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The class of 2025 Farm Credit agriculture scholars
was recognized during a scholarship luncheon at Carriage House Event
Center in Altamont Thurs., May 22.
A total of $75,000 of scholarships were awarded to 30 high school
seniors. Each scholar receives $2,500 from FCI to pursue a degree
within the field of agriculture. 24 of the students attended the
recognition program.
This marks the 21st year of the Farm Credit agriculture scholarship
program, which has awarded over $860,000 to 536 students in central
and southern Illinois since 2004. Scholarship selections are based
on participation and leadership contributions within school and
community organizations, a genuine passion for farming and/or
agriculture, and a commitment to pursuing an agriculture-related
career.
“Farm Credit Illinois is proud to celebrate the remarkable
achievements and aspirations of these students who represent the
future of the agriculture industry,” says Kelly Hunt, FCI’s chief
executive officer. “We are excited to see their passions and talents
drive innovation and growth in the agriculture industry and Rural
America as they pursue continued education.”
2025 FCI Agriculture Scholars are:
• Greyson Applebee of Forsyth (Macon County) will graduate from
Maroa-Forsyth High School and attend Southern Illinois University
Carbondale to study Agricultural Law/Environmental Policy. Greyson’s
parents are Jill and Phil Applebee.
• Wyatt Arnold of Galatia (Saline County) will graduate from Galatia
High School and attend Southeastern Illinois College to study
Mechanical or Electrical Engineering. Wyatt’s parents are Tim and
Eliza Arnold.
• Emma Beckman of Dieterich (Effingham County) will graduate from
Dieterich Jr./Sr.High School and attend Lake Land College to study
Agricultural Communications and Marketing. Emma’s parents are Hank
and Shelly Beckman.
• Olivia Brodbeck of Batchtown (Calhoun County) will graduate from
Brussels Community High School and attend Western Illinois
University to study Ag Science. Olivia’s parents are Chad and Amanda
Brodbeck.
• Carson Brown of Winchester (Scott County) will graduate from
Winchester High School and attend Murray State University to study
Seed and Soil Management. Carson’s parents are Chuck and Angie
Brown.
• Eli Bryant of Carmi (White County) will graduate
from Carmi-White County High School and attend Lake Land College in
the John Deere Tech Program. Eli’s parents are Brian and Sandra
Bryant.
• Cali Bunting of Albion (Edwards County) will graduate from Edwards
County High School and attend Wabash Valley College to study
Agriculture Business. Cali’s parents are Jeff and Valerie Bunting.
• Cara Carrillon of Carlyle (Clinton County) will graduate from
Central Community High School and attend Kansas State University to
study Animal Science. Cara’s parents are Nicole and Curt Carrillon.
• Caden Crain of Mounds (Pulaski County) will graduate from Century
High School and attend Shawnee Community College to study Ag
Business. Caden’s parents are Collin and Hilary Crain.
• Wyatt Draper of Hutsonville (Crawford County) will graduate from
Hutsonville High School and attend Lake Land College to study
Agricultural Production & Management. Wyatt’s parents are Matt and
Jodi Draper.
• Adaline Eisenmann of Mahomet (Champaign County) will graduate from
Mahomet-Seymour High School and attend Vincennes University to study
Animal Husbandry. Adaline’s parents are Derric and Jodi Eisenmann.
• Makinzie Gaither of Sumner (Lawrence County) will graduate from
Red Hill Jr./Sr. High School and attend Lake Land College to study
Agriculture Education. Makinzie’s parents are Benjamin and Samantha
Gaither.
• Morgan Hampton of Waggoner (Montgomery County) will graduate from
Lincolnwood High School and attend the University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign to study Animal Science. Morgan’s parents are Phil
and Cassandra Hampton.
• John Heelen of Paris (Edgar County) will graduate
from Paris Cooperative High School and attend Lake Land College to
study Agricultural Business. John’s parents are Morris and Amy
Heelen.
• Blake Homann of Charleston (Coles County) will graduate from
Charleston High School and attend Lake Land College in the Ag
Transfer Program. Blake’s parents are Brad and Ellen Homann.
• Adam Huffman of Jacksonville (Morgan County) will
graduate from Routt Catholic High School and attend Murray State
University to study Agriculture Business. Adam’s parents are Trevor
and Monica Huffman.
• Kadie Hummel of Cabery (Ford County) will graduate from Tri-Point
High School and attend Casper Community College to study Animal
Science. Kadie’s parents are Dale and Holly Hummel.
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Pictured from left to right: Back row: Ben Sellmeyer, Greyson
Applebee, Wyatt Arnold, Henry Ruppert, Blake Homann, Lane Stine,
John Heelen, Carson Brown; Middle row: Avery Watson, Cali Bunting,
Jasmin Leon, Emma Beckman, Reed Naughton, Wyatt Draper, Ryan Lowis,
Adam Huffman, Adaline Eisenmann; Front row: Abilene Norris, Makinzie
Gaither, Carleigh Kleiss, Olivia Brodbeck, Morgan Hampton, Tara
Taft, Alissa Korsmeyer
Scholars not pictured: Brock Portz, Caden Crain, Cara
Carrillon, Elijah Bryant, Isabella Phillips, Kadie Hummel
• Carleigh Kleiss of Tuscola
(Douglas County) will graduate from Tuscola Community High
School and attend Parkland College to study Agriculture.
Carleigh’s parents are Robert M. Kleiss and Heather Salvatore.
• Alissa Korsmeyer of Highland (Madison County) will graduate
from Highland High School and attend Illinois State University
to study Agronomy Management. Alissa’s parents are Kenneth and
Janice Korsmeyer.
• Jasmin Leon of Lincoln (Logan County) will graduate from
Lincoln Community High School and attend Oklahoma State
University to study Agricultural Education. Jasmin’s parents are
Maria and Ernesto Leon.
• Ryan Lowis of Piasa (Macoupin County) will graduate from
Southwestern High School and attend Illinois College to study
Agribusiness. Ryan’s parents are Charles and Karen Lowis.
• Reed Naughton of Atlanta (Logan County) will graduate from
Olympia High School and attend Lake Land College to study
Agronomy. Reed’s parents are Dan and Amy Naughton.
• Abby Norris of Raymond (Montgomery County) will graduate from
Lincolnwood High School and attend the University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign to study Animal Science. Abby’s parents are
Jeff and Emily Norris.
• Issy Phillips of Du Quoin (Perry County) will graduate from Du
Quoin High School and attend Purdue University to study Agronomy
and Spanish. Issy’s parents are Jeff and Billie Phillips.
• Brock Portz of Marissa (Washington County) will graduate from
Marissa High School and attend Murray State University to study
Agriculture Business. Brock’s parents are Brent and Kim Portz.
• Henry Ruppert of Coulterville (Perry County) will graduate
from Pinckneyville Community High School and attend Rend Lake
College to study Agriculture Business. Henry’s parents are Jon &
Cortnie Ruppert.
• Ben Sellmeyer of Maroa (Macon County) will graduate from
Warrensburg-Latham High School and attend Oklahoma State
University to study Animal Science/Ag Business Marketing. Ben’s
parents are Clay and Katie Sellmeyer.
• Lane Stine of Farina (Fayette County) will graduate from St.
Elmo High School and attend Southern Illinois University
Carbondale to study Agriculture Systems. Lane’s parents are Dan
and Natalie Stine.
• Tara Taft of Springfield (Sangamon County) will graduate from
A-C Central High School and attend Purdue University to study
Animal Science. Tara’s parents are Mike and Tracy Taft.
• Avery Watson of Philo (Champaign County) will
graduate from Unity High School and attend Iowa State University to
study Agronomy. Avery’s parents are Adam and Anne Watson.
About Farm Credit Illinois:
Farm Credit Illinois (FCI) is an agricultural financial cooperative
owned by 18,900 farmer, rural landowner, and agribusiness voting
stockholders in the southern 60 counties of Illinois. Dedicated to
Helping Farm Families Succeed, FCI provides competitive and flexible
financing, crop insurance expertise, and Rural 1st® country life
lending. FCI manages an $8 billion loan portfolio, sells 1.5 million
acres of crop insurance coverage, and employs 290 staff in the
Mahomet headquarters and 14 regional offices. The Association is
returning $35 million of 2024 earnings as cash patronage to
member-borrowers in June. The U.S. Farm Credit System is a network
of locally owned cooperatives supporting rural communities, farm
families, and agriculture with reliable, consistent credit and
financial services today and tomorrow.
[Rachel Hartman
Farm Credit Illinois
Communication & Content Specialist]
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