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AgriBank and AFA Announce Scholarship Recipients


Kansas City, Mo. – June 19, 2015 – AgriBank and Agriculture Future of America have selected Cole Reighard and Nicholas Roysdon for a unique scholarship program.

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The William J. Collins Scholarship is part of the AFA Leader and Academic Scholarship program. The scholarship, named for a former CEO of AgriBank, is awarded to children of Farm Credit employees within the AgriBank District. It recognizes students who are planning to pursue agricultural careers, and provides them access to premier soft-skill training and financial assistance for their college education.

This year’s two outstanding students are pursuing agriculture-related, four-year degrees and are passionate about the future of the agriculture industry. Reighard, who is from Richland, Iowa, will begin his studies in agribusiness management at Iowa State University this fall. After completing his degree, he hopes to design and work on improved agricultural equipment that will help farmers be more efficient. Roysdon, of Heyworth, Illinois, will be a freshman in agronomy and agricultural business at Purdue University this fall. He plans to use his education to assist farmers in making the best decisions they can by serving as a crop consultant.

AFA and AgriBank are committed to investing in each of their scholars’ leader development. This is why the scholarship program includes sponsorship to the AFA Leaders Conference as well as a traditional academic scholarship. The Conference is AFA’s key leader development event, providing soft-skill training and connecting students with their peers and industry professionals.

AFA is looking forward to welcoming over 600 other students from across the nation to Kansas City, Missouri, Nov. 5-8 for the 2015 AFA Leaders Conference. For more information about the conference, visit www.agfuture.org/leadersconference .

WILLIAM J. COLLINS SCHOLARS

Cole Reighard, Richland, Iowa, Iowa State University
Nicholas Roysdon, Heyworth, Illinois, Purdue University

ABOUT AGRIBANK

AgriBank is one of the largest banks within the national Farm Credit System, with more than $90 billion in total assets. Under the Farm Credit System’s cooperative structure, AgriBank is primarily owned by 17 affiliated Farm Credit Associations. The AgriBank District covers America’s Midwest, a 15-state area stretching from Wyoming to Ohio and Minnesota to Arkansas. About half of the nation’s cropland is located within the AgriBank District, providing the Bank and its Association owners with expertise in production agriculture. For more information, visit www.agribank.com.

ABOUT AFA

AFA creates partnerships that identify, encourage and support outstanding collegiate and young professional men and women who are pursuing careers in the agriculture and food industry. With program participation increasing 94 percent in the last five years, AFA leader development programs have impacted 12,000 college leaders and young professionals from more than 200 colleges and universities throughout 43 states since its inception in 1997. AFA has awarded more than $9 million in academic and leader development scholarships. For more information about AFA, visit www.agfuture.org  or contact Megan Karlin at megan.karlin@agfuture.org.

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