Nebraska Farm Bureau Awards Student Project Grants to 4-H and FFA Students Across the State

From show pigs and cattle, to gardening and beekeeping, the passion of the winners of the Nebraska Farm Bureau Student Project Grants shines through in each of their projects.

Nebraska Farm Bureau Student Project Grants, supported by the Charles Marshall Fund at the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation, were awarded to nine deserving student Farm Bureau members from across the state. Nebraska Farm Bureau awards $4,000 in grants for students to begin or expand their 4-H project or FFA Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAE) project. The grants are in the amounts of $250, $500, $750, and $1,000 until funds are exhausted.

“Our student members embrace the entrepreneurial spirit, and we are so proud of their commitment to their projects,” said Audrey Schipporeit, director of generational engagement. “Nebraska Farm Bureau is excited to support these students and we hope these funds will be able to help them reach their goals. We look forward to seeing Nebraska Farm Bureau students continue to bring new ideas and opportunities to their communities for many years to come.”

The grants are awarded to Nebraska Farm Bureau student members each year, including those under the age of 15. Those applicants’ parent(s) must be Farm Bureau members. Applicants who are age 16 or older must be student Farm Bureau members. If selected, the student must share how they have used the grant towards starting or growing their 4-H or SAE projects. Winners were selected by a Nebraska Farm Bureau committee.

Grant recipients are as follows:

• Kenzie Bartling is a Polk County Farm Bureau member and received $750 for her SAE project. The grant will help Bartling utilize a portion of school farmland to grow pumpkins, sweet corn, and Indian corn. The garden will bring access of fresh sweet corn to her community, and she plans to sell the pumpkins and Indian corn, working towards her goal to earn a FFA State Degree.
• Parker Person is a Jefferson County Farm Bureau member and received $750 to grow his ground maintenance project at a local rural church and cemetery. With this grant, Person plans to purchase a Mammotion Luba 2 Mower, an autonomous mower, as well as the needed cellular connection for the mower and the off-grid power system. His goal is to make his project sustainable and efficient.
• Emma Dux isa member of Jefferson County Farm Bureau and received $500 for her show pig project. Dux will be showing three purebred Hampshire pigs: two barrows and one gilt at her local county fair, the Nebraska State Fair, and the National Barrow Show in Minnesota. She also co-owns a purebred Duroc sow and a purebred Hampshire sow with her sister. Her goal is to become a better feeder, improve her skills in conditioning her pig’s skin and hair, and participate in the Nebraska Swine Circuit. The grant money will help her cover the expenses of her project while working towards her goals.
• Olivia Haack is a Kearney/Franklin County Farm Bureau member and received $500 for her project. She will use the grant money to begin a gardening SAE project in her FFA chapter. Haack plans to grow a variety of fruits and vegetable and, once they are grown, package and sell them at a farmer’s market, roadside stand, and online. The grant money will help her buy seeds, packaging supplies, and a strawberry tower, among other items needed for her business.  
• Levi Webb is a Merrick County Farm Bureau member and received $500 to expand his show pig business. He has a diversified operation of purebred hogs, including five hogs he will be breeding this summer. Webb shows pigs at his local county fair, the Nebraska State Fair, Aksarben, the Nebraska Swin Circuit, and other national shows. He plans to grow his herd to 20-30 sows. The grant money will be used to cover costs associated with growing his project.  
• Lexi Arbogast is a Clay County Farm Bureau member and received $250 for her project. She raises call ducks to show and plans on using the grant money to purchase additional call ducks to breed. The grant money will help her build a duck pen and grow her flock larger to be able to sell call ducks to other 4-H members.  
• Eldon Haack is a member of Kearney/Franklin County Farm Bureau and was awarded $250 to expand his cattle operation. Currently, Haack has a small cow herd made up of six breeding cows. The grant money will help him purchase six purebred Hereford embryos which will be used to calve two of his breeding cows. Using the embryos to grow his herd will allow him to bring in more high-quality genetics, improving the herd quality and size.
• Monroe Klingman is a Deuel County Farm Bureau member and received $250 to expand her market swine project. Klingman shows two market pigs at her local county fair and sells them following the show.  With this grant,she will be able to cover the cost of feeding her pigs, as well as other items needed to keep the pigs healthy and prepare them for the show.
• Mackenzie Person is a Jefferson County Farm Bureau member and received $250 to expand her beekeeping and honey business.