Outstanding undergraduate and graduate students across the U.S. are receiving more than $50,000 from the National Dairy Shrine as they prepare
for careers in the dairy industry. From future dairy producers and communicators to scientists and business leaders, these scholars represent the next generation of dairy excellence.

Kildee Scholarship
The Kildee Scholarship is a $3,000 scholarship that recognizes a graduate student studying a dairy related field. This year, two students are receiving this award, created in honor of H.H. Kildee, Dean Emeritus at Iowa State University.
• Kylie Konyn, Escondido, California – Dairy Science with certificates in Science Communications and Ag Business Management, University of Wisconsin–Madison
• Megan Ratka, Cold Spring, Minnesota – Animal Science with Dairy Production emphasis, University of Minnesota

Senior Student Recognition Scholarships
The National Dairy Shrine recognizes six graduating seniors. These students are recognized for outstanding leadership, activity participation, academic ability and a sincere interest in the dairy industry. Recipients are:
$2,000 Student recognition winner
• Benjamin Styer, Menomonie, Wisconsin – Animal Science (Dairy Production emphasis), University of Minnesota
$1,500 Student recognition winner
• Sarah Hagenow, Poynette, Wisconsin – Agricultural and Food Business Management, University of Minnesota
$1,000 Student recognition winners
• Jordan Anderson, Centre Hall, Pennsylvania – Agricultural Communications (minor in Agriculture Business), University of Wyoming
• Haley Beukema, New Richmond, Wisconsin – Agricultural Communication and Marketing (minors in Animal Science and Agriculture and Food Business Management), University of Minnesota
• Emory Bewley, Susquehanna, Pennsylvania – Animal Science with a Dairy Science focus, Pennsylvania State University
• Delana Erbsen, Lanark, Illinois – Dairy Science (minor in Genetics), Iowa State University

Merton Sowerby Junior Merit Scholarships
These scholarships are given in honor of Merton Sowerby, a National Dairy Shrine Pioneer and former Klussendorf winner from Michigan. They recognize six junior-level undergraduate students at a four-year college or university who are planning a career in the dairy industry.
$1,500 Sowerby scholarship winner
• Lauren Breunig, Sauk City, Wisconsin – Life Sciences Communication, University of Wisconsin–Madison
$1,000 Sowerby scholarship winners
• Rachel Craun, Mount Crawford, Virginia – Agricultural and Biological Engineering (minor in Environmental Policy), Purdue University
• Brady Gille, Sobieski, Wisconsin – Animal Science, University of Minnesota
• Jenna Gries, Manitowoc, Wisconsin – Dairy Science (Agriculture Business Management and Science Communication certificates), University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Keenan Thygesen, Tunbridge, Vermont – Animal Science, University of Minnesota
• Clarissa Ulness, Valders, Wisconsin – Dairy Science (certificates in Life SciencesCommunication and Art Studio), University of Wisconsin–Madison

Mike Lancaster Sophomore Merit Scholarships
The Mike Lancaster Scholarship is named in honor of former NDS Distinguished Dairy Cattle Breeder and Klussendorf winner, Mike Lancaster of Washington. It recognizes undergraduate sophomores at a four-year college or university and encourages their pursuit of a career in the dairy industry.
$1,500 Lancaster scholarship winner
• Alexis Hoefs, New Prague, Minnesota – Animal Science, University of Minnesota
$1,000 Lancaster scholarship winners
• Sara Dorshorst, Marshfield, Wisconsin – Animal Science, University of Minnesota
• Kelsey Hardy, Dodgeville, Wisconsin – Dairy Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Hannah Mansfield, Greenville, North Carolina – Animal Science, Business and Animal Management, Pennsylvania State University
• Brianna Meyer, Chilton, Wisconsin – Dairy Science, University of Wisconsin–Madison
• Tyler Ratka, Cold Spring, Minnesota – Animal Science, Dairy Production emphasis, University of Minnesota

National Dairy Shrine/Dairy Management Inc. Education and Communication Scholarships
These awards are open to students majoring in marketing, food science, nutrition (human), public relations, education, social media and communications. The National Dairy Shrine and Dairy Management Inc. established these scholarships to support sophomore and junior level students in a four-year college or university pursuing education or communication careers in the dairy or food-related industries.
$1,500 Scholarship winner
• Allison Foss, Cambridge, Minnesota – Agriculture and Food Business Management, University of Minnesota
$1,000 Scholarship winners
• Regan Jackson, Boyce, Virginia – Nutrition and Food Science (minor in Biology), Louisiana State University
• Katie Ketchum, Altura, Minnesota – Agricultural Education, University of Wisconsin–River Falls
• Abbygail Schlough, Boyceville, Wisconsin – Agricultural Education and Animal Science, University of Minnesota

NDS/DMI Milk Marketing and Dairy Products Scholarships
The Milk Marketing and Dairy Products Scholarships encourage students to pursue careers in the marketing of milk or dairy products, dairy product development, quality control, nutrition or related roles in the dairy and food industries. DMI and NDS support sophomore and junior-level students in a four-year college or university with these awards.

$1,500 Scholarship winner
• Clancey Krahn, Albany, Oregon – Animal Sciences and Agricultural Communication (minor in Marketing), Oklahoma State University
$1,000 Scholarship winners
• Nicole Arrowsmith, Peach Bottom, Pennsylvania – Agribusiness Management, Pennsylvania State University
• Mary Beth Collette, Chuckey, Tennessee – Agriculture Business, Virginia Tech
• Jacob Harbaugh, Marion, Wisconsin – Animal Science and Applied Economics, University of Minnesota

Maurice Core Scholarships
The Maurice Core Scholarships honor first-year college students majoring in dairy or animal science, or an industry-related field. The award is named for Maurice Core, longtime Executive Secretary of the American Jersey Cattle Association and Executive Director of the Dairy Shrine. Funds are donated by friends of Maurice Core.
$1,000 Core scholarship winners
• Chloe Breunig, Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin – Dairy Science, University of Wisconsin–Madison
• Caroline Egolf, Churubusco, Indiana – Animal Science, Purdue University
• Joshua Folts, North Collins, New York – Animal Science (concentration in Dairy Management), Cornell University
• Sophie Griswold, Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania – Animal Science, Cornell University
• Trevor Hath, El Nido, California – Animal Science, University of Minnesota
• Zachary Johnson, Tunbridge, Vermont – Animal Science, The Ohio State University

Marshall McCullough Communications Scholarships
Named in memory of Dr. McCullough, a dairy nutrition researcher, educator and journalist, these scholarships support freshmen interested in dairy communications.
$1,000 McCullough scholarship winners
• Brooklyn Kilgard, Marengo, Iowa – Agricultural Communications, Iowa State University
• Shelby Swanson, Hutchinson, Minnesota – Agriculture and Food Business Management (minor in Agricultural and Environmental Science Communication), University of Minnesota

Iager Scholarships
The Iager Scholarship is given to two second-year students in two-year agricultural schools, majoring in animal or dairy science, based on academic standing, leadership, interest in the dairy industry and future plans. The Charles Iager family of Fulton, Maryland donated the funds that established these scholarships. $1,000 Iager scholarship winners
• Tanner Baker, Cottonwood, Arizona – Animal Sciences, Western Texas College
• Aubree Topp, Botkins, Ohio – Agriculture Business, Northeast Iowa Community College

Production Scholarships
This scholarship encourages qualified undergraduate students to pursue a career related to dairy production. It’s available to an undergraduate student currently enrolled in their final year in a two-year college, a certificate program, or a four-year college with an explicit interest in a management role on a dairy farm. The winners are nominated by their advisors and receive $2500 through a sponsorship from Cargill.
$2,500 Production Scholarship Winners
• Caden Carlson, Pennock, Minnesota – Plant Science/Agronomy Production track, University of Minnesota
• Irene Nielsen, Potterville, Michigan – Dairy Science, Agricultural Communications, International Agriculture, Iowa State University

All scholarship recipients will be recognized during the National Dairy Shrine Awards Banquet on Monday, September 29 th , 2025, in Madison, Wisconsin, held in conjunction with World Dairy Expo.