OAC Announces 2020-21 Scholarship Recipients

Each year, the Ohio Agricultural Council offers up to three (3) $1,500 scholarships annually to Ohio high school seniors who plan to pursue a degree in agriculture and up to three (3) $1,500 scholarships to undergraduate college students from Ohio who are currently pursuing a degree in agriculture.

The OAC is pleased to announce the 2020-21 recipients of the Scholarship Program:

Rachel Barrett

Rachel Barrett of Rockford, Ohio is a recent graduate of Parkway High School and an incoming freshman at The Ohio State University. With a passion for passion for agriculture, food and science, and a particular concern for food waste, Rachel chose Food Science and Technology as her major. In her future career, Rachel hopes to help solve issues in the food industry today, including food waste, insecurity, safety and more.

Cora Dorman

Cora Dorman is the daughter of Brad and Dr. Leah Dorman of Croton, Ohio, where she grew up on a livestock and grain farm. She is attending The Ohio State University to major in Agribusiness and Applied Economics and minor in Agricultural Communication and Agronomy. Upon graduating, she plans on working in agricultural banking or becoming a seed consultant. She is passionate about the agricultural industry and supporting those who grow and raise our food. 

Faith Hagelberger

Growing up in rural small-town Minster, Ohio, Faith Hagelberger developed an appreciation for agriculture at a very young age. Heavy involvement in 4-H and FFA led Faith to seek a professional career within the livestock agriculture field. She currently studies Animal Sciences at the Ohio State University on a pre-veterinary medicine track. Faith plans to practice food animal medicine and one day teach as a professor to fuel her passion for spreading knowledge.

Mekenzie Jolliff

Mekenzie Jolliff of Kenton, Ohio is a recent graduate of Ridgemont High School and started as a freshman at Wilmington College in fall 2020. Mekenzie grew up on a small family farm, raising cattle and market hogs and hopes one day to own her own beef breeding operation. As an Agriculture Education major, Mekenzie will utilize her passion for agriculture and spreading knowledge in her desired future career as an agricultural education teacher.

Ethan Kaper

Ethan Kaper of Baltimore, Ohio is a recent graduate from Liberty Union High School and an incoming freshman at The Ohio State University. As an Agricultural Engineering major, Etan is concerned with the environmental impact of food production, including sustainable farming practices, controlling nutrient runoff and preservation of wildlife. In his future career, Ethan hopes to increase farmers' knowledge about best management practices to increase the efficiency and sustainability of food production.

Ryan Patton

Ryan Patton of Logan, Ohio is a current student at The Ohio State University ATI studying agriscience education, with the goal to become an agriscience teacher and FFA program advisor. Throughout his youth career, Ryan was heavily involved with agricultural organizations like 4-H, FFA, Grange and Ohio Farm Bureau, which inspired him to pursue a career in agriculture. Ryan is an active student on campus, as a member of Collegiate FFA, Ohio State ATI's Homecoming Court and many other groups.

Scholarships are selected based on academic record, leadership qualities, community involvement and responses to application essay questions. Scholarship recipients are also provided a one-year complimentary student membership in OAC.

Scholarship applications for the 2021-22 school year will be available at www.OhioAgCouncil.org in fall 2020. Completed applications must be returned to the Ohio Agricultural Council by February 15, 2021.