Ag Future Scholarships | Kansas High School & College Students
Ag Future Scholarships | Kansas High School & College Students

Ag Future Scholarships For Western Kansas Students From Western State Bank and American Implement

Western State Bank and American Implement have joined forces to help support the future of the agriculture industry by providing the Ag Future Scholarships Program to eligible high school seniors and current college students pursuing further education (degree or program) in an agriculture field. 

Ten (10) $1,000 scholarships are awarded each year.

2025 Recipients:

Congratulations to the following students! 

  • Bay Ellis, Springfield High School (Baca County, CO, resident)
  • Brekkyn Konecny, Kansas State University (Ford County resident)
  •  Trace Kopper, Cimarron High School
  •  Madelyn Schiltz, Oakley High School 
  •  Maiya Shelor, Kansas State University (Clark County resident)
  •  Emily Shelton, Garden City Community College (Hodgeman County resident)
  •  Gage Sorensen, Garden City High School
  •  Breven Vulgamore, Scott Community High School
  •  Hannah White, Stanton County Jr/Sr High School
  •  Dyson Winfrey, South Gray High School

Eligibility includes:

  • High school senior or current college student with a permanent address in the following counties: Kansas - Cheyenne, Clark, Finney, Ford, Gove, Grant, Gray, Greeley, Hamilton, Haskell, Hodgeman, Kearny, Lane, Logan, Meade, Morton, Rawlins, Scott, Seward, Sheridan, Sherman, Stanton, Stevens, Thomas, Wallace, Wichita; Colorado – Baca
  • Students who ultimately have a goal of working within the agriculture industry and pursuing further education (either a degree or program) in an agriculture-related field. Examples can include but are not limited to: Ag Business, Ag Communications, Ag Economics, Ag Education, Ag Finance, Food Science, Horticulture, Agronomy, Technical Program, Animal Science, Precision Agriculture, and more.
  • 3.0 GPA or greater

Completed application must contain:

  • A completed application form (completed electronically)
  • One letter of reference* – preferably speaking to the applicant’s interest and passion for agriculture (*letters must come from non-familial relations)
  • Most recent official school transcript
  • Resume or detailed list of extracurricular activities and/or community involvement
  • A picture of applicant (to be used if selected as a scholarship recipient)
  • Either a written essay (500 - 700 words) OR a video submission (3 - 4 minutes) answering one of the following two prompts: 1.) How do you hope to impact the agricultural industry/community with your chosen profession? OR 2.) What do you feel is/are the biggest challenge/challenges to the agriculture industry and how do you hope to help overcome it/them?

Past scholarship applicants are encouraged to apply, but must submit all new materials including essay/video and letters of reference to qualify.

 

Deadline to apply: March 31, 2025

Reminder to all candidates who submitted an application: By submitting an application, the applicant is granting permission for American Implement and Western State Bank to potentially use submitted material and/or photos of the applicant on either company’s website, social media accounts or published materials highlighting the scholarship program and retains rights to all entries once submitted.

Scholarship Selection

Announcement of selected candidates and distribution of funds:
Winners will be notified and announced by April 18, 2025.  
Funds will be distributed once proof of enrollment into educational program has been provided to scholarship committee. Upon notification of selection, scholarship recipients will be informed of the address to send enrollment verification.
If a selected candidate fails to provide proof of enrollment into an educational program or does not attend educational program fall semester of 2025, the next eligible candidate will be awarded the scholarship in their stead.

Scholarship recipients will be invited to attend a celebration event hosted by American Implement and Western State Bank with fellow recipients to be recognized for their accomplishment and presented with an ag career day and networking opportunity with both American Implement and Western State Bank representatives.

Past Scholarship Recipients:

  1. Brennan Aldridge, Weskan High School
  2. Baylor Deyoe, Ulysses High School
  3. Lesly Dominguez, Goodland Jr./Sr High School
  4. Britton Grigsby, Ashland High School
  5. Matthew Hendricks, Cheylin High School
  6. Braden Hoskinson, Satanta High School
  7. Brady Ketzner, Cheylin High School
  8. Kaylen Langhofer, Southwestern Heights High School
  9. Kelsey Selensky, Quinter High School
  10. Madison Seyb, Stanton County Jr/Sr High School
  11. Baylee Hutcheson, Garden City High School
  12. Bryson Stejskal, Ulysses High School
  13. Carissa Sohm, Rolla High School
  14. Courtney Clinesmith, Kansas State University 
  15. Dalton Winfrey, South Gray High School
  16. Harrison Bhend, Goodland Junior/Senior High
  17. Jaydon Hahn, Hodgeman County High School
  18. Kyle Doll, Kansas State University
  19. Mackenzie Birney,  Kansas State University
  20. Trevor Kaiser, Quinter High School
  21. Kassie Miller, Golden Plains High School
  22. Maggie Brown, McPherson College
  23. Macey Lamb, Oakley Senior High
  24. Jonathan Temaat, Oakley Senior High
  25. Karley Larson, Kansas State University
  26. Brandon Springston, Garden City High School
  27. Molly McClure, Kansas State University
  28. Korben Clawson, Meade High School
  29. Katherine Mongeau, Kansas State University
  30. Brady Deges, South Gray High School 
  31. Garin Cooper, St. Francis High School
  32. Blakely Aldridge, Weskan High School
  33. Dane Scheetz, Oakely Senior High
  34. Kayler Getz, Quinter High School
  35. Landon Trout, Scott City High School
  36. Matthew Morgan, Lakin High School
  37. Rilee McGraw, Garden City High School
  38. Cole Lehman, Ingalls High School
  39. Halle Robinson, Dodge City High School
  40. Aaron Skidmore, South Gray High School