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Five $1,500 scholarships were awarded at the Woodstock Progressive Milk Producers’ Association meeting on Wednesday, March 26th, 2025. Association members, their children, and grandchildren were eligible to apply for a scholarship that could be used towards tuition at an accredited post-secondary educational program.
Woodstock Progressives is a collaborative association for milk producers. The co-op was founded in 1937. It has a long history of financial stability and prioritizing its members. Its disaster payment plan can provide partial payment for milk loss due to fire, wind, power outage, and other causes. Scholarship opportunities are another important benefit of membership. Its check-off is $.01 per hundred pounds of milk, one of the lowest in the industry. It is now possible for producers to be members in two co-ops and enjoy the benefits of both. For membership information contact Emery Featherstone at erf0726@gmail.com or 262-215-2955.
Congratulations to the following students who were each awarded a $1,500 scholarship:
Kyle Diedrich is the son of Philip and Kimberly Diedrich of Twin Lakes, WI. Kyle plans to graduate in December 2025 with a major in Physical Education with a Health Education and Adapted Physical Education emphasis from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Although Kyle’s intention after high school graduation was to work on his family’s dairy farm, he received a call to coach a girls basketball team and rediscovered his love and joy for teaching youth about physical education and health. This coaching experience has led to additional positions coaching cross country which led to a conference championship. He now spends his time coaching Girls B and Boys A basketball and this spring will be coaching boys volleyball and head coach for boys and girls track at Randall Middle School in Burlington, WI.
Kenzie Nielsen is the daughter of Christopher and Jessica Nielsen of Lake Mills, WI. Kenzie is a Communication Science and Disorders major with a Disability minor at the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater. As her studies have progressed, she realized she enjoys working with students on a more personal and individualized level. Recently, she joined the American Sign Language Club on campus which has the potential to transform lives in the field of communication disorders.
Michael Schaal is the son of new members Brian and Renee Schaal of Burlington, WI. Michael is a junior at Iowa State University studying Agricultural Studies with a minor in Agronomy. Because he has grown up on a dairy farm his future goals revolve around advancing both sustainability and profitability of farming operations. Since attending Iowa State he has joined Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity, the Dairy Science Club and gives campus tours with the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
Caden Washburn, of Darien, WI, is the son of members Shane and Gina Koehl. Caden is a student at the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater with an intended major of finance and entrepreneurship. His interest in finance led him to meet with a financial advisor at a young age. He is passionate about using financial analysis and strategic planning to help businesses have long-term success. He is currently a Field Supervisor at APEX General Contracting in South Beloit.
Riley Washburn, of Darien, WI, is the son of members Shane and Gina Koehl. Riley is a student at Iowa State University finishing his senior year as a mechanical engineering student. His obsession with taking apart Legos as a young child has fueled his passion for buying, selling and restoring dirt bikes and four wheelers. Riley currently is an Application Engineering intern at Danfoss Power Solutions in Ames, IA where he uses instrumentation software to monitor, test and tune off-highway machinery. As a future engineer, he hopes to work at an automotive manufacturing company like General Motors or a space company such as NASA or SpaceX someday.
For more information about the Woodstock Milk Producers’ Association, contact President Ken Hildebrandt at hildebrandtfarm@gmail.com or 815-703-3765.
