GROWMARK Names Scholarship Winners

Thirty-eight college students from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin will be able to continue their education with help from the regional agricultural supply cooperative, GROWMARK.

They are recipients of GROWMARK-sponsored scholarships aimed at promoting higher education in agriculture and business.

“GROWMARK invests more than $47,500 annually on scholarships. We’re investing today for a return tomorrow,” says Steve German, GROWMARK university relations and member employment manager. “There’s a need for agriculture businesses to support formal education to strengthen agriculture.”

GROWMARK has been supporting college students with scholarships since the early 1960s. Today, they are awarded to students majoring in agriculture or accounting at 15 universities and colleges. Each educational institution is responsible for the selection process and awarding scholarships. University scholarship recipients are honored each year at the GROWMARK Annual Meeting in Chicago.

Students receiving scholarships are listed below:


Dordt College
Rachel Gorter, daughter of Harold and Ruth Gorter of Otley, Iowa, is majoring in plant science.

Illinois College
Heather Miller, daughter of Robert and Kathi Miller of Bloomington, Ill., is majoring in communications and political science.

Illinois State University
Tyler Lyons, son of Steve and Sandy Lyons of Sidell, Ill., is majoring in agribusiness and animal science.
Calahan Mallaney, son of James and Rosemary Mallaney of Kankakee, Ill., is majoring in agribusiness.
Katie Miller, daughter of Tim and Becky Miller of Morton, Ill., is majoring in finance and accounting.
Heather Pierson, daughter of Dale and Tina Pierson of Elburn, Ill., is majoring in agribusiness.
Sarah Siefker, daughter of Darrell and Susan Siefker of Monee, Ill., is majoring in agribusiness and animal industry management.

Illinois Wesleyan University
Sarah Micale, daughter of Col. Peter and Diane Micale of Minot AFB, N.D., is majoring in accounting.

Iowa State University
Jess Cavin, son of Mark and Diane Cavin of Sigourney, Iowa, is majoring in agribusiness.
Josh Henik, son of John and Jan Henik of Mt. Vernon, Iowa, is majoring in agronomy.
Kaylee Keppy, daughter of Loren and Jeantee Keppy of Durant, Iowa, is majoring in animal science.
Sarah Pakala, daughter of Lynn and Gayl Pakala of Dike, Iowa, is majoring in agricultural studies.
Kimberly Peterson, daughter of Lloyd and Nancy Peterson of Cleghorn, Iowa, is majoring in agricultural business.
Kiley Swanson, son of Charles and Judy Swanson of Dayton, Iowa, is majoring in agricultural systems technology.

Murray State University
Jordan Timberlake, daughter of Ed and Dolores Timberlake of Mt. Carmel, Ill., is majoring in agribusiness.

Northwest Missouri State University
Brian Coleman, son of Ben and Nancy Coleman of Callao, Mo., is majoring in agriculture business.
Justin Findley, son of Rick and Judy Findley of New Hampton, Mo., is majoring in agronomy.
Sarah Meissen, daughter of Charles and Nancy Meissen of Bethany, Mo., is majoring in agribusiness and animal science.

Pennsylvania State University
Ben Kratzer, son of James and Doris Kratzer of Port Trevorton, Penn., is majoring in agricultural systems management.
Kristina McAllister, daughter of Wesley and Paula McAllister of Petersburg, Penn., is majoring in animal sciences.

Purdue University
Kimberly Donaldson, daughter of Paul and Kathie Donaldson of Kentland, Ind., is majoring in agronomic business and marketing.

Southern Illinois University
Leslie Frost, daughter of Terry and Sandy Frost of Louisville, Ill., is majoring in plant and soil science.
Mary Kate Huebener, daughter of William and Gayle Huebener of Brighton, Ill., is majoring in agribusiness economics accounting.
Sarah Jo Timmons, daughter of Randall and Rhonda Timmons of Seneca, Ill., is majoring in agricultural systems.
Kristen Woods, daughter of Paul and Laura Woods of Newton, Ill., is majoring in agribusiness economics.

University of Illinois
Mitch Heisler, son of Mike and Diane Heisler of Warsaw, Ill., is majoring in agricultural and consumer economics. He is the recipient of the Herndon Scholarship, established to honor Fred E. Herndon, president of a GROWMARK predecessor company from 1931-1959.
Chelsi Rhodes, daughter of Lonnie and Kristy Rhodes of Thomasboro, Ill., is majoring in agri-accounting.
Mark Smith, son of Roger and Carol Smith of Earlville, Ill., is majoring in crop sciences.
Dorothy Spencer, daughter of Brad and Prudence Spencer of Yale, Ill., is majoring in agricultural communications.
Adam Tallcott, son of Wayne and Deb Tallcott of Mendon, Ill., is majoring in agribusiness markets and management. He is the recipient of the Jonathan Baldwin Turner Scholarship. GROWMARK sponsors the scholarship to honor Melvin E. Sims, president of GROWMARK, Inc. from 1959-1980.

University of Wisconsin - Madison
Sheri Nelson, daughter of Ben and Cindey Nelson of East Troy, Wis., is majoring in life science communications.

University of Wisconsin – Platteville
Carlee Bocker, daughter of Terry and Vicki Bocker of Lanark, Ill., is majoring in agribusiness.
Curtis Goeke, son of David and Valerie Goeke of Dakota, Ill., is majoring in agricultural business.
Drew Nesemeier, son of John and Jan Nesemeier of Milledgeville, Ill., is majoring in soil and crop science.

University of Wisconsin – River Falls
Tyler Anderson, son of Richard and Marlys Anderson of Oronoco, Minn., is majoring in agribusiness.

Western Illinois University
Jake Bonnell, son of Jan and the late Jeff Bonnell of Amboy, Ill., is majoring in agricultural business.
Rachel Knisley
Bryan Schullian, son of Dan and Beth Schullian of Quincy, Ill., is majoring in agriculture education.