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Two young adults are getting help from Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative to follow their dreams in agriculture.
Edge has awarded $1,000 education scholarships to Brandon Gilbertson and John Nagel.
Gilbertson is a senior at Elk Mound High School in Elk Mound, Wis., with plans to attend Northeast Iowa Community College this fall to major in dairy science technology. He has been active in 4-H, FFA, athletics, band and choir in addition to working on his family’s farm. He hopes to return to his family’s dairy farm after college to continue farming as the sixth generation.
“If Brandon’s performance in the classroom, the Elk Mound FFA and throughout the high school is any indication of how he will perform as a contributing member of society, Brandon will be extremely successful and a positive addition to whatever community he is involved with,” said Amie Stillman, agri-science instructor and FFA advisor at Elk Mound High School.
Gilbertson is looking forward to hands-on experiences in college with different milking styles and plans to participate in the dairy judging team. He is excited to learn more about all aspects of running a farm.
“I am humbled and honored to receive the Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative scholarship,” Gilbertson said. “I am excited to broaden my knowledge about the dairy industry at Northeast Iowa Community College and look forward to gaining knowledge that I can use on our family farm. I am thankful for the valuable resource this scholarship will be to help me achieve my goals.”
The second scholarship recipient, Nagel, is a senior at Chilton High School in Chilton, Wis., planning to attend Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Mich., to major in engineering. He has been active on the Droid Rage robotics team, 4-H and FFA as well as working on his family’s farm.
“John leads by example and knows that a job isn’t done until it has been completed to the highest standards,” said Arrow Guetschow, president of Lakeshore FIRST robotics program and lead mentor of the Droid Rage Robotics Team. “John never stops at ‘good,’ he expects only the best out of his own work and it shows.”
Nagel is planning to study to become a mechanical engineer and hopes to have a career designing and testing implements used in agriculture.
“It is an honor to receive the 2018 Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative Scholarship,” Nagel said. “This scholarship will allow me to pursue a degree in engineering, specifically geared to agriculture applications. I am excited to finish high school, be involved on our dairy farm this summer, and begin a new endeavor at Michigan Technological University. Thank you!”
This is the fifth year Edge has offered scholarships to help finance higher education for the children of its members. Scott Munes, Edge’s director of membership development, said the co-op plans to continue to award scholarships for exceptional dairy-minded students in the years to come.
“Passionate, engaged and smart young people are the future of our dairy community,” Munes said. “Brandon and John demonstrate great potential to be leaders in helping agriculture meet challenges and sustain success. We are happy to support them and look forward to seeing the positive difference they will make.”
Students competing for the scholarships were judged on academic achievement, leadership and participation in school and community activities, academic honors, goals and aspirations, recommendations and work experience.
About Edge:
Edge is a dairy farmer cooperative that provides members a progressive voice on Capitol Hill in matters critical to their businesses and the broader dairy community. Under the Federal Milk Marketing Orders, the co-op also provides milk testing verification services and market information for its members throughout nine Midwestern states. It is one of the top cooperatives in the country in terms of the amount of milk produced by its members. Edge was established in 2010 and formerly known as the Dairy Business Milk Marketing Cooperative. For more information, visit www.voiceofmilk.com.
Edge has awarded $1,000 education scholarships to Brandon Gilbertson and John Nagel.
Brandon Gilbertson
“If Brandon’s performance in the classroom, the Elk Mound FFA and throughout the high school is any indication of how he will perform as a contributing member of society, Brandon will be extremely successful and a positive addition to whatever community he is involved with,” said Amie Stillman, agri-science instructor and FFA advisor at Elk Mound High School.
Gilbertson is looking forward to hands-on experiences in college with different milking styles and plans to participate in the dairy judging team. He is excited to learn more about all aspects of running a farm.
“I am humbled and honored to receive the Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative scholarship,” Gilbertson said. “I am excited to broaden my knowledge about the dairy industry at Northeast Iowa Community College and look forward to gaining knowledge that I can use on our family farm. I am thankful for the valuable resource this scholarship will be to help me achieve my goals.”
John Nagel
“John leads by example and knows that a job isn’t done until it has been completed to the highest standards,” said Arrow Guetschow, president of Lakeshore FIRST robotics program and lead mentor of the Droid Rage Robotics Team. “John never stops at ‘good,’ he expects only the best out of his own work and it shows.”
Nagel is planning to study to become a mechanical engineer and hopes to have a career designing and testing implements used in agriculture.
“It is an honor to receive the 2018 Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative Scholarship,” Nagel said. “This scholarship will allow me to pursue a degree in engineering, specifically geared to agriculture applications. I am excited to finish high school, be involved on our dairy farm this summer, and begin a new endeavor at Michigan Technological University. Thank you!”
This is the fifth year Edge has offered scholarships to help finance higher education for the children of its members. Scott Munes, Edge’s director of membership development, said the co-op plans to continue to award scholarships for exceptional dairy-minded students in the years to come.
“Passionate, engaged and smart young people are the future of our dairy community,” Munes said. “Brandon and John demonstrate great potential to be leaders in helping agriculture meet challenges and sustain success. We are happy to support them and look forward to seeing the positive difference they will make.”
Students competing for the scholarships were judged on academic achievement, leadership and participation in school and community activities, academic honors, goals and aspirations, recommendations and work experience.
About Edge:
Edge is a dairy farmer cooperative that provides members a progressive voice on Capitol Hill in matters critical to their businesses and the broader dairy community. Under the Federal Milk Marketing Orders, the co-op also provides milk testing verification services and market information for its members throughout nine Midwestern states. It is one of the top cooperatives in the country in terms of the amount of milk produced by its members. Edge was established in 2010 and formerly known as the Dairy Business Milk Marketing Cooperative. For more information, visit www.voiceofmilk.com.
