WyFB awards 2024 college scholarships

The Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation awarded $5,500 in college scholarships to nine young Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation members for the 2024-25 school year.

“Investing in the youth of our great state as they work to accomplish their academic goals is important to the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation,” said Todd Fornstrom, WyFB president. “We are proud to honor these outstanding individuals with college scholarships to play a small part in helping them achieve their goals.”

The Livingston-King Scholarship, valued at $1,500, is given in honor of Herbert D. Livingston and H.J. King, former presidents of Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation, as well as Buddy and Norma Livingston, the parents of former WyFB President Perry Livingston.

The 2024 Livingston-King Scholarship was awarded to Spencer Rabou, of Albin. Rabou will be pursuing a diesel mechanics certificate this fall at either WyoTech or Laramie County Community College. His parents are Ron and Julie Rabou.

The five Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation Scholarships are $500 each. The 2024 recipients are: 

• Rylee Hudson, of Gillette. Hudson will be a freshman at the University of Wyoming studying biology and animal science with a pre-veterinary track. Her parents are Jason and Brandi Hudson.
• Cory Bruegger, of Lusk. Bruegger will be a freshman at the University of Wyoming studying plant production and protection. His parents are Travis and Lisa Bruegger.
• Lauryn Vollman, of Douglas. Vollman will be a freshman at Casper College studying animal science. Her parents are Brady and Roni Vollman.
• Mikayla Alexander, of Rock River. Alexander will be a freshman at Central Wyoming College studying agri-business. Her parents are Ryon and Heather Alexander.
• Cashton Jones, of Farson. Jones will be a freshman at Casper College studying agri-business and meat science. His parents are Seth and Nicole Jones.

Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation also awards three Continuing Education Scholarships of $500 each. Students receiving a Continuing Education Scholarship must be an entering college sophomore, junior, senior or graduate student. The 2024 recipients are:

• Jordan Anderson, University of Wyoming. Anderson will be a senior at the University of Wyoming studying agriculture communications. Anderson is a member of the Albany County Ranch & Farm Bureau Federation through the UW Collegiate Farm Bureau. Her parents are Dr. Donald and Angela Anderson of Pennsylvania.
• Dane Catlin, University of Wyoming. Catlin will be a junior at the University of Wyoming studying kinesiology with the goal of becoming a neurosurgeon. His parents are Steve and Dana Catlin of Mountain View.
• Maylee Potas, University of Wyoming. Potas will be a junior at the University of Wyoming pursuing a degree in kinesiology. Her goal is to attend medical school to pursue orthopedic surgery. Her parents are Mike and Molly Potas.

“Congratulations to each of the recipients,” Fornstrom concluded. “We wish them the best in their continued education endeavors.”

Ghimire receives the prestigious American Society of Agronomy award

A University of Nebraska-Lincoln Ph.D. candidate, Deepak Ghimire, is the recipient of the 2024 Nelson Yield-Limiting Factors Graduate Student Scholarship from the American Society of Agronomy.

The scholarship is intended to encourage students to pursue research and leadership in support of improved diagnostic techniques and solutions to yield-limiting factors in agronomy. Ghimire said the scholarship is more than an award.

“This scholarship is not just an award for me,” he reflected. “It is a catalyst for my growth as a researcher and a leader in agronomy and soil science. It motivates me to strive harder, aim higher, and make meaningful advancements in diagnosing and addressing yield-limiting factors, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable and food-secure future.”

Prior to attending UNL, Ghimire earned his B.S. in agriculture from the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Sciences in his native country of Nepal. Ghimire then earned his M.S. in agronomy with a specialization in soil and water sciences at the UNL Department of Agronomy and Horticulture under the supervision of Bijesh Maharjan. The areas of his research interest include soil fertility and nutrient management, precision agriculture and climate smart agriculture. As a UNL graduate student, Ghimire has been actively involved in several organizations within tri-societies and more including UNL’s Agronomy and Horticulture Graduate Student Association, UNL Extension’s Farmbits podcast, and Agronomy-Crop Science-Soil Science Graduate Student Committee.

Ghimire plans to continue working towards leveraging research, education, and advocacy to address local and global issues related to food security and climate change.

“I am committed to making the most of this opportunity by continuing to pursue excellence in my research, investing in further learning, and contributing to the development of practical, science-based solutions that benefit farmers, the environment, and society as a whole,” he said.

Maharjan, associate professor at UNL’s Panhandle Research, Extension and Education Center and Ghimire’s Ph.D. supervisor, said Ghimire is an impactful team player. He recalled Ghimire’s participation on the award-winning Data Hackathon team at the 2022 Nitrogen Use Efficiency workshop and said he is also a Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute Student fellow.

“Deepak is self-driven, determined, and dedicated to pursuing his career in soil science and agronomy,” Maharjan said. “As a young investigator, he is enthusiastic, takes the initiative, and is diligent at work. The 2024 Nelson Yield-Limiting Factors Graduate Student Scholarship will motivate him to grow as a concerned young professional in soil science and agronomy.”

Scholarship recipients are chosen from an international pool of accomplished agronomy graduate students. The two scholarships are provided through the Agronomic Science Foundation by the Werner L. Nelson Fund and administered through the ASA. Ghimire expressed gratitude for being amongst those considered for the award.

“I am deeply thankful for the opportunity to be considered for this prestigious scholarship and would like to extend my gratitude to the two references who supported my nomination.”