KANSAS CITY, Mo., August 6, 2025 — AgriBank and Agriculture Future of America (AFA) selected Maddy
Garza and Callie Derossett as recipients of the William J. Collins Scholarship.
The scholarship is part of the AFA Leader and Academic Scholarships program. It gives children of Farm
Credit employees within the AgriBank District who are planning to pursue agriculture-related careers, or
a future occupation in rural America, access to premier personal and professional development and
financial assistance for their college education. This year’s two outstanding students are pursuing four-year degrees and are passionate about the future of the agriculture industry and rural America.
Garza, from Palms, Mich., will be a junior majoring in Agri-business at Michigan State University. Her 4-H
experience sparked her interest in Agriculture.
Derossett, from Sulphur, Ky., will begin her studies this fall at the University of Kentucky. She plans to study animal sciences. After completing her degree, she hopes to be a solution to the shortage of large
animal vets, a problem plaguing rural America.
With a commitment to investing in each scholar’s leadership development, AFA’s scholarship program
also includes sponsorship to AFA Leaders Conference. The conference is AFA’s main leadership
development event, which provides soft-skill training and connects students with peers and industry
professionals.
AFA selects over 800 students from across the nation to attend AFA Leaders Conference, held annually
in November. For more information about Leaders Conference, visit
https://www.agfuture.org/experiences/leaders-conference/overview.
William J. Collins Scholars
Maddy Garza, Palms, Mich., Michigan State University
Callie Derossett, Sulphur, Ky., University of Kentucky
About Agriculture Future of America
AFA builds bridges for young leaders to foster engagement and innovation in food and agriculture
through premier leader and career development experiences. With program participation increasing
28% in the last five years, AFA has provided more than 24,000 leader development experiences to
college leaders and young professionals from more than 200 colleges and universities throughout 43
states since its inception in 1996. AFA has awarded more than $11 million in academic and leader
development scholarships. For more information about AFA, visit agfuture.org
About AgriBank AgriBank is part of the customer-owned, nationwide Farm Credit System. Under Farm Credit’s cooperative structure, AgriBank is primarily owned by local Farm Credit Associations, which provide financial products and services to rural communities and agriculture. AgriBank obtains funds and provides funding and financial solutions to those Associations. AgriBank and those Associations compose the AgriBank District. The District covers a 15-state area stretching from Wyoming to Ohio and Minnesota to Arkansas. For more information, please visit www.AgriBank.com.
Contacts Agriculture Future of America Phone – 816-472-4232 Email – programs@agfuture.org
AgriBank Communications Phone – 651-282-8609 Email – AgriBank.Communications@AgriBank.com