National Farmers is excited to announce this year’s Farm Kids Scholarship winners: Aidan Knobloch, Drew Totemeier and Ella Cooney.
Knobloch Plans To Study Ag Policy and Law
Aidan Knobloch, Buckingham, Illinois, is son of Chris and Kelly Knobloch, and he plans to use his law degree to advocate for the agriculture industry — bridging the gap between policymakers and the agricultural community.
On his family’s Hereford cow-calf operation, cattle have been an integral part of Aidan’s life. He began showing cattle at age five and has enjoyed meeting people and traveling throughout his state and beyond.
“Through the years, my involvement in the care and selection of our herd has developed. I started my own small cattle feedlot operation. I built a Farm-to-Freezer Beef & Pork business four years ago that financed the purchase of my replacement heifers,” Aidan said.
Active in sports, his high school and the Illinois Junior Hereford Association, 4-H and FFA, Aidan has a lot going on. “Juggling his commitments with grace and responsibility, he always gives 100 percent without ever compromising the quality of his efforts,” said Herscher High School Scholastic Bowl Coach and math teacher, Jessie Rezba.
“Aidan’s maturity and ability to balance diverse responsibilities are unmatched by his peers. He approaches interpersonal dynamics with confidence and authenticity.
Whether he’s collaborating in a group, leading an initiative, or representing our school, Aidan engages others with a level of self-assuredness and respect that make him a natural leader.
His involvement in agriculture and other organizations is not just about participation; it’s about passion and drive. He is deeply committed to every role he takes on and consistently earns the respect of both peers and adults.”
When asked about marketing challenges facing family ag operations, he said, “Growing up in a cattle family, I have seen how individual farmers often feel like price takers rather than price makers.
Grain, dairy, and livestock producers frequently sell into markets where buyers are larger, more consolidated, and better informed.
When farmers and ranchers market their products together, they begin to close that gap. By coordinating volume, timing, and information, they can improve the prices they receive and reduce some of the risk that comes with volatile commodity markets.”
Totemeier Set For Vet Career
Hailing from Columbus Junction, Iowa, Drew Totemeier has his sights set on a career as a large-animal veterinarian. Son of Eric and Kelli Totemeier, he is enthusiastic about his future in agriculture.
Assisting his family with their diversified cow-calf and row crop operation has instilled in him a deep respect for the industry.
With his dad, a full-time farmer, and his mom, a cattle nutritionist, you can imagine the discussions around the supper table.
“From a young age, I learned that we didn’t eat until the cattle did, and if conditions were right in the field and rain was on the way, sleep would come with the rain,” Drew said.
His involvement in 4-H, FFA, and showing cattle fueled his passion for the cattle industry and taught him valuable lessons. Not the least of which is that an integral part of agriculture is hard work followed by delayed gratification.
“My family likes to call me the grinder, a nickname I earned on the football field. Bigger than most kids, I would just run and grind to get those last couple of yards for a first down. I was never the fastest kid on the field, but I was the most determined,” he noted.
The nickname stuck, taking on new meaning with the care he invested into his cattle projects. “No matter what I had going, I continually showed up and did the work to have the cattle looking the best they could on show day.
I didn’t have the most expensive animal in the ring, but I can guarantee few put forth more effort than I did.”
All of his experiences led him to develop a passion for beef cattle breeding and genetics and a desire to become a veterinarian. Recognizing a national shortage of large animal vets, he wants to serve his fellow producers in Iowa.
“I am not sure exactly what my future holds, but I know it involves agriculture. I know it won’t always be easy, but most good things don’t come easily,” Drew said.
Cooney To Pursue Ag Business
Our final scholarship recipient comes from Big Sky country in Harlowton, Montana. Ella Cooney plans to attend Montana State University to pursue an ag business and business management degree.
“As a fifth generation rancher raised in a rural town in Montana, agriculture has surrounded my childhood and I plan to continue to stay involved in the industry,” Cooney said.
“From spending days out in the fields tending to the livestock, to repairing fences and heavy equipment, every aspect of agriculture has touched my life.”
After college, she plans to rejoin her parents, Spencer and Bethany Cooney, and assist with the financial and managerial aspects of the family cattle ranch.
Ella is active at her high school, serving as class president, and enjoys sports, playing volleyball, basketball, and track. She also works at the Charles M. Blair Family Museum, where she greets visitors and enjoys sharing the Blair family’s history and their impact on Montana.
Representing her community and its history with pride, she said, “Guiding tours has helped me grow in confidence, communication, and professionalism, and it has taught me how to connect with people from many different backgrounds.”
“Ella is an exceptional young woman whose academic excellence, leadership ability, and commitment to her community set her apart as one of the most impressive students I have had the privilege to know,” said Harlowton High School Social Studies Teacher and Activities Director, Jonathan Olsen.
She demonstrates remarkable initiative and intellectual drive. On top of her many commitments, she assists on her family’s ranch developing a strong work ethic and deep appreciation for responsibility and perseverance.
In every respect, Ella exemplifies the qualities that scholarship committees seek: academic excellence, leadership, integrity, service, and vision.”
We thank all the outstanding students who applied this year.
