FORT ATKINSON, WI (June 23, 2026) — Through a multitude of member scholarship funds and generous support from industry partners, the National Dairy Shrine (NDS) awards a total of $85,000 to students pursuing a dairy-related degree and future career. This is the highest total value of scholarships awarded by the National Dairy Shrine, thanks to new scholarship opportunities and a significant increase to the values of scholarships awarded.
Whether they are working towards under-graduate, graduate, veterinary or technical degrees, these students will go on to become our industry’s producers, communicators, scientists and leaders. They truly represent the next generation of dairy excellence.
Dairy 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 receive $2,500 through a sponsorship from Cargill.
- Miranda Nickerson, Corry, Pennsylvania – Animal science, Cornell University
Dairy Management Inc./National Dairy Shrine Education & Communication Scholarships
These awards are open to students majoring in marketing, food science, nutrition (human), public relations, education, social media and communications. NDS and Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) 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.
$2,000 Scholarship winner
- Clancey Krahn, Albany Oregon – Animal sciences and agricultural communication (Minor in marketing), Oklahoma State University
$1,500 Scholarship winners
- Abigale Bricker, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania – Agricultural and extension education, Pennsylvania State University
- Sara Kennedy, Columbia Cross Roads, Pennsylvania – Animal science and nutritional sciences, Pennsylvania State University
- Kaitlin Reitmeier, Richmond, Minnesota – Agricultural education and animal science – University of Minnesota
- Rachel Visser, Hutchinson, Minnesota – Agricultural and food business management and agricultural communications and marketing, University of Minnesota
- Natalie Yoder, Belleville, Pennsylvania – Agribusiness management, Pennsylvania State University
Dairy Management, Inc./National Dairy Shrine Milk Marketing & 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.
$2,000 Scholarship winner
- Shelby Swanson, Hutchinson, Minnesota – Agriculture and food business management, University of Minnesota
$1,500 Scholarship winners
- Alia Domeyer, Delhi, Iowa – Finance and marketing, University of Northern Iowa
- Mallory Mohn, Lansing, Iowa – Agriculture business, Northeast Iowa Community College (transfer to four-year institution fall of 2026)
- Emma Parrigon, Stotts City, Missouri – Agriculture communications, Missouri State University
- Abbygail Schlough, Minneapolis, Minnesota – Agriculture and food business management, Animal science, University of Minnesota
- Faith Wolfe, Centre Hall, Pennsylvania – Agribusiness management, Pennsylvania State University
Dr. Les Hansen Student Recognition Scholarships
This award recognizes seven graduating seniors this year. These students have demonstrated leadership skills, academic ability and interest in dairy cattle, like that of retired Dr. Les Hansen, Distinguished Teaching Professor at the University of Minnesota. Hansen earned accolades for his ground-breaking research in dairy genetics and ability to inspire excellence among both graduate and undergraduate students.
$2,500 Student recognition winner
- Lauren Breunig, Sauk City, Wisconsin – Life sciences communication (certificates in food systems, agricultural business management, digital studies, and entrepreneurship), University of Wisconsin-Madison
$2,000 Student recognition winner
- Ryan Wolf, Epworth, Iowa – Animal science, Iowa State University
$1,500 Student recognition winners
- Brady Gille, Sobieski, Wisconsin – Animal science, production emphasis, University of Minnesota
- Hannah Mansfield, Greenville, North Carolina, Animal science, Pennsylvania State University
- Tessa Tauke, Earlville, Iowa – Animal science, Iowa State University
- Keenan Thygesen, Tunbridge, Vermont – Animal science, University of Minnesota
- Regan Jackson, Boyce, Virginia – Nutrition and food science (Minor in biology), Louisiana State University
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, which are valued at $1,500 each.
- Mykel Mull, Chowchilla, California – Animal science, agricultural business, dairy science, Modesto Junior College
- Matthew Pacheco, Los Banos, California – Dairy science (Bovine AI certificate), Modesto Junior College
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.
- Anne Simpson, Pine Island, Minnesota – Animal science, Iowa State University
- Ben Styer, Menomonie, Wisconsin – Animal science (Dairy production emphasis), 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 past Executive Director of the Dairy Shrine. Funds for these $1,500 scholarships are donated by friends of Maurice Core.
- Jillian Anderson, Centre Hall, Pennsylvania – Agricultural and extension education, Pennsylvania State University
- Campbell Booth, Plymouth, Wisconsin – Animal science, agriculture and food business, University of Minnesota
- Alaina Dinderman, Orangeville, Illinois – Animal science – pre-vet, University of Wisconsin-Platteville
- Claudia Frenchick, St. Martin, Minnesota – Animal science – pre-vet, University of Minnesota Twin Cities
- Dan Frericks, Melrose, Minnesota – Animal science, University of Minnesota
- Logan Harbaugh, Marion, Wisconsin – Animal science and agricultural and food business management, University of Minnesota
- Kiara Konyn, Escondido, California – Dairy and food animal management – pre-vet, University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Ella Raatz, Colby, Wisconsin – Animal science and agricultural communication and marketing, University of Minnesota
- Alexis Schultz, Marion, New York – Dairy and food animal management, University of Wisconsin-Madison
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 with a $1,500 scholarship.
- Madison Mowrer, Petersburg, Pennsylvania – Animal science, Pennsylvania State University
- Kayla Visser, Hutchinson, Minnesota – Animal science and agriculture communications and marketing, University of Minnesota
- Madison Wiese, Greenleaf, Wisconsin – Animal science and agricultural communications and marketing, University of Minnesota
Merton Sowerby Junior Merit Scholarships
These scholarships are given in honor of Merton Sowerby, an NDS 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.
$2,000 Sowerby scholarship winner
- Brianna Meyer, Chilton, Wisconsin – Dairy science, University of Wisconsin-Madison
$1,500 Sowerby scholarship winners
- Joseph Achen, Mondovi, Wisconsin – Agricultural business, Iowa State University
- Jacob Harbaugh, Marion, Wisconsin – Animal science, applied economics, University of Minnesota
- Alexis Hoefs, New Prague, Minnesota – Animal science, University of Minnesota
- Tyler Ratka, Cold Spring, Minnesota – Animal science and agricultural and food business management – University of Minnesota
- Garrett Ulness, Valders, Wisconsin – Dairy science, 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.
$2,000 Lancaster scholarship winners
- Ainsley Sellers, Lebanon Pennsylvania – Animal science, Pennsylvania State University
$1,500 Lancaster scholarship winners
- Summer Hammann, Barron, Wisconsin – Dairy science, University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Trevor Hath, El Nido, California – Animal science (Dairy production emphasis), University of Minnesota
- Julianne Headings, Plain City, Ohio – Agricultural communications (Minor in dairy science), The Ohio State University
- Zachary Johnson, Columbus, Ohio – Animal science, The Ohio State University
- Hannah King, Belleville, Pennsylvania – Animal science, Pennsylvania State University
- Kelsey Timp, Ossian, Iowa – Dairy science and agricultural communications, Iowa State University
The National Dairy Shrine has initiated two new scholarships beginning in 2026. The scholarships and their recipients are listed below.
National Dairy Shrine Pre-Vet scholarship
The Pre-Vet Scholarship is sponsored by Zoetis and supports undergraduate students at a four-year university who are pursuing a veterinary career in large animal production agriculture. The winner receives $2,500.
- Haley Ronnebaum, Earlville, Iowa – Dairy science pre-vet, Iowa State University
Richard H.L. Chichester Scholarship
Awarded in honor of renowned dairy cattle geneticist and goodwill ambassador for the U.S. dairy and beef industries Richard H.L. Chichester, one student is recognized for an explicit interest in the dairy industry with a $1,500 scholarship.
- Jenna Gries, Manitowoc, Wisconsin – Dairy science, University of Wisconsin-Madison
All scholarship recipients will be recognized during the National Dairy Shrine Awards Banquet on Monday, September 298h, 2026, in Madison, Wisconsin, held in conjunction with World Dairy Expo.
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