Lisbon, N.Y., will attend St. Lawrence University to major in biology.
• Caylene Russell, of Plymouth, N.Y., will study animal science at Cornell University.
• Alexis Schultz, of Marion, N.Y., will attend University of Wisconsin – Madison to study dairy food and animal management.
• Elaina Wells, of Fort Plain, N.Y., will attend SUNY Cobleskill to study agricultural business
• Gianna E. White, of Vernon, N.Y., will study animal science at SUNY Cobleskill.
• Blanche Wolf, of Lyons, N.Y., attends SUNY Morrisville to study agricultural business.
• Stephanie Youngers, of Dansville, N.Y., majors in agricultural science and agronomy at SUNY Morrisville.