SUN PRAIRIE, Wis., March 25, 2026 – Compeer Financial selected 105 high school seniors from 447 eligible applicants to receive a scholarship worth $2,000 toward the pursuit of a degree related to agriculture. The competitive scholarship program through Compeer Giving was available to graduating high school seniors in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin, with 35 recipients selected from each state.
“Compeer is committed to sustaining agriculture and our rural communities, and the next generation is integral to supporting and expanding industries that contribute to a dynamic, collaborative and thriving rural environment,” said Karen Schieler, manager of Compeer Giving at Compeer Financial. “Compeer Giving is proud to help these hard-working students as they pursue a degree in agriculture or a related field and enable them to explore the vast career opportunities across ag-related industries.”
This year’s recipients excel academically with an average grade point average of 3.9 percent. In addition, 74 percent are involved in FFA, while 20 percent are members of 4-H. Areas of study receiving the most interest among recipients include ag, plant, animal and veterinary sciences; agricultural business; and ag education. Top universities of interest include University of Wisconsin-River Falls, University of Minnesota, University of Illinois, Iowa State University, University of Wisconsin-Madison and South Dakota State University. Twenty-two percent of recipients plan to attend a community or technical college.
To qualify for a scholarship, students had to meet three criteria: reside within Compeer Financial’s 144-county territory; hold a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale; and designate an agricultural major, express interest in a field related to agriculture, or have an agricultural or rural background. Recipients were selected based on their application and essay responses.
Compeer Financial also recognizes the importance of curating an interest in agriculture within urban schools. One scholarship per state was designated for a student from a metropolitan region with an interest in an agriculture-related field. Metropolitan areas include Cook County in Illinois; Hennepin and Ramsey counties in Minnesota; and Milwaukee County in Wisconsin.
Including this year’s scholarships, Compeer Financial has provided nearly $1.75 million to more than 1,000 graduating seniors to support education tuition expenses at community colleges, universities and technical schools. More information about the scholarship program, which began in 2018, can be found at compeer.com/scholarships.
This year’s 105 recipients each receiving a $2,000 scholarship are:
Illinois:
- Kyle Ainger, Harvard
- Grace Althaus, Sublette
- Alex Barnard, Chenoa
- Cadie Bickett, Princeton
- Jolene Blackert, Cambridge
- Austin Buckley, Reddick
- Isaac Burwell, Brimfield
- Anna Carlson, La Moille
- Pippa Dunnill, Kankakee
- Jack Dunseth, Macomb
- Sawyer Fry, Elizabeth
- Willa Getzelman, Hampshire
- Mason Gray, Aledo
- Lydia Hardy, Princeton
- Ryan Jagers, Princeton
- Nolan Kettering, Rushville
- Aidan Knobloch, Buckingham
- Kyla Lamm, Baileyville
- Madeline Lettow, Hanna City
- Ryan Lower, Reynolds
- Ellie McLaughlin, Amboy
- Ryan Mooney, Chicago
- Caitlin Murphy, Princeville
- Kelly O’Connor, Kankakee
- Emma Quinton, Shirley
- Finn Rosengren, Ottawa
- Riggens Shafer, Wyoming
- Caroline Spangler, Marietta
- Leah Stamberger, La Moille
- Trent Stiers, Williamsfield
- Ashley Wiegand, Congerville
- Allayna Wold, Leland
- Cole Wray, Quincy
- Meredith Yung, Alexis
- Charles Zimmerman, Tennessee
Minnesota:
- Ella Aarsvold, Kasson
- Treyton Alberts, Pine Island
- Luke Bastian, Fairfax
- Jonah Becker, Dundee
- Nathan Cowan, Storden
- Addison Dahler, Foley
- Matthew DeBates, Jasper
- Ella Doehling, Arlington
- Cayden Goslee, Glenville
- Ashlin Havumaki, Faribault
- Wyatt Herman, Hastings
- Carsten Ingvalson, Blooming Prairie
- Lillyan Kiehne, Harmony
- Charity Koller, Le Sueur
- Summer LaBrune, Holland
- Clare Landrum, Waterville
- Carson Lee, Fairfax
- Phoebe Madsen, Granada
- Samantha Mattson, Glencoe
- Luke McCrea, Faribault
- Madelyn Oltmans, Windom
- Mattea Quigley, Hastings
- Langston Richter, Faribault
- Anna Rott, Elgin
- Isabella Schiffler, Albany
- Blake Siewert, Lake City
- Meryn Silbaugh, Lyle
- Samantha Stokesbary, Pipestone
- Sven Storbakken, Princeton
- Jensyn Storhoff, Lanesboro
- Brooke Tieskotter, Harmony
- Liv Vander Kooi, Worthington
- Lydia Warmkagathje, St. Charles
- Beth Wendinger, Glencoe
- Myranda Widboom, Worthington
Wisconsin:
- Macie Abraham, Plymouth
- Christian Bauer, Durand
- Blake Bechel, Elmwood
- Sawyer Bruins, Brandon
- Drew Butzler, Rockland
- Mara Endres, Waunakee
- Hannah Fesenmaier, Elmwood
- Alison Gartman, Sheboygan
- Lillian Harmon, Dallas
- Rylee Hoffmann, Dalton
- Madilynn Holland, Portage
- Weston Huenink, Cedar Grove
- Bryndalyn Kanable, Richland Center
- Hailey Kiedrowski, Ixonia
- Caiden Kohlman, Chilton
- Caden Lepple, Beaver Dam
- Kristal Levendoski, Westby
- Makenna Martin, Mineral Point
- Morgan McClurg, Westby
- Emersyn Miller, Rio
- Jayden Mosley, Beloit
- Sophia Rauls, DeForest
- Dylan Ryan, Fond du Lac
- Elizabeth Schoeneberg, Poynette
- Mariah Schwartz, New Lisbon
- Harper Semke, Coon Valley
- Lillian Small, Watertown
- Keegan Steinke, Orfordville
- Danica Stello, Mindoro
- Oscar Stowell, Fox Lake
- Jadyn Thaemert, Centuria
- Darby Trent, Amery
- Samuel Wallace, Rice Lake
- Greta Wiedenfeld, Jefferson
- Mary Zwald, Beaver Dam
About Compeer Giving
Compeer Giving is Compeer Financial’s robust corporate giving program, focused on philanthropic support for agriculture and rural communities across the upper Midwest. Since 2018, Compeer has distributed nearly $40 million – enhancing agriculture education and workforce, inspiring youth, empowering farmers, nurturing rural communities and equipping rural first responders. The Compeer Giving Board of Trustees is committed to creating a positive impact and supporting the vision for creating a world where agriculture and rural communities are dynamic, collaborative and thriving. More information about Compeer Giving can be found at Compeer.com/giving-back.
About Compeer Financial
Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural communities. The $36.1 billion organization provides loans, leases, risk management and other financial services throughout 144 counties in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Based in the Upper Midwest, Compeer Financial exists to champion the hopes and dreams of rural America, while providing personalized service and expertise to clients and the agriculture industry.
Compeer Financial is the third largest cooperative of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network of lending institutions supporting agriculture and rural communities with reliable, consistent credit and financial services. Learn more about Compeer Financial’s patronage program.
