The Henry County Farm Bureau Foundation is offering up to eight scholarships at a minimum of $1,500.
In addition, the farm bureau will be administering the Wilbert and Carol Keppy Foundation scholarships, three each in the amount of $5,000; the Kevin and Karen Urick Farm Bureau Legacy Scholarship, in the amount of $1,000; the Glenn and Betty DeSmith Memorial Scholarship, three in the amount of $5,000 each; the Trade and Technical Program Scholarship, up to six in the amount of $1,000 each and the James Ufkin Memorial Scholarship, in the amount of $1,000.
The Henry County Farm Bureau Foundation was formed in the spring of 1984 to carry out charitable, scientific, literary, and educational work in the field of agriculture. The foundation awards scholarships each year to graduating high school seniors and college students pursuing degrees in agriculture.
Wilbert and Carol Keppy farmed and raised hogs along the Osco slab for decades. The Keppy’s were instrumental in starting the Henry County Pork Producers and were among a group of pork producers throughout the state that started the Illinois Pork Producers in the early 1960s. The Keppy Foundation annually provides scholarships for students in Henry County.
The Kevin and Karen Urick Farm Bureau Legacy Scholarship honors a recipient from a farm family that has been involved for multiple generations, in Henry County Farm Bureau. This scholarship is designed to honor the organization that has served as an educational, social, and economic tool for its members, as the “Voice of Agriculture” in Henry County, since 1917.
The Glenn and Betty DeSmith Memorial Scholarship honors the life of Glenn and Betty DeSmith of Geneseo. The DeSmith’s farmed southwest of Annawan until their retirement in 1990. Glenn served on the Henry County Farm Bureau Board and the Henry County Soil and Water Conservation District Board, receiving the Henry County Conservation award in 1975. The DeSmith Memorial Scholarship recognizes students who are involved in the livestock industry and their family farms.
The James Ufkin Memorial Scholarship honors the life, legacy and service of Jim Ufkin. Jim was a life-long farmer, retiring to Geneseo after 46 years of farming corn, soybeans and raising hogs near Hooppole, Ill. He served on the Board of Directors of the Henry County Farm Bureau for 40 years, representing Yorktown and Geneseo townships and held the offices of vice president and secretary. During that time Jim also served on the Board of the Henry County Farm Bureau Foundation.
This year the HCFB Foundation Board announced that for the third year, they will award those pursuing a skill in a trade and technical program. Up to six scholarships will be awarded, at a minimum of $1,000 each, to individuals enrolled in a program and seeking skills benefiting agriculture in the area of study including, but not limited to, truck driving, welding, electrical, plumbing, carpentry, HVAC, etc.
Any student who qualifies under the guidelines may submit an application for either or all scholarships. Applications will be judged separately.
Applications must be received by or postmarked to the Henry County Farm Bureau office, 128 N. Prospect St., Cambridge, by March 7.
The foundation board will make the final selections after the deadline. Guidelines and applications may be obtained on the Henry County Farm Bureau website www.henrycofarmbureau.org or by emailing manager@henrycofarmbureau.org.
Any questions regarding the scholarship application or the Farm Bureau Foundation can be directed to the Henry County Farm Bureau at 309-937-2411.
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