These $1,000 scholarships are available to any farm, ranch, agribusiness woman, or her daughter to pursue accredited courses directly related to agriculture. They are the Jean Ibendahl Scholarship for the High School Graduate and the Sister Thomas More Bertels Continuing Education Scholarship.

Madeline Zutz of Valders, WI, is currently enrolled at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine.

”Financially, farming has been a tough business for my family. My commitment toward agriculture is evident in the organizations, jobs, and events that I choose to be involved with, which excites me to continue in my agricultural journey.”

Attending the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine is Rachel Poor of Pittsfield, IL; Rachel Poor enjoys activities that help others. Mounted Angels, a program that provides therapeutic horse riding for individuals with special needs and children, is one of those ways while additionally volunteering at an animal shelter. Rachel has the desire to return home and help the local farmers she has grown to admire within the community.

These $1,200 scholarships exemplify the characteristics of hard work, dedication, and a spirit within the women in agriculture.

“After reviewing all the applications, these young women are a role model and an inspiration to other women,”

expresses Ardath DeWall, AAW Foundation’s Scholarship Chair.

With past experiences and future education, Molly Biggs of Dixon, IL, hopes to increase transparency between producers and consumers in the agriculture industry. Her plans include attending Kansas State University and double majoring in Agriculture Communications and Animal Science with a career goal to work in Ag Marketing and Digital Design.

Brylie Thompson of Genoa, CO, has a personal goal to attain an Agricultural Communications and Agricultural Education Degree at Texas A&M University. Her heart for service shone through by donating holiday blankets to less-fortunate elementary students. She took her idea, contacted teachers to determine how many blankets would be needed, organized the FFA Chapter in completing the project while raising the funding to complete it. A true testament to get a job done.

This $1,000 scholarship went to Madison Baumgartner of Bismarck, ND. She was previously enrolled in a study abroad course that focused on comparative livestock systems in the Midwest vs. England. Madison is a very inquisitive individual who is passionate about the veterinary science industry and the animals within them. She will do well as she works toward her career goal of becoming a food animal veterinarian. The AAW Foundation thanks Jane Marshall for putting this scholarship together and thanks to the members and friends who contributed to it.

The post American Agri-Women Foundation awards scholarships appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

Farm Credit Council President and CEO Todd Van Hoose said:

“Farm Credit grew and strengthened its commitment to young beginning and small farmers and ranchers in 2019, despite the challenges of continued low commodity prices, multiple severe weather events and an uncertain trade outlook, as demonstrated in FCA’s report. Farm Credit takes its mission to support rural communities and agriculture very seriously. And lending to young, beginning, and small farmers is at the core of that mission. That commitment manifests in a variety of ways across the country, including working alongside young, beginning and small farmers, thinking through individual business plans and developing the appropriate financing for each specific operation.”

In 2019, Farm Credit increased the number of loans to young farmers by 5.9 percent, beginning farmers by 8.1 percent and small farmers by 7.8 percent, as compared to 2018. Similarly, the dollar volume of those loans increased, too, by 7.3 percent to young farmers, 8 percent to beginning farmers and 15.9 percent for small farmers.

The FCA is an independent federal regulatory agency charged with oversight of the Farm Credit System. It annually reviews Farm Credit’s performance on meeting the needs of YBS farmers and ranchers and reports its findings to Congress.

Farm Credit supports rural communities and agriculture with reliable, consistent credit and financial services, today and tomorrow. It has been fulfilling its mission of helping rural America grow and thrive for more than a century with the capital necessary to make businesses successful and by financing vital infrastructure and communication services.

The post Farm Credit’s Commitment to young, beginning and small farmers grew in 2019 appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.