Nebraska Farm Bureau Awards Student Project Grants to 4-H and FFA students in Thurston, Chase, and Keith Counties

LINCOLN, NEB. – Nebraska Farm Bureau Student Project Grants, supported by the Charles Marshall Fund at the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation were awarded to four deserving student Farm Bureau members in Thurston, Chase, and Keith Counties. Each student was awarded one thousand dollars to be used to either begin or expand their 4-H project or FFA Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAE) project.

“We are proud of the entrepreneurial spirt our student members embrace and are very impressed by the passion they have for each of their projects,” said Audrey Schipporeit, director of generational engagement. “We hope these funds will help them achieve their goals and look forward to watching them continue to bring new ideas and ventures in their communities for years to come.”

These grants are awarded to Nebraska Farm Bureau student members each year. If selected, the student must share how they have used the grant towards starting or growing their 4-H or SAE projects. Winners were selected by a Farm Bureau committee.

Grant recipients are as follows:

• Alexis Bodlak is a member of Thurston County Farm Bureau. As part of her SAE project, Bodlak worked at a greenhouse where she was involved with the business aspect of the operation and the physical management of the greenhouse. Due to her employer scaling back the greenhouse portion of the business, Bodlak is transitioning her SAE project to an entrepreneurship project. She plans to continue to work at the greenhouse but will start growing plants on her own. In order to execute the project, she plans on using the grant money to access a space where she can raise her own plants.

• Morayah Cupp is a member of Chase County Farm Bureau. Cupp has a small business where she rents out mobile chicken coops to families in her community. She currently has six mobile coops with a goal to expand to 10 coops by the end of November. Cupp has a passion for poultry and wants others to share her passion as well.
• Makenna Eisenzimmer is a member of Keith County Farm Bureau. Eisenzimmer’s SAE market swine project expanded to a show pig business this year. Her goal is to raise affordable show pigs for area youth and mentor them on how to properly feed and show a pig. Eisenzimmer built a small farrowing barn on her grandma’s farm and plans to use the grant money for construction costs. Her goal is to farrow at least 16 piglets a year from two gilts that she can sell to area youth for 4-H and FFA show pigs.

• Lindsey Mendenhall is a member of Chase County Farm Bureau. As her SAE project, Mendenhall raises and sells American Kennel Club (AKC) registered golden retrievers. As a 4-H participant, she showed dogs for obedience and showmanship and her dog has passed the AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluation. She plans to use the grant money to buy a Cumberland building, dog food, and pay for vet expenses in the future.

Those interested in applying for the Student Project Grants must meet certain requirements. Applicants must hold a current Nebraska Farm Bureau student membership and be ages 16-23 to participate. To join Nebraska Farm Bureau and learn more, visit www.nefb.org.

The Nebraska Farm Bureau is a grassroots, state-wide organization dedicated to supporting farm and ranch families and working for the benefit of all Nebraskans through a wide variety of educational, service, and advocacy efforts. More than 58,000 families across Nebraska are Farm Bureau members, working together to achieve rural and urban prosperity as agriculture is a key fuel to Nebraska’s economy. For more information about Nebraska Farm Bureau and agriculture, visit www.nefb.org.