Midwest Dairy Association The Illinois Division of Midwest Dairy Association has awarded four scholarships to students with dairy backgrounds. Kalli Berning of Galena, Angela Hildebrandt of South Beloit, Michele Hoppman of Galena and Serena Lawfer of Kent are the 2012 scholarship recipients. Scholarships are funded by dairy checkoff programs that are also used to increase the demand for dairy products. Dairy producers support the education of youth as the future of the dairy industry and strong labor force into the future.Scholarships are awarded to students displaying leadership, work experience, academic performance, participation in activities and events, involvement in a dairy farm and the dairy industry, and financial need. The deadline for the 2013 Illinois Division of Midwest Dairy Association scholarship applications is March 1. Applications and more information can be found online at midwestdairycheckoff.com.

Kalli Berning
Kalli Berning of Galena, Ill., is the daughter of Tony and Connie Berning. She is a 2011 graduate of Galena High School where she was involved in a wide variety of school activities such as Drama Club, band, National Honor Society and 4-H. Berning is a student at North Dakota State University majoring in agriculture and bio-systems engineering. She grew up working on the family's third-generation dairy farm. Berning says, "My goal for the future is to be able to help people like my father and others involved in agriculture do their jobs in a more efficient, safer, eco-friendly, and, hopefully, more economical way."

Angela Hildebrandt
Angela Hildebrandt is the daughter of Ken and Amy Hildebrandt of South Beloit, Ill. Hildebrandt just graduated from North Boon High School in Poplar Grove. She was active in her high school FFA chapter, holding leadership positions, and attending contests and conferences. Hildebrandt is also a member of Jefferson Prairie Lutheran Church and has gone on three mission trips to rebuild a school and help a food pantry. She grew up and works on her family's 400-cow farm. This fall she plans to attend the University of Wisconsin-Platteville to major in pre-veterinary medicine. She hopes to attend veterinary school and become a large animal veterinarian, continuing to work with dairy cattle.

Michele (Shelby) Hoppman
Michele (Shelby) Hoppman of Galena, Ill., is the daughter of Mike and Monica Hoppman. She helps her family at Car Mer Farms. Hoppman enjoys working on the farm especially when spending time with her brothers and cousins. Hoppman was a member of Jo Carroll Holstein Club for 10 years. She will be attending the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in the fall. At Galena High School she competed in volleyball, basketball, softball and club volleyball. It was this interest in sports which lead Hoppman to pursue a career as a physical education teacher. She recognizes the Midwest Dairy Association's Fuel Up to Play 60 program is also important to promote good health and exercise in children.

Serena Lawfer
Serena Lawfer is the daughter of Ron and Julie Lawfer of Kent, Ill. She graduated from Stockton High School and the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, and has just begun her fourth year at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. Lawfer has been very involved with clubs and organizations in each step of her life, and is currently the student representative for the American Association of Bovine Practitioners and Pfizer Animal Health of the U of I College of Veterinary Medicine. Her experience on her family dairy farm has led to a passion for working with animals and her goal to be a large animal veterinarian. Lawfer says, "I hope to make a difference in the agriculture industry by discussing environmental needs of the animals with the farmers, recommending certain vaccination protocols and being available at all times.

06.20.2012