Lauren Almasy
Ohio’s 2016 Brown Swiss Queen, Lauren Almasy, Hubbard, Ohio, won a 2017 Farm Kids for College Scholarship. In her role as Brown Swiss Queen, Almasy traveled across Ohio, and nationally, to promote the dairy breed.
She was also honored as a finalist for the National Youth Achievement and Ambassador contests in the Brown Swiss Association. She developed a dairy promotions program, Farm to Fridge, which she presented in libraries, at a food pantry and to urban school children.
“Lauren has always shown great enthusiasm to excel in everything she does,” says Richard Owen, her 4-H dairy adviser and member of Ohio’s 4-H Dairy Committee. “…She continually strives to bring her best to the table and is very much self-driven.”
Almasy has set her sights on The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, with a major in agricultural communications and a minor in dairy science. She plans to build a career as a spokesperson for the dairy industry.
Samantha Schuessler
Samantha Schuessler, a 2017 Farm Kids for College Scholar, hails from America’s Dairyland, but wants to work in agriculture internationally when she completes her education. She’s bound for California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, Calif., and will choose between agriculture business, agriculture communications and dairy science majors.
Schuessler has noteworthy qualities in her ability to “look at things in a broad sense with objectivity, a strong work ethic and a strong desire to learn,” says Dennis Duchac, an Advanced Placement class instructor of Schuessler’s at Antigo High School, Antigo, Wis. Her commitment to agriculture is evident, and she consistently brings a “keen perspective” to classroom discussions, he says.
Ben Luebbering
Ben Luebbering, St. Thomas, Mo., a Farm Kids for College Scholarship recipient and a graduate of Fatima High School, will become a Mizzou Tiger in August, pursuing a degree in agriculture business management at University of Missouri – Columbia.
Luebbering participated in FFA’s Supervised Agriculture Experience program, focusing on market hogs, show stock and replacement breeding stock. He has competed in FFA knowledge, dairy cattle evaluation, meats evaluation and livestock evaluation events. He is also employed at Profit Points Farm LLC.
“When you get to speak to Ben you really get the feel of passion he has for farming and caring for livestock and growing crops,” says, John Juergensmeyer, adult agriculture instructor, Osage R-3 School District.
Luebbering intends to return to his family farm to help meet the food and feed demands of 2050’s projected 9 billion world population, and beyond. Using his education and agriculture experience, he also plans to travel and advocate for agriculture.
Each year National Farmers honors three Farm Kids for College Scholarship competitors with a $1,000 freshman year scholarship. The contest is open to intended agriculture majors, and the application is made available in late November.
